SENATOR Ramon ”Bong’ Revilla Jr. has filed a bill that seeks to regulate the practice of agriculture profession.

Senate Bill 1544 or the proposed Professional Agriculturists Act aims to create a Professional Regulatory Board for agriculturists.

The measure seeks to put the country’s agriculture profession at par with other professions, thereby ensuring the continuing professional development of agriculture workers.

“The backbone of the Philippine economy remains to be the agriculture industry. More than ever before the country faces the challenge of achieving food security under the looming threat of a global food crisis caused by, among others, spiraling fuel and energy costs and the degradation of the world’s natural resources,” Revilla said in his explanatory note.

The senator cited the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 which mandates the Professional Regulation Commission to create a Board of Agriculture.

Revilla said that since the implementation of the licensure examination for agriculture graduates, there have been numerous issues and concerns on the importance of having a license to practice agriculture.