๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐. ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ
The Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. (PAA), under the leadership of its Chair, Dr. Roberto F. Ranola, Jr., and National President, Dr. Karen S. Bautista, held the 11th National Congress and 2024 Philippine Agriculturists Summit last July 1-5, 2024 at the Royce Hotel in Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga.
The event was attended by over 1,200 professional agriculturists and industry partners from across the nation, emphasizing the collective commitment to advancing the agriculture sector in the Philippines. The highlight of the Convention was the keynote address delivered by Senator Juan Miguel โMigzโ Zubiri who expressed his strong commitment to uplift the agriculture sector, support the Filipino farmers, and ensure that food prices are affordable for every Filipino.
During the event, Sen. Zubiri took an Oath as a Registered Agriculturist under the Professional Regulation Commission with the presence of PRC Board of Agriculture Chair Dr. Emma K. Sales. He was likewise inducted by PAA National President, Dr. Karen S Bautista as a member of the PAA. Sen. Zubiriโs participation in the summit underscored the importance of partnership between the government and agriculture experts in addressing the challenges facing the sector. The said remark aligns with the Convention theme, โ๐๐ถ๐ช๐ญ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐จ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ต๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ฉ๐ช๐ฑ๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ณ๐ช-๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ด.โ
Throughout the Congress, the attendees engaged in various plenary sessions, parallel discussions, and networking opportunities aimed at enhancing the practice and profession of agriculture. The event served as a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among professionals, fostering a sense of community among agriculturists dedicated to improving the livelihoods of farmers and food producers nationwide.
Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., congress chair and incoming PAA National President in January 2025, expressed his gratitude for the turnout of the event and presented his plans in five-folds: continuous lobbying of the passing of the Philippine Agriculturists Bills; instituting the PAA Young Agriculturistsโ Chapter; active involvement in the agricultural policy landscape; promoting CSR activities and diversifying PAA partners; and strengthening the PAA regional chapters.
โMay the Congress rekindle our passion and serve as a constant reminder of the pledge we took when we swore in as licensed agriculturists,โ he stated.
To honor her invaluable leadership and unwavering dedication as the incumbent president of the Association and to recognize her commitment in introducing novel programs and initiatives to advance the welfare of professional agriculturists in the country, Dr. Bautista was presented a Plaque of Appreciation for serving as the PAA National President from 2023 to December 2024.
The PAA aims to continue its mission of promoting continuing professional development and advocating for policies that benefit the sector. The continued success of the PAA Congress reaffirms the vital role that agriculturists play in promoting the growth of the sector.
