Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 10913

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF THE AGRICULTURE PROFESSION IN THE
PHILIPPINES, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE A PROFESSIONAL
REGULATORY BOARD FOR AGRICULTURISTS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported in August 2023 that the service sector was
the largest employer, making up 57.3% of all jobs, while agriculture followed with 24.5%.
Agriculture and forestry were among the sectors with the most job growth that month. The

agriculture sector includes crucial workers like registered and licensed agriculturists.

The effort to make agriculture a professional field started in 1997 with the "Agriculture
and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997." This law created the Board of Agriculture under the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and started the process of licensing agriculturists
in the Philippines. However, agriculture is regulated differently than other professions, as it
does not have a specific law but is instead guided by an administrative order. There have been
many changes in professional regulation, pointing to the need for updating the rules that govern

this field.


In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

CRISPIN (GO “PING”'B. REMULLA


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

= BILL no, 10813

HOU:

Introduced by Representative Crispi

ego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF THE AGRICULTURE PROFESSION IN THE
PHILIPPINES, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE A PROFESSIONAL
REGULATORY BOARD FOR AGRICULTURISTS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

ARTICLE I
TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY, OBJECTIVES, AND
DEFINITION OF TERMS

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Agriculturists
Act of 2024.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the importance of Registered
Agriculturists in nation-building and development. Hence, it shall develop and nurture
competent, ethical, globally competitive, and well-rounded Registered Agriculturists who shall
observe the highest standards of excellence, and whose professionalism shall be fostered
through the administration of transparent, credible, and relevant licensure examinations, a
system of registration, and through continuing professional development programs and

activites.


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SEC. 3. Objectives. — The Act provides for and shall govern:

(a) The examination, registration, and licensure of agriculture practitioners;

(b) The supervision, control, and regulation of the practice of the Agriculture profession
in the Philippines;

(c) The development and upgrading of the Bachelor of Science (BS) Agriculture
curriculum;

(d) The development of the professional competence of Registered Agriculturists
through Continuing Professional Development (CPD); and

(c) The integration of the agriculture profession.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be

defined as:

(a) Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) refers to a professional
organization that is accredited by the Board and the Commission, which is
specifically mandated under this Act to integrate all Registered Agriculturists into
one national organization and where membership therein is automatic and
mandatory;

(b) Agriculture refers to the art, science, ethics, management, and entrepreneurship in
the production, processing, distribution, and marketing of crop and livestock
commodities, along with soil management and mechanisms to mitigate the effects
of climate change on the said commodities;

(c) Agriculture-related degrees refer to the courses recognized by the Board as allied
to BS Agriculture for purposes of qualifying graduates thereof for the Agriculturists
Licensure Examination and Registration without Examination as Agriculturists;

(d) Board refers to the Professional Regulatory Board of Agriculture;

(e) Commission refers to the Professional Regulation Commission;


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(f) Practice of the Agriculture Profession refers to all activities, acts, services, or
pursuits performed by Registered Agriculturists as herein prescribed or specified;
and

(g) Registered Agriculturists refers to a person who has been issued with a Certificate
of Registration (COR) and Professional Identification Card (PIC) to practice the
Agriculture profession.

ARTICLE IL
PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

SEC. 5. Creation and Composition of the Professional Regulatory Board of
Agriculture. — There is hereby created a Professional Regulatory Board of Agriculture,
hereinafter referred to as the Board, under the administrative supervision and control of the
Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission. The Board
shall be composed of a chairperson and five (5) members. Each member shalll represent of the
six (6) fields of specialization listed in Section 14, Article III hereof. The chairperson and
members of the Board shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from the two (2)
recommendees for each position submitted by the Commission from a list of three (3) nominees
for each position submitted by the Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) for
Registered Agriculturists. In the event that there is no AIPO or in case of failure or refusal of
the AIPO to submit Board nominees, the Commission may determine other sources of
nominees, including other professional organizations and the academe.

The new Board shall be constituted within six (6) months from the effectivity of this

Act.

SEC. 6. Qualifications and Disqualifications of the Chairperson and Members of

the Board. — At the time of their nomination, the chairperson and members of the Board must:

(a) Be a natural-born Filipino citizen and resident of the Philippines;


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(b) Be of good moral character and must not have been convicted of any crime involving
moral turpitude;

(c) Be a member in good standing of the AIPO for Registered Agriculturists;

(d) Be a holder of a degree in BS Agriculture, preferably with an MA/MS and/or PhD in
any agriculture discipline obtained from a school, college. or university recognized by
the government. Provided, that each member of the Board shall have served in any of
the six (6) recognized fields of specialization in Agriculture;

(c) Be a Registered Agriculturist, with a valid COR and PIC. and with at least ten (10)
years of relevant experience in Agriculture;

(f) Not be a member of the faculty, whether full-time or part-time, of any school, college
or university where a regular and/or review course in Agriculture is taught, nor shall
have any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in such institution; and

(g) Not be an incumbent officer of trustee of the AIPO for Registered Agriculturists.

SEC. 7. Powers and Functions of the Board. — The Board shall have the following
powers and functions:

(a) Promulgate, administer, and enforce rules and regulations, including the Code of Ethics
and Code of Technical Standards for Registered Agriculturists, to carry out the
provisions of this Act;

(b) Supervise and regulate the licensure, registration, and practice of Registered
Agriculturists;

(c) Determine and evaluate the qualifications of the applications for issuance of the COR,
PIC, and Special Temporary Permit (STP);

(d) Issue, suspend, revoke, or reinstate the COR and PIC or STP for cause;

(©) Prepare and modify the questions for the examination and prescribe the Tables of

Specifications (TOS) of the subjects for examination and their relative weights;


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(1) Administer the Oath of Professional;

(g) Look into the conditions affecting the practice of Agriculture, adopt measures for the
enhancement of the profession and the maintenance of high professional, technical and
ethical standards, and conduct inspection of establishments where Registered
Agriculturists practice their profession;

(h) Inspect, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the
prescribed facilities of universities or colleges offering the course or program of
Agriculture in order to ensure the standards and essential requirements for a qualified
dean and faculty are properly complied with;

(i) Investigate violations of this Act, its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), and
the Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for Registered Agriculturists;

(j) Issue subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance of
respondents or witness or the production of documents relative to the investigation
conducted by the Board and the Commission;

(k) Prepare guidelines for the Continuing Professional Development (CPD), in
coordination with the AIPO for Registered Agriculturists; and

(1) Perform other powers, functions, and duties as may be necessary to effectively
implement this Act.

The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations, orders and decisions issued or
promulgated by the Board shall be subject to the review and approval of the
Commission. However, the Board’s decisions, resolutions, or orders, which are not
interlocutory rendered in an administrative case shall be subject to review only if on
appeal.

SEC. 8. Term of Office. — The members of the Board shall hold office for a term of

five (5) years after appointment or until the successors shall have been appointed and duly


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qualified. Provided, that members of the first Board to be appointed after the approval of this
‘Act shall hold office for the following terms: the two (2) members, one of whom shall be
designated as Chairperson, shall service for five (5) years; two (2) members shall serve for
three (3) years; and the other two (2) members shall serve for one (1) year.

Each member of the Board may only be reappointed for one full term of five (5) years.

A successor to a Member whose term has expired shall be appointed for the full term
of five (5) years from the date of expiration of the term for which the predecessor was
appointed.

‘Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term only.
Each member shall take an oath of office prior to the assumption of duties.

SEC. 9. Compensation and Allowance of the Chairperson and Members of the
Board. — The chairperson and members of the Board shall receive compensation and
allowances comparable to the compensation and allowances received by the chairpersons and
members of the other Professional Regulatory Boards under the Commission as provided in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Suspen:

n and Removal of the Chairperson and Members of the Board.
~ The chairperson or member of the Board may be suspended or removed by the President of
the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Commission, for neglect of duty, abuse of power,
oppression, incompetence, unprofessional, unethical, immoral. or dishonorable conduct,
commission or toleration of irregularities in the conduct of examination or tampering of the
grades therein, or for conviction by final judgment of any criminal offense involving moral
turpitude, after having been given the opportunity to defend oneself in a proper administrative

investigation.

SEC. 11. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, Secretariat and

Support Services. — The Board shall be under the administrative supervision and control of


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the Commission. All records of the Board, including applications for examination, papers and
results, minutes of deliberations, administrative and other investigative cases involving
Registered Agriculturists, shall be kept by the Commission.

The Commission shall designate the Secretary of the Board and other support services
to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 12. Annual Report. — The Board shall, within thirty (30) days after the close of
each calendar year, submit an annual report to the Commission, giving a detailed account of its
proceedings and accomplishments during the year and recommending measures to be adopted,
with the end in view of upgrading and improving the conditions and practice of the Agriculture
profession in the Philippines.

ARTICLE IL
LICENSURE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

SEC. 13. Licensure Examination. — Unless otherwise provided, every applicant
seeking to be registered as an Agriculturists shall undergo a written examination as provided
for in this Act. Examination for the practice of the agriculture profession in the Philippines
shall be given by the Board at least once every year in such places and dates as the Commission
may designate.

SEC. 14. Scope of Examination. — A written examination shall be given to the
applicants for registration as Registered Agriculturists, the scope of which shall include but not
limited to the six (6) foundation subjects as follows:

(a) Crop Science

(b) Animal Science

(©) Crop Protection

(a) Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness/Agri-entrepreneurship; and

(e) Agricultural Extension and Communication


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To conform with the technological and agricultural modernization, the Board may
re-cluster, re-arrange, modify, add to, or exclude from any of the foregoing subjects
as the need arises.

SEC. 15. Qualifications of Applicants for Examination. — In order to be admitted to
the Agriculturists Licensure Examination, an applicant, at the time of filing of application, must
be:

(a) A citizen of the Philippines or a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity

for the practice of the Agriculture profession;

(b) A holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture or any related course from a school,
college, or university recognized by the Government. Provided, that the applicant
has finished a minimum of thirty-six (36) units of agricultural subjects, which shall
include the six (6) foundation subjects under Section 14 hereof. The Agriculture-
related courses herein referred to shall be jointly determined by the Board and the
(CHED; and

(c) Of good moral character and has not been convicted of any crime involving moral
turptitude.
An incumbent holder of any agriculture position in the national, regional, or local
government offices or agencies including government-owned and -controlled
corporations and who has been engaged in agricultural functions acceptable to the
Board may qualify to take the Agriculturists Licensure Examination. Provided, that
they are holders of professional civil service eligibility and must have finished a
minimum of thirty-six (36) units of agricultural subjects, which shall include the six
(6) foundation subjects.

SEC. 16. Ratings in the Examination. — In order for an examinee to pass the

examination, the examinee must obtain an average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in all


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subjects, with no rating below fifty percent (50%) in any subject. However, if an examinee
obtains a general weighted average rating of seventy-five percent (75%) or higher but obtained
a rating below fifty percent (50%) in any of the subjects, the examinee shall be allowed to take
the examination in the subject or subjects where he/she obtained a grade below fifty percent
(50%) only once in the immediately succeeding licensure examination.

‘An examinee who fails to pass the examination thrice shall be required to undergo a
refresher course equivalent to thirty-six (36) units before the examinee shall be allowed to re-
take the examination.

The Board shall prescribe specific guidelines for the implementation of the refresher
course requirement.

SEC. 17. Release of the Results of Examination. — The results of the examination
shall be released within fourteen (14) working days from the last day of the examination, unless
otherwise extended for a valid reason.

SEC. 18. Registration without Examination. — Upon approval of the application and
payment of the prescribed fees, an applicant may be registered as an Agriculturist without
examination if he/she can prove to the satisfaction of the Board that he/she:

(a) Is a graduate of a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture. or any of the other related
baccalaureate programs from a school, college, or university established or
recognized by the government; and

(b) Has served the agriculture industry in any technical capacity from the government
or private sector for not less than five (5) years prior to the effectivity of RA No.
8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 in December 1997
as certified in the service record(s) of the applicant if'a government employee and/or
as certified under oath issues by an authorized official/officer of the firm, company,

or corporation if employed in the private sector.


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Qualified applicants shall be given three (3) years after the effectivity of the IRR to file
their applications for registration without examination, No application beyond such period shall
be accepted and entertained.

SEC. 19. Oath. — All persons qualified for registration, with or without examination,
shall be required to take an oath of profession before any Member of the Board or any
government official authorized by the Commission to administer oaths prior to entering the
practice of the Agriculture profession.

SEC. 20. Issuance of the Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification
Card. —A COR shall be issued to a successful registrant, with or without examination, subject
to the payment of fees prescribed by the Commission. The COR shall bear the signature of the
chairperson of the Commission and the chairperson and members of the Board, stamped with
the official seals of the Commission and the Board, indicating that the person named therein is
entitled to practice the Agriculture profession, with all the benefits and privileges appurtenant
thereto. The COR shall remain in full force and effect until revoked or suspended in accordance
with this Act.

A PIC bearing the registration number and dates of issuance and expiry duly signed by
the chairperson of the Commission shall likewise be issued to every registrant upon payment
of the required fees. Subject to compliance with the prescribed requirements, the PIC shall be
renewed for such period as may be determined by the Board and the Commission.

SEC. 21. Refusal to Register. — The Board shall not register and issue a COR to a
registrant who has been convicted by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of
any criminal offense involving moral turpitude or found guilty of immoral or dishonorable
conduct after an investigation by the Board or has been declared to be of unsound mind. The

reason for the refusal shall be set forth in writing.

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SEC. 22. Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration, Professional

Identification Card or Cancellation of Special Temporary Permit. — The Board may, after

due notice and hearing to the party concerned, revoke the COR and PIC of a Registered
Agriculturist or suspend him/her from the practice of the profession or cancel his/her STP for
any of the causes or grounds under Section 21 hereof or for unprofessional or unethical conduct,
malpractice, or violation of any of the provisions of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics and Code
of Technical Standards for Registered Agriculturists.

SEC. 23. Reinstatement, Reissuance or Replacement of Certificate of Registration
and/or Professional Identification Card. — The Board may reinstate or reissue a revoked
COR after two (2) years from the date of revocation, upon petition and for reasons deemed
proper and sufficient and, in so doing, may exempt the applicant from taking another licensure
examination.

In case of loss of the COR and/or PIC of any registrant, the circumstances leading to
the loss shall be duly proven.

The duplicate of a lost or revoked COR and/or PIC shall be issued in accordance with
the existing rules subject to the payment of the necessary and mandated dues.

SEC. 24. Issuance of Special Temporary Permit (STP). — Upon application and
payment of the required fees and subject to the approval of the Commission, the Board may
issue an STP to a foreign Registered Agriculturist who services are urgently needed due to the
absence or inadequacy of local Registered Agriculturists for the purpose of promoting or
enhancing the practice of the Agriculture profession in the Philippines.

The Board shall issue the conditions for the grant of the STP, which shall include but
not be limited to the designation of local understudy of every foreign Agriculturist to be

employed or engaged in the Philippines.

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SEC. 25. Foreign Reciprocity. — No foreign Professional Agriculturist shall be
admitted to the examination or be given a COR or PIC and be entitled to any of the privileges
under this Act unless the country of which the foreign Professional Agriculturist is a citizen of
specifically allows Filipino Registered Agriculturists to practice within its territorial limits on
the same basis as the citizens of such foreign country.

ARTICLE IV

PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE PROFESSION

SEC. 26. Scope of Practice of Agriculture. — The Agriculture profession involves
services consisting of crop and livestock production, processing, and distribution in both urban
and rural areas.

A person shall be considered in the practice of Agriculture if the nature and character
of the work or employment requires professional knowledge in the field of Agriculture as
defined in Section 4(b), Article I of this Act. A person is also deemed to be in the practice of
the Agriculture profession if that person teaching any Agriculture professional subject in a
university, college, or school or engages in research in any Agriculture-related research or
extension.

The foregoing list notwithstanding, other activities, which now or hereinafter may
require the application of knowledge, skills, training, and expertise in Agriculture shall be
deemed to be within the scope of the practice of Agriculture and, as such, shall be governed by
the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 27. Professional Title Appendage. — Only a Registered Agriculturist as herein
defined may append to his/her names the title “Registered Agriculturist (R.Agr)”.

SEC. 28. Prohibition Against the Unauthorized Practice of Agriculture Profession.
—No person shall practice the Agriculture profession in the Philippines or offer himself/herself

as a Registered Agriculturist, or use the title, word, letter, figure, or any sign tending to convey

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the impression that one is a Registered Agriculturist, or advertise or indicate in any manner
whatsoever that one if qualified to practice the profession unless that person has complied with
all the requirements for registration, with or without examination, and is a holder of a valid
COR and PIC or a valid STP duly issued by the Board and the Commission.

SEC. 29. Act Not Affecting Other Professionals. — This Act shall not be construed to
affect or prevent the practice of any other legally recognized profession.

SEC. 30. Prohibition Against Corporate Practice. A sole proprietor, consulting firm,
association, or organization may engage in the practice of the agriculture profession in the
Philippines. Provided, that it complies with the following requirements:

(a) That the firm, association, or organization is duly registered with the Department of

Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission, or other appropriate
agencies;

(b) That majority of the officers and board members of the firm, association, or

organization are Registered Agriculturists; and

(c) That the practice of the consulting firm, association, or organization shall be carried

out by Registered Agriculturists.

SEC. 31. Employment of Agriculturists in the Government. — National government
agencies concered in agriculture activities shall ensure that all existing technical plantilla
positions are occupied by Registered Agriculturists.

All existing technical plantilla positions of Provincial, City, and Municipal
Agriculturists Offices shall be occupied by Registered Agriculturists, including all agriculture
technical positions therein. For this purpose, a position is deemed to be technical when the
same primarily requires the professional knowledge and skills of a Registered Agriculturist as

may be determined by the Board.

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All faculty members of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) teaching agricultural
courses shall be Registered Agriculturists.

The Board shall assist in the development of Position Classification Standards for
relevant government plantilla positions, in collaboration with Civil Service Commission and
other appropriate national and local government agencies.

SEC. 32. Salary. — The minimum base pay of registered Agriculturists working in the
government, including the SUCs, shall not be lower than Salary Grade 13.

SEC. 33. Employment/Engagement of Agriculturists in the Private Sector. —
Private agricultural corporations shall employ or engage the services of Registered
Agriculturists.

All corporate farms, golf courses, agri-tourism, agri-related corporations/businesses
and other similar institutions or facilities involved in agriculture must employ or engage such
number of Registered Agriculturists in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the Board
and the Commission.

All faculty members of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) teaching agricultural
courses shall be Registered Agriculturists.

SEC. 34. Integration of the Agriculture Profession. - All Registered Agriculturists
shall have one (1) national organization, which shall be recognized by the Board and the
Commission as the only AIPO for Registered Agriculturists. A Registered Agriculturist duly
registered with the Board and the Commission shall automatically become a member of the
AIPO and shall receive all the benefits and privileges appurtenant thereto upon payment of the
prescribed fees and dues. Membership in the AIPO shall not bar membership in other

organizations of Registered Agriculturists.

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Upon the approval of this Act, the Commission shall adopt rules to give effect to the
integration of the agriculture profession under such conditions as it shall see fit in order to raise
the standards of the profession.

SEC. 35. Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for Agriculture
Profession. - The Board shall prescribe and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Code of
Technical Standards for Registered Agriculturists, in consultation with the AIPO.

SEC. 36. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program. — All Registered
Agriculturists shall abide by the requirements, rules and regulations on continuing professional
development to be promulgated by the Board and the Commission, in coordination with the
AIPO of Registered Agriculturists and the academe. For this purpose, a CPD Council shall be
created to implement the CPD program.

SEC. 37. Use of Seal. - Every Registered Agriculturist shall obtain a seal of such design
as the Board shall adopt and approve, which shall be affixed to or impressed upon all
documents, record, papers, and/or instruments prepared by/or under the direct supervision of,
or issued by the Registered Agriculturist. The seal shall be used by the Registered Agriculturist
only during the period of the validity of his/her license.

‘The Board shall issue the pertinent guidelines on the use of seal.

SEC. 38. Vested Rights: Automatic Registration of Agriculturists. — All Registered
Agriculturists who are registered at the time this Act takes effect shall automatically be
registered hereunder.

ARTICLE V
PENAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 39. Penal Provision. - Any violation of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics and

Code of Technical Standards or other regulatory policies of the Board and the Commission

shall be meted the penalty of a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos

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(PHP100,000.00) or more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHPS00, 000.00), or
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months or not more than six (6) years, or both, at the
discretion of the court.

Officers of government agencies and private establishments, including sole
proprietorship, consulting firms, associations, and organizations responsible for any such
violation shall be held equally liable under this Act and such other laws as the circumstances
may warrant.

SEC. 40. Appropriations. -The chairperson of the Commission shall immediately
include in the Commission's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and thereafter.

SEC. 41. Transitory Provision. - The existing Board of Agriculture shall continue to
function in the interim until such time that the new Board shall have been constituted pursuant
to this Act.

SEC. 42. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Board, subject to the approval
of the Commission and in consultation with the AIPO, shall issue and promulgate the IRR
within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act. The IRR shall take effect
after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in any major
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

SEC. 43. Separability Clause. - If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this Act
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or
impair any other part of this Act.

SEC. 44, Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, memorandum
orders, and other administrative issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the

provisions of this Act are hereby modified, superseded, or repealed accordingly.

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. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its

2 publication in the Official Gazette or in any major newspaper of general circulation in the

3 Philippines.

Approved,

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