Announcements
Aklan State University Hosts PAA Visayas Cluster Meeting
Aklan State University hosted an important meeting as it welcomed the officers from the Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. (PAA).
The Visayas Cluster meeting was held last March 7, 2024, and brought together PAA national officers and selected representatives from PAA Regions VI, VII, and VIII. To represent the PAA headquarters, Dr. Roberto F. Ranola, Jr. (PAA Chairperson); Dr. Karen S. Bautista (PAA National President); Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. (PAA National Vice President); and Ms. Teza Carpio (Executive Secretary) were present to discuss the plans and programs at the regional level.
In the president’s report, Dr. Bautista outlined the ongoing projects that are being implemented at the national level. She also presented the updates on Philippine Agriculturists bills (House Bill 9725 and Senate Bill 2535) and Ad Hoc committee reports including the recent holding of policy fora, corporate social responsibility, and information and communication campaigns.
Stressing the opportunities for collaborations and knowledge-sharing, Dr. Rañola invited the Visayas Chapter to hold their own activities to support CSR and continuing professional development (CPD) of registered agriculturists in the Visayas region. Organizing regional conventions/congresses was also suggested to accommodate those who will not be able to attend the PAA National Convention which was scheduled in July this year.
The meeting served as a venue for national and regional officers to exchange ideas, share best practices, and innovative strategies to further support the professionalization of Agriculture in the country.
PAA’s commitment in promoting the agriculture profession is evident in its dedication to involve all regions and every single agriculturist in its programs and activities. The PAA Visayas Cluster meeting proved to be productive, highlighting the importance of cooperation and synergy to drive a unified goal.
Other attendees in the meeting include: Dr. Michael T. Ibisate (Region VI); Aurelio D. Esmediana, Jr. (Region VI); Dr. Fabio G. Enriquez (Region VII); Antonio M. Añano III (Region VIII); and John Paul R. Gapasin (Region VIII).
Regional Chapters Attend 1st PAA Mindanao-wide Cluster Meeting, PAA Davao Eagle Chapter Oath Taking
PAA National and PAA Regional Chapter officers from Regions X, XI, XII, CARAGA and BARMM attend the 1st Mindanao-wide cluster meeting
The 1st PAA Mindanao Cluster Meeting was convened on 07 February 2024 at the Grand Menseng Hotel, Davao City. Representatives from the PAA National Office - Dr. Roberto F. Ranola, Jr., Dr. Karen S. Bautista, and Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr.; and PAA Executive Secretary Ms. Teza Carpio - together with the officers from PAA Regional Chapters X, XI, XII, CARAGA, and BARRM gathered at the meeting to discuss the PAA programs at the regional level and challenges encountered in the provision of support to our PAA members in the region.
Dr. Purificacion O. Cahatian, PAA Mindanao Cluster Head, explained the rationale of the activity, while Dr. Anastacia G. Notarte, Regional XI Chapter President, provided the welcome remarks. Dr. Bautista, PAA National President, presented the updates on the implementation of programs on policy advocacy, information and education campaigns, membership and continuing professional development (CPD) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Likewise, she discussed the salient points of the Philippine Agriculturists Bill (House Bill 9725 or An Act to Regulate the Practice of Agriculture as a Profession in the Philippines). In addition, she encouraged the regional chapter presidents to coordinate with the House Representative in their respective region/province and present the PA Bill to solicit legislative support.
Changes on the PAA governance were highlighted during the meeting. To facilitate a more proactive implementation of CPD and CSR activities at the regional level, 50% of annual dues will be given to each regional chapter, following the submission of their annual work and financial plan (WFP). To ensure accountability and transparency, subsequent releases will depend on the submission of annual accomplishment report, audited financial report, and photocopy of bank statements.
Another key agenda item was the election of regional representatives. It was noted that elections in each regional chapter will be held online with assistance from the PAA National Office. The term of office for each elected chapter officer will be co-terminus as the National officers for two years.
Dr. Rañola, Chairperson of PAA, suggested conducting consultative meetings to reach a consensus on the election process. To facilitate this, parallel cluster meetings should be held with the Luzon and the Visayas clusters’ regional representatives to draft a Board resolution outlining the electoral process.
The first PAA Mindanao Cluster Meeting laid the groundwork for strengthened regional participation and cooperation in the upcoming year. Each regional representative presented updates on their upcoming activities. For Region 10, Ma. Lilit M. Turan reported that PAA Pineapple Chapter is planning to schedule an oath taking ceremony for Agriculturists Licensure Examination (ALE) passers on 22 Feb 2024 in Cagayan de Oro, although they are still waiting for confirmation from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Davao Eagle Chapter president Anastacia G. Notarte reported that they will hold a “CPD Training on Increased Productivity in Changing Environment” on 25-26 April 2024 in Davao del Norte Sport and Tourism Complex, Mankilam, Tagum City; while Joseph S. Quisado presented the Region 12 SOCCSKSARGEN report on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in Sarangani where they provided vegetable seeds and seedlings for reforestation.
The productive meeting ended with a consensus on building more projects and activities to provide vast opportunities for employment for agriculture graduates.
The following day, the Philippine Regulatory Board (PRB) of Agriculture, the PRC Region XI, and the PAA Davao Eagle Chapter organized a Regional Oath Taking ceremony at the Grand Menseng Hotel, Davao City, 08 February 2024. More than 500 Passers of the Agriculturists Licensure Exam from 31 schools in various parts of Mindanao took the Oath of Professional. PRB Agriculture Chair Dr. Emma K. Sales led the induction of newly Registered Agriculturists. Meanwhile, Dr. Bautista discussed the PAA programs and activities to newly Registered Agriculturists and facilitated the Oath of Membership.
PREVIOUS UPDATE:
The Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. (PAA) through Dr. Roberto F. Rañola, Jr., PAA Chairperson, and Dr. Karen S. Bautista, PAA National President, met with House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation Chairperson and Bohol 3rd District Representative Kristine Alexie Besas-Tutor on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 to discuss the revised Philippine Agriculturist Bill (PA Bill) which has been filed as House Bill No. 9725. With them were Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Commissioner Erwin M. Enad, Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) of Agriculture Chairperson Emma K. Sales, Dr. Annabelle Sarabia, and Dr. Eric Palacpac.
𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋. Despite the licensing of agriculturists in the country, the agriculture profession does not have a particular enabling law or charter unlike other professions regulated by the PRC. Instead, the agriculture profession remains to operate under a mere administrative issuance in its professionalization.
Hence, HB No. 9725 was filed as “An act regulating the practice of the agriculture profession in the Philippines, creating for the purpose of a professional regulatory board for agriculturists, and appropriating funds therefore.”
Under the proposed Bill, the Professional Regulatory Board of Agriculture shall oversee the examination, registration, and licensing of agriculture practitioners. As such, in order to pass the exam, the candidate must obtain a rating of seventy-five percent (75%) or above in all fields of agriculture including Crop Science, Animal Science, Soil Science, Crop Protection, Agricultural Economics/ Agribusiness/ Agri-entrepreneurship, and Agricultural Extension and Communication with no rating below fifty percent (50%) in any of the subject areas mentioned.
The Board shall also permit the candidate to retake the exam in the subject area where he failed to obtain a rating of fifty percent (50%) or above, provided that the examinee obtained an average rating of seventy-five percent (75%) or better. The examinee shall retake the exam on the subject that he failed only once immediately in the proceeding Licensure Examination for Agriculturists, or he shall be subjected to undergo a refresher course equivalent to 36 units if he fails the exam thrice.
PAA unites with PRB Agriculture and PRC to champion the Philippine Agriculturist Bill
Moreover, the 𝐏𝐀 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥, 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬. This covers all agriculture technical positions which require the professional expertise of a Registered Agriculturist as deemed necessary by the Board. Because of the technical requirements to fill such positions, it was further recommended that the minimum base pay of Registered Agriculturists working in the government, including State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), shall not be lower than Salary Grade 13.
𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋. Consultative meetings were carried out on August 17 and on September 4, 2023 with PRC Commissioner Enad; PRB Agriculture Chair Sales; PRB Agriculture Members (Gonzalo O. Catam, Jr., Dr. Nora B. Inciong, Vicente L. Domingo, Dr. Palacpac, and Dr. Sarabia); PAA representatives (Dr. Rañola, Dr. Bautista, and Ramon Oliveros); and a legal team to review the draft of the PA Bill.
In the light of transparency and accountability, the draft of the proposed PA Bill was circulated to other Professional Regulatory Boards from October to November 2023 to examine if there are conflicts of interest in the proposal. Other PRC Boards did not raise any objection.
On December 12, 2023, PA Bill was filed as HB No. 9725 with Cong. Besas-Tutor, Chair of the House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation. HB No. 9725 is now headed for House Committee Review with Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., and for Senate Committee Review with Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri by early next year.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) also pledged commitment to drafting a complementary bill that would amend the Local Government Code to require the hiring of City/Municipal Agriculturists in the Local Government Unit.
The Bill’s filing is considered as one of PAA’s accomplishments in its undertaking to contribute to the improvement and mainstreaming of policies, rules and regulations, and legislative orders to significantly improve the agriculture profession and the agriculture sector in the country. It is also a serious reiteration of the previous initiatives of PAA to advance agriculture as a profession through legislation.
The year is drawing to an end, and it is indeed a promising one for the Philippine agriculture profession. With this development, PAA is committed to follow-up with the Bill, advocate for the filing of a parallel bill in the Senate, and eventually be enacted into law.
An insightful meeting between PAA representatives and Hon. Besas-Tutor as they discuss the stipulations in the proposed PA Bill, bringing about potential transformative change in the Agriculture profession
Dr. Bautista proudly holds the copy of the proposed PA Bill (L) which was filed as HB No. 9725 (R) at the office of Hon. Besas-Tutor
National Conference on Agricultural Science and Technology (NCAST)
PRC Grants NCAST 12 CPD Points.
The organizers of the National Conference on Agricultural Science & Technology (NCAST) are pleased to announce that PRC granted the said conference a total of 12 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Points.
What are you waiting for? REGISTER NOW!
By scanning the QR code below or visit this link:
https://forms.gle/RN7n1LS8YYgt5MN58
Conference Date: March 24 - 25, 2022
Mode: Online (via Zoom)
Registration Fee: Php 500.00
PAA Midyear Convention
Registration fee: PHP 300.00
Register now at: https://bit.ly/PAAmidYr
With approved CPD points of 5 credit units
CSSP: 2nd FPSAP
We are inviting everyone to the CSSP's 2nd FPSAP Scientific Conference on September 1-2, 2021 through Zoom.
You may submit your Abstracts and Nominations through the links below.
FPSAP Abstract Form: click here
Nominations Abstract Form: click here