Ricardo Ramoran Visaya (born December 8, 1960) is a retired

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) (Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...

general A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...

serving as the administrator of the

National Irrigation Administration The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) ( fil, Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig) is a Philippine government-owned and controlled corporation primarily responsible for irrigation development and management in the country. History NIA was ...

(NIA) since 2017. He was the 47th Chief of Staff of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The ...

from July to December 2016. He had also previously served as the commanding general of the AFP Southern Luzon Command, assistant division commander of the

6th Infantry Division 6th Division may refer to: Infantry divisions * 6th Division (Australia) * 6th Division (Austria) *6th (United Kingdom) Division * Finnish 6th Division (Winter War) *Finnish 6th Division (Continuation War) * 6th Division (Reichswehr) * 6th Divisi ...

, and commander of the 4th Infantry Division. He is from the class of 1983 (''Matikas'') of the

Philippine Military Academy The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...

. On March 7, 2017, Visaya was appointed as

chief after Peter T. Laviña resign from his post a week prior.http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/03/01/Duterte-Peter-Lavina-resigns-National-Irrigation-Administration.html

Early life and education

Ricardo Visaya was born in Bacarra,

Ilocos Norte Ilocos Norte, officially the Province of Ilocos Norte ( ilo, Probinsia ti Ilocos Norte; tl, Lalawigan ng Ilocos Norte), is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City, located in the northwest corner ...

. It's also where he finished elementary and secondary education. He entered

in 1979 and graduated in 1983.

Military career

After graduating in 1983, he led various units in the

and the AFP, such as the 901st Infantry Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division, the 104th Infantry Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division and the 69th Infantry Brigade of the

. He also led the 4th Infantry Division the

, and the AFP Southern Luzon Command, before being appointed as the

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP) is the highest-ranking military officer (except for the President of the Philippines, who holds the position of Commander-in-Chief equivalent to a five-star general) and the head ...

on July 1, 2016. He retired from military service on December 7, 2016.

Training

He attended various courses locally and abroad, such as the Scout Ranger Regular Course, the Intelligence Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Advance Course, the Tradecraft for Trainor's Course, the Electronic Warfare Officer Course, the Contract Management Course, the Executive Course on Security Studies in

Hawaii, USA Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is ...

; the Command General Staff Course at the Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Army; the Pacific Army Management Seminar in

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

, Japan ; the Professional Managers Program at the

Ateneo de Manila University , mottoeng = Light in the Lord , type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution , established = December 10, 1859 , religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic ( Jesuits) , academic ...

; and the Financial Statement Analysis program at the

University of Asia and the Pacific The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P; Filipino: ''Pamantasan ng Asya at Pasipiko'') is a private university in the Philippines. It traces its beginnings to the Center for Research and Communication (CRC), which was established on August 1 ...

. He earned his master's degree in Project Management at the

Australian Defence College The Australian Defence College (ADC) comprises three joint education and training organisations operated by the Australian Defence Force in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: * the War College, * the Australian Defence Force Training Ce ...

in Canberra, Australia.

Awards

Visaya's awards include: * PHL Legion of Honor - Legionnaire BAR

Philippine Legion of Honor The Philippine Legion of Honor ( fil, Lehiyong Pandangal ng Pilipinas; es, Legion de Honor Filipino) was established by President Manuel Roxas, through Philippine Army Circular No. 60 dated July 3, 1947. The Philippine Legion of Honor was patterne ...

People Power I Unit Citation * PHL People Power II Unit Citation

People Power II Unit Citation * Philippines Presidential Unit Citation

Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation The Philippine Presidential Unit citation BadgeThe AFP Adjutant General, ''Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 65. is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States mil ...

Three (3)

Gawad sa Kaunlaran The Gawad sa Kaunlaran ( en, Award in Development) is awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Area Command, and Major Service Commanders to Philippine citizens. It is the second highest distinction presented by the ...

Eleven (11)

Bronze Cross Medal The Bronze Cross MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 29. is a single grade military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which is awarded for "heroism involving risk of life" under co ...

s *

Forty Nine (49)

Military Merit Medal (Philippines) The Military Merit MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 34-35. is a military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The medal is awarded for heroic achievement or meritorious service du ...

Fourteen (14)

Military Commendation Medal The Military Commendation Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is presented for exemplary execution of military duty. Description The medal is a three-pointed star, made of bronze color ...

s *

Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal * PHL Silver Wing Medal ribbon bar

Two (2)

Silver Wing Medal This Silver Wing Medal is a military decoration awarded by Armed Forces of the Philippines to Philippine and allied military personnel. The Silver Wing Medal is awarded in only one class, and may be awarded by the Chief of Staff The title chief ...

s * 20 Plaques of Recognitions * PMA Cavalier Award (as outstanding alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy) * PHL Bronze Cross

Distinguished Service Star The Distinguished Service Star is the third highest military award of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is awarded for eminently meritorious and valuable service rendered while holding a position of great responsibility. Description of the ...

Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal * Combat Commander's (Kagitingan) Badge

Combat Commander's Badge (Philippines) *

Scout Ranger Qualification Badge *

Philippine Army Command and General Staff Course Badge

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Visaya, Ricardo Ramoran 1960 births Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs (Philippines) Duterte administration personnel Filipino generals Living people People from Ilocos Norte Philippine Army generals Philippine Military Academy alumni Recipients of Gawad sa Kaunlaran Recipients of the Bronze Cross Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Service Star Recipients of the Military Commendation Medal Recipients of the Military Merit Medal (Philippines) Recipients of the Silver Wing Medal