Senate President Zubiri Sponsors the Philippine Agriculturists Bill
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri met with the national officers from the Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. (PAA) and Professional Regulatory Board for Agriculture to discuss the stipulations and coverage of the Philippine Agriculturist Bill (PA Bill) last January 20, 2024. Likewise, Cong. Isidro T. Ungab, Davao City’s 3rd district representative, also attended the meeting and expressed his support to PA Bill. On behalf of PAA and PRB Agriculture, PAA National President Dr. Karen S. Bautista presented the salient points of the PA Bill.
Earlier in January, Sen. Zubiri served as keynote speaker during the Oath Taking Ceremony for newly licensed agriculturists held at the Philippine International Convention Center where he likewise expressed his support for filing a counterpart Senate version of the PA Bill.
Senator Zubiri fulfilled his commitment to support the welfare of Filipino agriculturists through sponsorship of the Senate Bill 2535 (An Act to Regulate the Practice of Agriculture as a Profession in the Philippines) which was officially filed last February 7, 2024. The Bill seeks to establish a more relevant and responsive legal regulatory framework for the agriculture profession.
PA Bill outlines several provisions including but not limited to the following:
Section 5: Creation of the Professional Regulatory Board for Agriculture;
Section 16: Decrease in disqualifying grade from 60% to 50% (If an examinee obtains a general weighted average rating of seventy-five percent (75%) or higher but obtained a rating below fifty percent (50%) in any of the subjects, the examinee shall be allowed to take the examination in the subject or subjects where he/she obtained a grade below fifty percent (50%) only once in the immediately succeeding licensure examination);
Section 27: Licensed/registered agriculturists will use the appendage “R. Agr.” after their names;
Section 31: All existing technical plantilla positions of National Government Agencies, Provincial, City, and Municipal Agriculturists Offices shall be occupied by Registered Agriculturists, including all agriculture technical positions.
All faculty members of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) teaching agricultural courses shall be Registered Agriculturists;
Section 32: Minimum base pay of registered Agriculturists working in the government, including the SUCs, shall not be lower than Salary Grade 13.
With the filing of PA Bill in the Senate and House of Representatives, PAA members are enjoined to solicit support from concerned stakeholders and legislators for the enactment of the PA Bill into a law. Agriculturists who serve as the main support system of our farmers need the PA law as a catalyst for improved productivity and stronger commitment and dedication towards food and nutrition security.
