The House of Representatives has readied for Senate action a bill that seeks to develop and nurture competent, ethical and globally competitive professional food technologists through the creation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Food Technology.
This came after the House approved on third and final reading House Bill 6714, the “Philippine Food Technology Act,” authored by Reps. Karlo Alexie Nograles of Davao City and Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list.
In filing the bill, Nograles and Alejano note the State’s policy to recognize the importance of professional food technologists in nation-building and development.
“Hence, it shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive, and well-rounded professional food technologists whose standards of practice and service shall be excellent, world-class, and globally competitive through honest, effective, relevant, and credible licensure examinations and through regulatory programs, measures, and activities that foster their professional growth, social responsibility and development,” the authors said.
The bill provides for the teaching, lecturing and reviewing of a professional subject in the curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Food Technology degree, or subject in the food technology licensure examination given in any college, university, or training or review center, or any other educational institution or certification body.
It proposes the creation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Food Technology, which shall be under the administrative supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission and shall be composed of a chairman and two members who will be appointed by the President.
Under the measure, the PRFBT will promulgate and enforce rules and regulations necessary to supervise the practice of food technology in the Philippines. It would also adopt a program for full computerization of a licensure examination on the subject, as well as come up with a Code of Ethics and a Code of Technical Standards for the practice of food technology.
In coordination with the Commission on Higher Education, Nograles said all educational institutions offering food technology education shall comply with the policies, standards and requirements of the course prescribed by the CHED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library and facilities.
The bill provides that applicants for the practice of food technology will be required to pass the licensure examination in accordance with Section 7 (d) RA 8981, PRC Modernization Act of 2000, as amended.
The bill defines a person qualified to practice food technology as one who is a holder of a valid certificate of registration and valid professional license issued by the PRBFT and the PRC.
The food tech board shall include identification of the appropriate specifications of raw materials and supervision over their procurement, supervision of food processing operations, the evaluation of the microbiological physical, chemical, sensory, and functional properties of food and the certification of analysis of microbiological physical, chemical, sensory and functional properties of food.
If enacted, the bill carries a fine ranging from P40,000 to P150,000 or imprisonment of six months to four years, at the discretion of the court, will be meted to individuals who pose as food technologists without passing the licensure examination or with invalid, suspended or revoked professional license.
It recommends that those who will allow another person to use their certificate of registration or professional license or temporary special permit as a food technologist will also be punished with the same sanctions.