Section 7Sec./Art. 7

Powers and Functions of the Professional Regulatory Board of Agriculture. - 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 applicants for issuance of COR, PIC, and special temporary permit (STP);

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

(e) Prepare and modify the examination questions and prescribe the Tables of Specifications for the examination subjects and their relative weights;

(f) 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 the existing facilities of universities or colleges and evaluate the qualifications of deans and faculty members offering the agriculture course or program, to ensure that standards meed CHED criteria, and enhance skills and competencies of graduates;

(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 witnesses or the production of documents relative to the investigation conducted by the Board and PRC;

(k) Prepare guidelines for the CPD of registered agriculturists, in coordination with the AIPO; and

(l) Perform other powers, functions, and duties necessary to effectively implement the provisions of 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 PRC. However, the Board's decisions, resolutions, or non-interlocutory orders in an administrative case shall be subject to review only on appeal.