Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8559)
The title of Republic Act No. 8559 is the "Philippine Agricultural Engineering Act of 1998."
Under RA 8559, the practice of agricultural engineering includes consultation, valuation, investigation, management services, supervision and preparation of engineering designs, research and development, testing and inspection of machinery, management or marketing of agricultural equipment, teaching of agricultural engineering subjects, and government employment requiring agricultural engineering expertise.
The Board of Agricultural Engineering is composed of a chairman and two members, all appointed by the President from a list submitted by the accredited association of agricultural engineers.
Board members must be natural-born Filipino citizens, at least 35 years old, holders of a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering or equivalent, registered and active agricultural engineers with at least 10 years of practice, not connected with any agricultural engineering academic institution or review center for 3 years prior, and with no conviction involving moral turpitude.
Board members hold office for three years and until successors are appointed and qualified. They may be reappointed but cannot serve more than six continuous years.
Applicants must be graduates of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering or its equivalent from a CHED-recognized institution.
The examination covers agricultural mechanization, power, machinery and equipment; soil and water conservation, irrigation and drainage; and rural electrification, agricultural processing, and agricultural structures.
Candidates must have a weighted general average of at least 70% with no grade below 55% in any subject. If an examinee scores below 55% in a subject but has an overall average of 70% or higher, they must retake the failed subjects.
No, agricultural engineering practice is an individual professional service. Firms or corporations cannot be licensed to practice, but licensed agricultural engineers may form partnerships or associations exclusively composed of registered and licensed agricultural engineers.
Violators may face fines ranging from ₱50,000 to ₱200,000, imprisonment from six months to three years, or both, in addition to administrative sanctions.