FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
•. : ,. ~ 
SENATE 
SoB. NOo2056 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO Jo ANGARA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The new millennium poses bigger and even more difficult challenges. The 
increasing population puts more pressure on our natural resources. The twin demands of 
the environment and the people brings to fore the recognition of agroforestry as the key to 
resource rehabilitation, sustainable development and preservation of these natural 
resources. 
Interestingly, the Philippines is one of the first countries to practice agroforestry. 
For a country with an estimated twenty million (roughly 24%) of its popUlation living in 
the uplands, the magnitude of the practice of agroforestry cannot be overstressed. As a 
land-use management system, agroforestry is new market opportunities, new business 
investments, sustainable agricultures, land stewardship, habitat for wildlife, lmproved 
water quality, and diversified farm income. 
In particular, agroforestry practices help landowners to diversify products, markets, 
and fam1 income; improve soil and water quality; reduce erosion, non-point source 
pollution and damage due to flooding; enhance land and aquatic habitats for fish and 
wildlife; and improve biodiversity while sustaining land resources for generations to come. 
A critical mass of quality agroforestry practitioners, therefore, is necessary to advance 
agroforestry systems and practices to a scale significant for improving the quality of lives 
in the upland and throughout the landscape. 
Yet, despite its irrefutable importance in the country1s drive for sustainable 
agricultural development, agroforestry face a challenge in integr!lting itself as a 
profession/field of endeavor in the country's policies. To address the increasing demand for 
field technicians equipped with the needed agroforestry knowledge and skills, this unique 
field, which is neither Agriculture nor Forestry demand its recognition as a new and 
separate occupatifmal cluster of study 
Although it has been considered as the main production technology / tool in the 
implementation of the Community-Based Forest Management Program as exemplified in 
Executive Order No. 263 series of 1995, and is among the fields of agriculture and 
fisheries that is exemplified in the Agriculture and Fisheries Mo.demization Act 
(AFMA) of 1997, there is an evident lack of a governing body that will assess, eValuate, 
standardize, and enhance the Agroforestry curriculum. 
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This brings to fore the necessity of this measure. 
It is envisioned that this bill would establish the distinct role of agroforestry as a 
science and as a profession in providing the farm households with stable and ready source 
of sufficient food to reduce the upland farmers' food insecurity. After aU, agroforestry is an 
essential part of the effort to feed the people in our uplands by aUowing the production of 
"more food on less land and less labor." 
Approval of the measure is earnestly sought. 
w/~ 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
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" 
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' 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
, 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2056 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
AN ACT 
TO STANDARDIZE AND ENHANCE THE PRACTICE OF AGROFORESTRY 
IN THE COUNTRY, CREATING THE BOARD OF AGROFORESTRY UNDER 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATIONS COMMISSION, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY, OBJE~TlVES 
AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE 
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SECTION. 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Agro 
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jorestryActoj2010." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration oj Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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respond to the need of professionalizing the field of agroforestry in the country as a tool 
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towards sustainable socio-economic development and environmental protection, 
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Toward this end, the State shall establish and maintain a Board of Agroforestry that 
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shall conduct, among others, a national board examination to all graduates of a four-year 
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degre~ program in agroforestry or its equivalent, regulate, and sustain the practice of the 
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profession for efficient and effective public service, 
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SEC 3. Objectives. This Act shall provide for and govern: 
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a) The standardization and regulation of agroforestry education; 
b) The giving of licensure examinations to graduates of recognized agroforestry 
schools for the purpose of registration; 
c) The promotion and development of agroforestry research in the country; and 
d) The regulation, control, and supervision of the practice of Agroforestry in the 
Philippines, 
SEC. 4. Definitions. For purposes of this Act, 
a) "Board" refers to the Professional Regulatory Board of Agroforestry, hereby 
created as the regulatory body, under the administrative, executive and policy 
supervision of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), for the practice 
of Agroforestry in the Philippines and tasked with powers, functions and 
responsibilities herein prescribed; 
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, b) "Commission" refers to the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), 
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created under Republic Act No, 8981 or the Professional Regulations 
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Commission Modemization Act of2000;" 
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c) "Agroforester" refers to any person who has passed the licensure examination 
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for the agroforestry professional administered by the Board/Commission, taken 
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the oath of an Agroforester, and duly 'registered and issued with a certification 
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of good standing and is allowed under this act to engage in or to perform 
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activities, acts or services constituting the professional practice of agroforestry 
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including those who hold a position in the government service or teaches 
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subjects in schools, colleges or universities, requiring the knowledge of 
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Agroforestry; 
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d) "Agroforestry" refers to the science, arts and practice that deals with the 
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production, arrangement and utilization of woody perennials in combination 
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with other agricultural crops, animals, aquatic and lor other resources either 
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zonal, mixed simultaneously or sequentially grown for the twin purpose of 
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conservation and socio-economic productivity; and 
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e) "Agroforestry professional practice" refers to the activities, acts, services or 
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pursuits exclusively performed by PRC registered and licensed professional 
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agroforesters, the scope thereof is prescribed andlor specified herein. 
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SEC. 5. Scope of Practice. The practice of Agroforestry shall include, but not be 
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limited to, the following: 
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a) Preparation and certification of Agroforestry systems and interactive diagnosis 
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and design, feasibility studies, and specifications for the production, harvesting, 
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processing, utilization and marketing. of woody perellllials and agricultural 
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crops and! or animals for multiple products and services including conservation 
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and cleaner production practices; 
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b) Development of management plans with a step-by-step time-line plans with 
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recommendations on appropriate species and strategies for the unique site; a 
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plan for long-term fertility management; for marketing final products including 
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budget and economic projections; farm and pasture diversification plans of 
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ranches, fruit growers and farms to diversity products and integrate more tress 
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into their plantings, with appropriate species and techniques to support existing 
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crops, reduce expenses and increase the diversity and economic resiliency of 
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the project. These may include animal fodder, windbreaks, much bank. shade 
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integrated timber or native trees, and rna other practices; 
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c) Planning and implementation of agroforestry nurseries including seed orchards, 
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tissue-culture and clonal banks operations; soil and water resources 
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conservation measures' conduct of environmental risk and impact assessments 
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and geospatioal analysis and maj1agement of resources; and wood products 
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manufacturing and marketing; 
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d) Provision of related activities or services such as the conduct of agroforestry 
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experiments, research, extension, development, training or communications; the 
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teaching of subjects in academic institutions ad for licensure examinations in 
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' conformity with Section 11 of Republic Act No 8981; undertaking, supervision 
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and!or administration of studies, program, stations, center, community! 
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provincial! regional! national offices of government agencies and institutions 
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requiring agroforestry professionals; technical or management consultants 
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needed by or required of local government units, private corporations, 
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foundations, non-government association and foreign assisted projects; and 
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e) All agroforestry concerns, projects, business activities or related services must 
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be certified by a professional Agroforester before such will be accepted by any 
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entity for registration, getting business permits or licenses in municipalities, any 
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financial institutions, legal transactions and the like. Such requirement shall 
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ensure that agroforestry activities will conform to the observance of the 
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requirements of good agroforestry environmental protection, pollution 
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prevention, conservation, health risk and cleaner production practices affecting 
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the natural resources and the ecosystem. Furthermore, the certification of and 
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by an Agroforester on projects/ businesses is an evidence of careful studies 
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made on the projects in accordance with Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries 
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Development Zones (SAFDZs), the land use and zoning ordinances, protection 
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of watersheds areas, the housing and land use regulations as provided for in 
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Republic Act No. 8435 and other laws. 
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ARTICLE II 
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PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF AGROFORESTRY 
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SEC. 6. The Professional Regulatory Board of Agroforestry and its Composition. 
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The Professional Regulatory Board of Agroforestry, hereinafter referred to as the "Board," 
IS 
under the supervision and administrative control of the Professional Regulation 
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Commission, hereinafter referred to as the "Commission," shall be composed of a 
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. Chainnan and four (4) members, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines from a 
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list of three (3) recommendees for each position and ranked by the Commission from a list 
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of five (5) qualified nominees endorsed by the accredited professional organization of 
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certified agroforesters, within ninety (90) working days after the approval of this Act. 
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The Board shall elect a vice-chairman from among its members for a term of one 
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(I) year. The Chairman shall preside in all meetings of the Board and in the event of a 
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vacancy in the office of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall assume the post until such 
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time as a chainnan is appointed. 
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SEC. 7. Qualifications of Members of the Professional Regulatory Board. A 
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member of the Board shall, at the time of his / her appointment, possess the following 
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qualifications: . 
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a) Must be a natural-born citizen and resident of the Philippines; 
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b) Must have engaged in the practice of Agroforestry for at least ten (10) years; 
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c) Must be of good moral character and must not have been convicted of a crime 
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involving moral turpitude; and 
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d) Must not have any pecuniary interest, for a period of at least one (I) year prior 
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to his or her appointment, directly or indirectly, in any school, college, 
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university or institution conferring an academic degree necessary for admission 
to the practice of agroforestry or where review classes in preparation for the 
licensure examination are being offered or conducted, nor shall he / she be a 
member of the faculty or administration thereof at the time of his / her 
appointment to the Board. 
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SEC. 8. Term of Office. The chairman and members of the Board shall hold office 
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for a term of three (3) years without prejudice for reappointment to another term, but in no 
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case shall he/she serve continuously for more than six (6) years. At the expiration of the 
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term of the Chairperson, the most senior of the remaining members of the Board shall 
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assume and perform the duties and functions and receive the emoluments and entitlements 
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of the Chairperson. The incumbent members of the Board shall continue to serve their 
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respective remaining terms until their successors shall have been appointed and have 
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qualified in accordance with this Act. 
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SEC 9. Powers and Functions of the Board. The Board shall exercIse the 
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following powers, functions and responsibilities, in addition to the pertinent general 
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functions of the Commission under Republic Act 8981: 
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a) To create a registry of agroforestry professionals in the country; 
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b) To prepare, conduct and administer the agroforestry licensure examinations; 
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c). To provide information and other educational materials, promotions and 
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networking services to facilitate the activities of the Board; 
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d) To hear and investigate cases, issue summons and subpoena duces tecum, and 
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conduct summary proceedings in cases arising from violations of this Act; 
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e) To suspend, revoke, reissue, reinstate certificates of registration or licenses for 
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cause allowed by law; 
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f) Subject to the approval of the Commission, to adopt and promulgate rules and 
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regulations implementing this Act, including its Code' of Ethics to effectively 
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execute the provisions of this Act; and 
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g) To exercise such other powers as may be provided by law as well as those 
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which may be implied from, or which are necessary or incidental in carrying 
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out the express powers granted to the Board to achieve the objectives of this 
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Act. 
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SEC. 10. Grounds for Suspension or Removal of Members of the Board. The 
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President of the Philippines, after due process has been undertaken by and upon 
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recommendation of the Commission, may suspend or remove any member of the Board for 
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cause on the following grounds: 
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a) Neglect of duty or incompetence; 
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b) , Violation or tolerance of any violation of this Act or any of its implementing 
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rules and regulations; 
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·c) Final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude; 
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d) Manipulation or rigging of the agroforestry licensure examination results, 
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disclosure of secret and confidential information in the examination questions 
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prior to the conduct of the said examination or tampering of grades; and Graft 
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and Corruption. 
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ARTICLE III 
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EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION AND LICENSURE 
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SEC 11. The Agroforestry Licensure Examination. All applicants for registration 
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for the practice of agroforestry shall be required to undergo a licensure examination to be 
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given by the Board in such places and dates as the Commission may designate subject to 
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the requirements prescribed by the Commission. 
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SEC 12. Qualifications of Applicants for Examination. Any person applying for 
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examination shall establish, to the satisfaction ofthe Board, theJollowing requisites: 
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a) That he/she is a Filipino citizen and a resident of the 
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b) That he/she is of good moral character; 
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c) That he/she is a holder of a degree of Bachelor of Science in Agroforestry 
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conferred by a school, college, or institute duly recognized and / or accredited 
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by the G-lED or other authorized government offices; and 
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d) That he/she has not been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude. 
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Philippines. 
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SEC 13. Scope of Examination. The licensure examination for licensed 
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agroforesters shall cover, but are not limited to, the following subjects: 
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a. Crop Science in Agroforestry Systems; 
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b. Animal Science in Agroforestry Systems; 
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c. Integrated Pests and Disease Management; 
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d. Soil Science and Water Conservation; 
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e. Agroforestry Science and Technology system; and 
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f. 
Applied Sociology and Extension. 
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The Board, upon approval of the Commission, may revise or exclude any of the 
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subjects and their syllabi, and add new ones as the need arises. 
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SEC. 14. Rating in the Licensure Examination. To qualify as having passed the 
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licensure examination for agforesters, a candidate must obtain a general average of seventy 
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five percent (75%), with no grade lower than sixty-five percent (65%) in any given subject. 
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SEC.IS. Report Of Rating. The Board shall submit to the Commission the rating 
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obtained by each candidate within ten (10) calendar days after the examination, unless 
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extended for just cause. Upon the release of the results of the examination, the 
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Commission shall send by mail the rating received by each examinee at his / her given 
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address u~ing the mailing envelope submitted during the examination. 
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. SEC. 16. Oath. All successful candidates in the examination shall required to take 
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an oath of profession before any member of the Board or before any government official 
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authorized of the Commission or any person authorized by law to administer oaths upon 
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presentation of proof of his/her qualification, prior to entering upon the practice of the 
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profession. 
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SEC. 17. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification 
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Card. A certificate of registration shall be issued to examinees who passes the licensure 
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examination subject to payment of fees prescribed by the Commission. The Certificate of 
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Registration shall bear the signature of the chairperson of the Commission and the 
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chairman and members of the Board, stamped with the official seal of the Commission and 
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of the Board, indicating that the person named therein is entitled to the practice of the 
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profession with all the privileges appurtenant thereto. TIle said certificate shall remain in 
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full force and effect until withdrawn, suspended or revoked in accordance with this Act 
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A Professional Identification Card bearing the registration number date of issuance, 
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expiry date, duly signed by the chairperson of the Commission, shall likewise be issued to 
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every registrant renewable 
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SEC 18. Roster of Licensed Agroforesters. A roster showing the names and place 
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of business of all registered professional agroforesters shall be prepared and updated by the 
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Board, and copies thereof shall be made available to any party as may deemed necessary. 
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SEC. 19. Indication of Certificate of Registration, Identification Card and 
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Professional Tax Receipt. The licensed Agroforester shall be required to indicate his / her 
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certificate of registration number, the date of issuance, the duration of validity, including 
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the Professional Tax Receipt number on the documents he I she signs, uses, or issues in 
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connection with the practice of his / her profession. 
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SEC. 20. Refusal to Issue Certificate of Registration and Professional 
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Identification Card. The Board shall not register and issue a certificate of registration and 
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Professional Identification Card to any successful examinee convicted by the court of 
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competent jurisdiction of a criminal offence involving moral turpitude or guilty of immoral 
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and dishonorable conduct to any person or unsound mind. In the event of refusal to issue 
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certificate for any reason, the Board shall give the applicant a written statement setting 
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forth the reasons for such action, which statement shall be incorporated in the record of the 
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Board. 
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SEC. 21. Suspension and Revocation of Certificate of Registration and 
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Professional Identification Card and Cancellation of Special Permit. The Board shall 
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have the power, upon the notice and hearing, to suspend or revoke the practitioner's 
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certificate of registration and professional identification card or suspend hislher from the 
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practice of his/her profession or cancel hislher special permit for any of the causes or 
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ground mentioned under Section 23 of this Act or any of the provisions of this Act, and its 
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implementing rules and regulations, the certified Public Accolmtant's Code of Ethics and 
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the technical and professional standards of practice for certified public accountants. 
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SEC. 22. Reinstatement, Reissuance and Replacement of Revoked or Lost 
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Certificates. The Board may, after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of 
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revocation of a certificate of registration and upon application and for reasons deemed 
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proper and sufficient, reinstate the validity of a revoked certificate of registration and in so 
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doing, may, in its discretion, exempt the applicant from taking another examination. 
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A new certificate of registration to replace lost, destroyed, or mutilated 
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certificate/license may be issued, subject to the rules and promulgated by the Board and the 
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Commission, upon the payment of the required fees, 
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ARTICLE IV 
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PENAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
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SEC, 23. Penal Provisions. Any person who shall practice the Agroforestery 
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profession in the Philippines within the meaning of this Act without a certificate of 
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registration and / or professional license in accordance herewith, or any person presenting 
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or using ~s his / her own Certificate of Registration or professional licensure belonging to 
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another, or any person giving any false or forged evidence to the Commission in order to 
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secure a professional license, or any person assuming, using or advertising as a registered 
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professional agroforester without having been conferred such title, or advertising any title 
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description tending to convey the impression that he or she is a registered professional 
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Agroforester, shall, upon conviction, by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos 
20. 
(50,000.00) or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding two (2) years or both, at the 
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discretion of the court. 
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SEC. 24. Employment of Agroforesters in the Government. In furtherance of the 
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national government's program for sustainable agricultural development, there is a need to 
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adopt mechanisms for the placement and employment of agroforestry graduates in the 
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government sector. 
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Thus, it is hereby mandated that all municipalities with at least twenty per centum 
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(20%) of the total upland area of the municipality shall create at least one (1) plantilla 
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position for Agroforestry Officer at the Municipal Agriculturist Office, all provinces shall 
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create at least one (l) plantilla position for Agroforestry Specialist at the Office of the 
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Provincial Agriculturist. The aforesaid agroforestry plantiIla positions shall be occupied by 
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a professional Agroforester as defined in this Act. 
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Whenever necessary, national government agencies concerned in agroforestry-
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related activities may also create plantilla positions for agroforesters as they may deem 
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appropriate. 
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The Board shall initiate the development of a position classification standards to be 
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led by the Civil Service Commission in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, 
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. the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Departmertt of Environment and 
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Natural Resources, one (1) year after the approval of this Act in accordance with existing 
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Salary Standardization Laws. 
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SEC. 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations.. Within ninety (90) days after the 
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effectivity of this Act, the Board, subject to the approval of the Commission and in 
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coordination with accredited national professional organization of licensed agroforesters, 
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shall adopt and promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions 
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of this Act. 
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SEC. 26. Funding Provision. The chairperson of the Professional Regulation 
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Commission shall immediately include in the Commission's programs the implementation 
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of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
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Act. 
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SEC. 27. Transitory Provision. The incumbent chairman and members of the 
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Board shall continue to serve in their respective positions under the terms for they have 
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been appointed under Presidential Decree No. 692, without the need of new appointments. 
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. All graduates with Bachelors Degree, Major in Agroforestry shall be allowed to 
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take the Agroforestry Licensure Examination within two (2) years from the effectivity of 
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this Act under the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Board subject to the 
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approval by the Commission. 
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SEC 28. Foreign Reciprocity. Except in the case of persons . otherwise exempt 
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under the provisions of this Act, no agroforester who is a citizen of a foreign country or a 
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particular state shall be granted any of the rights of privilege under this Act, unless the 
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country or state of which he is a subject or a citizen permits agroforesters who are Filipino 
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citizens to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens 
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of such country or state but under the circumstances shall such a set-up be initiated by the 
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Philippine Government. 
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SEC. 29. Enforcement. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) shall be 
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the enforcement agency of the Board. As such, the Commission shall implement the 
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concerned provisions of this act, enforce its Implementing Rules and regulations (IRR) as 
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adopted by the Board, conduct investigations of complaints including violations of the 
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Code of Ethics/Conduct of the profession and prosecute when so warranted. If necessary, 
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the Commission may seek the assistance of other duly constituted authorities in the 
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enforcement of the law. 
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SEC 30. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act or an application thereof 
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to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the other provisions of this Act, and the 
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application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected 
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thereby. 
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SEC. 31. Repealing Clause. All existing laws, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
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thereof deemed inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, 
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or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 32. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation, whichever comes first. 
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Approved, 
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