The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Aquaculture Department (AQD) operates inline with development policies of the government. Dr. Rolando Platon, SEAFDEC AQD Chief said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that as an entity getting itsbudget from the government, its thrusts are naturally in support of the development thhrust in fishery. He also said that the crisis in SEAFDEC is a "misunderstood consequence of an inevitable circumstance" in the country's economic scenario.

SEAFDEC goes with development priorities. (2004, April 16-22). The Visayas Examiner, p. 2.