Undersecretary Drusila Esther E. Bayate was a former Assistant
Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources where she rose
from the ranks from a Junior Fishery Biologist in 1985.
Finished her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences at the
University of the Philippines in the Visayas in 1979. In 1989, she pursued
a graduate degree in Master of Science in Fundamental and Applied
Marine Ecology at the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, where she
graduated with distinction in 1991.
Her interest in aquaculture shifted to the marine ecosystem focusing
on population dynamics of fish stocks and fisheries management. In 2006,
she was appointed as Regional Director where she led and implemented
various fisheries programs in Western Visayas.
Appointed as the Assistant National Director for Technical Services of
the BFAR in 2013. In 2014, she served as the Interim Executive Director of
the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, in a concurrent
capacity, where she successfully spearheaded its reorganization. She
culminated her career as the BFAR Assistant Director for Research,
Regulations and International Engagements where she represented the
Philippines in various bilateral and multi-lateral fora and negotiations to
advance the national interest.
She was appointed as Undersecretary on 06 January 2023, and
designated as Undersecretary for Fisheries under the Department of
Agriculture.
