Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF)
STATUS OF THE PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURISTS’ (PAA) WORK
ON THE
PROFESSIONALIZATION OF AGRICULTURE AS A CAREER
Author: Dr. Virginia Cardenas
The Republic Act 10968 called for institutionalizing the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF), The law provides that it is the policy of the state:
1. To encourage lifelong learning of individuals
2. Provide employees specific standards and qualifications aligned with industry standards
3. Ensure that training and educational institutions comply with specific standards and are accountable for achieving corresponding learning outcomes, and
4. Provide government with a common taxonomy and qualification typology as bases of recognizing education and training programs as well as qualifications formally awarded and their equivalencies
The policy framework describes education and professional qualifications under various degree programs by setting the corresponding qualification standard outcomes in the baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate degrees. PQFs had been set for several disciplines, e.g., dentistry, medicine, architecture, and forestry, but unfortunately, none yet in agriculture.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Agriculture designated the Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. (PAA) to develop the PQF for Agriculture, which in turn assigned the Philippine Extension Advisory services Network to lead the task to develop the Philippine Qualifications Framework for Agriculture as well as crafting the Career Professionalization and Specialization Program and Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (CPSP-CATS).
The PAA is the officially recognized federation of six (6) agricultural national professional organizations (ANPOs) by the PRC. These are the following:
Crop Science Society of the Philippines. Inc. (CSSP)
Philippine Agricultural Economics and Development Association, Inc.(PAEDA)
Philippine Society of Animal Science Inc. (PSAS)
Philippine Extension and Advisory Services Network, Inc. (PhilEASNet)
Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology, Inc. (PSST)
The Pest Management Council of the Philippines, Inc. (PMCP)
Under the law, the professionalization scheme follows two tracks: academic and professional. Under the academic track, the core competency domains such as (a) knowledge, skills, and values, (b) application, and (c) degree of independence, are distinguished from one another through their degree of progression across various PQF levels: baccalaureate degree (Level 6), master degree, (Level 7), and Ph.D. degree (Level 8). Hence it is called the academic track. These degrees are certified by CHED or their autonomous University Board of Regents and not within the purview of PRC. The academic track mirrors the professional track.
The professional track, operationalized under the Career Progression and Specialization Program (CPSP) for the Agriculture profession, is non-degree and under the purview of PRC. It describes the professional practice outcomes under specific areas of specialization under the six (6) major domains in agriculture (e.g., crop science, animal science, extension education, agricultural economics, crop management, and soil science). The CPSP provides an enhancement in the qualifications of licensed agriculturists through the Credit and Accreditation Transfer System (CATS), especially if they do not have master’s or Ph.D. degrees but have the professional work experience and meet the criteria laid down in the practice and learning outcomes. There are several ways for obtaining credits: attending training programs, seminars, conferences, and others which could be provided by the ANPOS or other providers where they earn and accumulate credit points. For example, a licensed agriculturist without a master’s degree can advance to a “Certificate of Fellowship in Agronomic Crop Production, to differentiate it from a BS in Agriculture major in Agronomy, or Certificate of Diplomate in Soil Chemistry and Fertility Management. CPSP is about specialization. Up to now, PRC Regulatory Board, especially CPSP technical body, has not yet decided on what to adopt, as to which is higher in rank, diplomate, or fellowship. The metrics for these are still being developed.
The CPSP-CATS scheme provides an opportunity for devolved extension workers under the PAFES to improve their qualifications. However, so little fund in the LGU allows them to attend learning events, especially for paying registration fees, support to board and lodging, or even travels when conditions permit. In this context, I inquired during the PAFES Round Table Discussion if the provision of funding support for capacity development is addressed in the draft PAFES Executive Order.
Where are we now?
Among the six ANPOs, the PhilEASNet was designated to spearhead the National Technical Working Group (NTWG), with Dr. Virginia R. Cardenas, Chair, and Drs. Rowena Baconguis and Andrew Gazmen as members.
The NTWG conducted several consultation meetings with the ANPOs to level off on the objectives, rationale, and process of crafting the PQF in Agriculture. The NTWG developed guide matrices/templates for users to identify the core competency domains across the three PQF levels 6, 7, and 8 d for the different ANPOs to fill up and later be synthesized by the NTWG. The PhilEASNet related its experiences and recommended that a team of experts from the various disciplines sit down and agree among themselves on the essential fields to be highlighted, particularly core distinct sub-disciplines in every major discipline. The subject matter content must be developed with a lot of foresight, yet practical in orientation, anticipating technological innovations and modernization such as digital agriculture, making agriculture more productive yet resilient and sustainable.
As an example, the NTWG had developed the PQF and the CPSP frameworks for Extension Education. Advance copies were endorsed to PAA for further comments of the PRC CPSP technical committee. We have circulated these as examples of the work to be done. The different ANPOs will submit the completed PQF matrices of their respective disciplines on May 31. The NTWG will also undertake regional consultations with PAA Regional Chapters. The draft PQF of the Extension Education was presented earlier during the national PAA convention to illustrate the PQF contents and process.
Other developments
The Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture sharpened its mission on providing training to agricultural extension workers and extension service providers and further professionalizing extension as a career. It covers capacity development at three levels: individual, organizational, and policy. Sharpening the focus of ATI's mission has profound implications for retooling the existing personnel.
Revision of training modules is ongoing, driven by the results of a training needs assessment conducted in the regions and guided by the definition and practice of the New Extensionist which is advocated by the Global Forum on Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS). The New Extensionist had produced a learning kit consisting of 15 modules to enhance the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of extension technicians as professional organization leaders, adult educators, facilitators, brokers, community organizers, communicators, natural resource managers, as well as financial management, training them along agro-entrepreneurship and value chain approach. imbued with professional ethics. All of these are in anticipation of the impending implementation of the Mandanas -Garcia ruling and supporting the performance of the PCIPs under the Province-led Agricultural and Fishery Extension (PAFES), the commodity banner programs, among others. The idea of transforming ATI into an agricultural extension training academy like the Development Academy of the Philippines is also being floated. (VRCardenas)
