News and Events-New Foresters Welcomed at Oath Taking Ceremony

New Foresters Welcomed at Oath Taking Ceremony

The Board for Foresters of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. (SFFI) welcomed  new professional foresters in an oath taking ceremony held last October 15, 2016  at Century Park Hotel in Manila.

With the theme “Foresters: The Challenges and Opportunities of R.A. 10690 in Your Successful Professional Practice,” the program began with a procession of the top ten foresters, SFFI officials led by National President Tommy Valdez, the PRC Board for Foresters led by Chair Neria Andin, Philippine Forestry Education Network (PFEN)President Willie Abasalo, and , Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Director Ricardo Calderon, who gave the keynote speech in behalf of Department of Environment & Natural Resources Undersecretary Jonas Leones.

Forester Gerardo T. Cabreros, a member of the board, welcomed the new foresters and everyone in attendance followed by the recognition of the top ten examinees and of the top performing schools for the year. PRC Board for Foresters Chair Neria Andin administered the oath of profession followed by her message.

For this year, the board exam’s topnotcher came from Caraga State University. The University of the Philippines  Los Banos College of Forestry and Natural Resources (UPLB CFNR) was recognized as the only top performing school with more than fifty examinees, and a passing percentage rate of eighty percent.

SFFI President Valdez, FMB Director Calderon, and PFEN President and  UPLB CFNR Dean Willie Abasalo gave their inspirational messages where they shared their experiences and gave tips about the profession to the new foresters.

Calderon, on behalf of Undersecretary Leones, read Leones’ keynote speech which imparted additional guidance on how the newly minted foresters could reach their goals.

About a third of the 633 new foresters took their oath of membership, and were welcomed into the roster of the SFFI.

Another oath taking ceremony will be held in Davao City at a later date for new foresters who are for Visayas and Mindanao areas.

There are 1,370 forestry graduates who have taken their licensure examination last September 2016. Out of the examinees, only 633 pass the exam.