A newly approved bill seeks to establish a regulatory body for agriculture, aiming to professionalize the sector and enhance industry standards.

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 11186, which establishes a Professional Regulatory Board for Agriculture under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to oversee licensure examinations, registration, and continuing professional development programs.

“Agriculture remains one of the most crucial sectors of our economy, yet its practitioners lack a governing law that ensures their competency and professional growth,” the bill’s sponsor Camarines Sur Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. stressed.

The proposed regulatory board will be composed of a chairperson and five members, each representing key disciplines: crop science, animal science, soil science, crop protection, agricultural economics/business/entrepreneurship, and agricultural extension and communication. 

Moreover, the board will be tasked with formulating policies, administering licensure exams, and setting ethical and technical standards for agriculture professionals.

To strengthen accountability, the bill restricts the use of the title “Registered Agriculturist (R.Agr)” to licensed individuals. 

HB 1186 also mandates the creation of a single, nationally recognized professional organization for agriculturists, which the PRC will accredit as the sole accredited integrated professional organization (AIPO). 

Under the bill, all registered agriculturists will automatically become AIPO members and gain access to benefits upon payment of dues.

Furthermore, the board will develop a Code of Ethics and a Code of Technical Standards in consultation with the AIPO to ensure ethical practice within the profession.

“This measure ensures that agriculture professionals receive the same recognition and regulatory framework as other fields, ultimately strengthening the sector and boosting food security,” Bordado furthered.

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