I’ve been writing interviewing folks from different areas of the agriculture industry on their thoughts on RA12215, also known as the Philippine Agriculturists Act. So far, the folks who are willing to voice their thoughts and those of their colleagues are those who will not be directly impacted by the law, which is a different concern altogether and is a topic for a different columnist.

Past interviewees have included an NGO worker and someone from the academe. This time, it’s someone from the private sector.

Earwin Belen is a freelance registered agriculturist whose main advocacy is urban agriculture and digital agriculture. He echoes what many people think, that the law is an important milestone for the industry, but it should be implemented in such a way that it doesn’t restrict or exclude present and potential players. “The Philippine Association of Agriculturists and other stakeholders [have been pushing for the law],” he said.

He offered a bit of background: The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 included a section that provided for the creation of a board of agriculturists within the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Agriculturists were required to take licensure exams only after the Implementing Rules and Regulations were approved around 2002-2004. “This created the Board of Agriculture that manages the agriculture profession,” he said in Taglish.

“[Most agriculture students take] the board exam primarily because they want to [work in] or work with the government, because one of the requirements of government service is having a PRC license, aside from having civil service eligibility.”

Belen adds that while these are the official requirements, they don’t always reflect reality. “In practice, it’s not being done because there are many municipal agriculturists who don’t have licenses and are just appointed by the mayor or given an item by someone who supports them,” he said. “This can be a problem in terms of the kind of service we are providing farmers. [For example], I’ve heard stories where the assigned person was a nurse… they might have experience, but in terms of the requirement as an agriculturist, they don’t have credentials.

“So the aim of the law is to formalize the profession, and at the same time to provide standards both for government and private practice of agriculture.”

While the law has the best interest of the industry in mind, critics have pointed out areas that need further study. “When the law was passed, there was some contention, especially with academic and research personnel, because if you read the law, it’s very encompassing. There are parts that don’t seem to be part of an agriculturist’s repertoire.”

For example, under the law, an economics professor will not be allowed to teach agricultural economics without an agriculturist license. Other professions that might be affected include agricultural engineers, foresters, environmental planners, landscape architects, and veterinarians. “These are the things that need to be balanced,” Belen said. “Even if we have this agriculturist law, it might create conflict with other existing professions.”

Come back next week, as I continue and conclude this interview. At the end of the day, what all of us want is an agriculture sector that lifts everybody up and leaves no one behind.