A LAWMAKER has proposed measures to strengthen and modernize the practice of Agricultural Engineering in the country since the Philippines, which imports its rice and various vegetables, needs help in achieving food security and sustainable development.
Sen. Loren Legarda, chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, has called for the approval of the measure that will strengthen and modernize the country’s agriculture sector.
She said that, globally, the Agricultural Engineering profession has evolved into Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, thus, there is a need to align the profession in the country to internationally recognized practice.
“I note that it is imperative to strengthen, modernize and benchmark to international standards the practice of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in the country to ensure its long-term competitiveness,” she said in her cosponsorship speech for Senate Bill 2434, Philippine Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Act.
“As we seek to achieve food security and safety while, at the same time, raising incomes among our farmers and fisherfolk, our Agricultural and Biosystems engineers will become our crucial partners in this important development objective. They have a significant role in generating livelihoods and raising productivity in the countryside,” she added as she noted statistics showing that poverty incidence for the country’s nine basic sectors remained the highest among fisherfolk and farmers at 39.2 percent and 38.3 percent, respectively.
Legarda said, “Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers are our partners in ensuring that our protected areas are well-maintained and managed, and in improving our environment protection and climate-change mitigation programs.”
The proposed measure defines Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering as the application of engineering science and designs to the processes and systems involved in the sustainable production, post production and processing of safe food, feed, fiber, timber and other agricultural and biological materials and the efficient utilization, conservation and management of natural and renewable resources in order to enhance human health in harmony with the environment.