MANILA – The Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation on Monday approved the Philippine Agriculturists Act, which seeks to establish a more relevant and responsive legal regulatory framework for the agriculture profession.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, sponsor of the measure, requested the resource persons to immediately create a technical working group to finalize the committee report before the Congress adjourns.
“So, we’ll sponsor this on Wednesday afternoon with the permission of the Senate President and then pagbalik po natin (upon our return), we can tackle it with interpellations and amendments,” Zubiri said noting the measure needs to be passed before the 2025 mid-term elections.
“Maybe on January kaya na po natin itong tapusin. Ang importante lang po you have to follow up sa House of Representatives para hindi po ma-delay dun. So, ang mangyayari ay we will have a quick bicam or baka adoption na lang (Maybe we can finish it in January. What is important is that you have to follow up with the House of Representatives so that there is no delay. So, what will happen is that we will have a quick bicam or maybe just an adoption) on whose version is better,” he added.
Filed by Zubiri and Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., the Philippine Agriculturists Act is expected to elevate the standards of the agriculture profession through the creation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Agriculture under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
The Board will consist 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.
It shall be mandated to supervise and regulate the licensure, registration, and practice of registered agriculturists, as well as assess conditions affecting agricultural practice to enhance the profession.
Both Zubri and Revilla are proposing a registration of agriculturists without examination for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from a government-recognized school; postgraduate Agriculture degree holders; those with at least five years of experience in the agriculture sector, whether in government or private practice.
The measure also seek to allow only registered agriculturists to use the title “Registered Agriculturalist (R.Agr)” with a minimum base salary employed in government or state universities and colleges not below Salary Grade 13. (PNA)