Agriculturist licensure exams sought

MANILA, Philippines - Those who are aspiring to practice agriculture as a profession may need to pass a licensure examination first.

Palawan Rep. Douglas Hagedorn filed House Bill 5212 which seeks to regulate the country's agriculture profession to make it world-class and globally competitive.

Visit our Bill Tracker to view the proposed measure.

"This can be done through effective and credible licensure examinations and through regulatory measures, programs and activities that foster their professional growth and development," Hagedorn said.

The Palawan solon noted that agriculture is essential in nation building and development thus, the need to develop and nurture competent and productive licensed agriculturists.

Under the proposed measure, applicants for the agriculturist licensure examination must have proof that he or she is a Filipino citizen or a foreign citizen whose country has reciprocity with the Philippines' practice of agriculture.

Only those who are graduates of bachelor of science in agriculture, master of science or a doctor of philisophy degree in any specialized field of agriculture in Commission on Higher Education-accredited institutions may apply for the examination.

The bill provides that applicants must be of good moral character and must not have been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent jurisdiction.

A Professional Regulatory Board of Agriculture will be created under the bill which will be supervised by the Professional Regulatory Commission.

According to the World Bank, the agriculture industry accounts for 12 percent of the country's gross domestic product as of 2013.