MANILA – The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading a measure that seeks to regulate the practice of agriculture as a profession in the Philippines.
During the plenary session, the chamber passed through voice voting House Bill 11186, which proposes the establishment of a Professional Regulatory Board for Agriculture under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to oversee licensure examinations, registration, and continuing professional development (CPD) programs.
Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr., in his sponsorship speech, cited the need to provide an enabling law that would govern agriculture practitioners’ examination, registration, and licensure, as well as the profession’s supervision, control, and regulation.
“Unlike other PRC-regulated professions, the agricultural profession does not have its own enabling law or charter as it remains to be governed by a mere administrative issuance or only by virtue of PRC Resolution No. 2000-663,” Bordado said.
The proposed regulatory board shall be composed of a chairperson and five members, each representing key fields: crop science, animal science, soil science, crop protection, agricultural economics/business/entrepreneurship, and agricultural extension and communication.
The measure also seeks to allow only registered agriculturists to use the title “Registered Agriculturist (R.Agr).”
All registered agriculturists shall have one national organization, which the board and the PRC shall recognize as the only accredited integrated professional organization (AIPO).
The bill states that a registered agriculturist duly registered with the board and the PRC shall automatically become a member of the AIPO and receive all the benefits and privileges upon payment of the prescribed fees and dues.
The board shall prescribe and promulgate the Code of Ethics and the Code of Technical Standards for registered agriculturists in consultation with the AIPO. (PNA)