Agricultural and biosystems engineers who passed the 2021 board examinations took their oath as full-fledged engineers via an online oath-taking ceremony organized by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Professional Regulatory Board for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (PRBABE) on November 5, 2021.
The board passers took their oath administered by PRBABE Chairman Engr. Ariodear Rico who is also the DA-BAFE Director.
Five hundred seven (507) out of 1,392 or 36.42% of the examinees passed the 2021 Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) board examination, said Engr. Juana Tapel PhD., a member of the PRC PRBABE and DA-BAFE Assistant Director, in her opening remarks.
The board exam was administered last September 2021 in the nine testing centers located in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Koronadal, Legazpi, Tacloban, and Tuguegarao.
Engr. Tapel noticed a lower passing mark this year compared with the last board examination in 2019. She hypothesized that some ABE graduates decided not to take the board examination because it might be postponed or cancelled just like what happened last year.
During the online oath-taking ceremony, the PRBABE recognized the 2021 ABE board exam topnotchers for their lifetime achievement. The Top 1 is Engr. Juven Genovia Luzorata of the University of Southeastern Philippines – Tagum, who obtained a 83.02% rating. Engr. Jan Gabriel Urriza Bernardo of Laguna State University – Siniloan is top 2 with a rating of 82.65% while Engr. Abdullah Peralta Meriales of Central Luzon University is top 3 with a rating of 82.64%.
The University of the Philippines – Los Banos (UPLB), through the leadership of Dean Rosanna Amongo, was recognized as the top-performing school in the 2021 ABE board examination for attaining a 93.94% passing rate.
Engr. Tapel likewise acknowledged the contributions of schools offering agricultural and biosystems engineering, particularly the instructors and professors who impart their knowledge, skills, and values to yield worthy agricultural and biosystems engineers. She expressed sincerest appreciation to the parents who continuously supported the new ABEs in completing their college education and up to this moment of oath-taking as newly registered and licensed ABEs.
The induction of all newly registered ABEs as members of the accredited professional organization, the Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers Inc. (PSABE), is usually integrated in past oath taking ceremonies.
However, there is no induction held in this year’s oath taking. As a PRBABE member, Engr. Tapel appeals to the newly licensed ABEs to actively support the PSABE by first being inducted as members of the professional organization.
PRBABE will request the PSABE to integrate this induction in the upcoming Luzon-wide convention scheduled on November 24 and 25, 2021, or in the next annual convention in April 2022. Membership in this integrated and accredited professional organization is provided in the Professional Regulatory Law (RA 10915).
Engr. Tapel encouraged the new ABEs or “bayaws” to sustain PSABE’s programs and projects, abide with the code of conduct, and contribute to the furtherance of fellow ABEs and the engineering profession. She extended appreciation to PRC Chairman Atty. Teofilo Pilando Jr., Commissioner Yolanda Reyes, Oversight Commissioner Jose Cueto Jr., and Board Secretary Alyanna Canda.
In his closing remarks, PRBABE member Engr. Sherwin Valdez said that he is looking forward to see the newly licensed ABEs to be employed in industry, government agencies, private companies, and the academe. “Marami tayong puwedeng pasukan dahil napaka in-demand ng ating propesyon” (ABEs can be employed in various fields due to the high demand for the profession).
“Our wish is for you to realize the dream of President Rodrigo Duterte for a food-secure Philippines and to double the income of farmers and fisherfolks which is a commendable and high-caliber approach in uplifting the morale and socioeconomic status of Filipino farmers and fisherfolks towards a modernized agriculture sector which the Department of Agriculture is aiming,” said Engr. Valdez. ###Marshall Louie Asis (Published on November 8, 2021)