Republic Act (RA) 12215, or the Philippine Agriculturists Act, seeks to strengthen professional standards and improve the quality of agricultural services. However, the law’s broad coverage may extend beyond the core practice of agriculturists and unnecessarily restrict related professions and occupations. This Policy Note highlights that strict implementation could limit interdisciplinary collaboration and access to specialists whose expertise is essential to agricultural research, extension, and other related activities. It could also reduce the availability of agricultural services by discouraging qualified professionals from other disciplines from participating in the sector. Thus, RA 12215 should be amended to narrow the scope of regulated practice, provide more flexible pathways to professional recognition, and safeguard interdisciplinary collaboration while upholding professional standards.
