Dr. Bautista is the 2025 PCAAE ANG SUSI Board Member of the Year in the 13th Associations Summit

Hosted by the Clark Development Cooperation (CDC) and supported by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE), also known as the “Association of the Associations”, held its 13th Associations Summit (AS13) last November 6, 2025 at the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

With the theme, “𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝑨𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕,” the PCCAE AS13 brought together more than 100 association members, executives, and Board of Trustees from the private sector and non-profit organizations to network, build cooperative linkages, and promote industry experiences.

Now in its 13th year, the PCAAE Association Summit aims to underscore the importance of providing support to associations that drive lasting impact in the communities they serve.

One of the highlights of PCAAE AS13 in its four-part program is the awarding of individual and institutional recognitions through the ANG SUSI awards which stands for "Associations nurture National Growth through Social Unity and Sustainability Innovations". It honors excellence in the association community and the contributions of associations and association executives in advancing national sustainable development.

With pride and honor, the Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. (PAA) is thrilled to celebrate with 𝐃𝐫. 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧-𝐁𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐏𝐂𝐀𝐀𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐈 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 for her exemplary volunteer service as PAA’s immediate past president, upholding good governance and advancing policies to strengthen the agriculture profession, consistent with the advocacies of PCAAE.

As former president and current Board of Trustee and Chair of Policy Advocacy Committee of PAA, Dr. Bautista was credited for championing policy advocacies including the enactment of the PA Act and the facilitation of the drafting of the Presidential Proclamation No. 544 which officially declared July as the Philippine Agriculturists’ Month. Both landmark legislations are critical to uplifting the morale of PAA members and all registered agriculturists.

Dr. Bautista dedicated her award to more than 47,000 registered agriculturists in the country who are considered as frontliners in achieving food security. She also acknowledged that among the 46 professions regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the agriculture profession was the last to receive a professional regulatory law through the enactment of Republic Act 12215 or the Philippine Agriculturists Act.

In her speech, she was positive that PAA, as a progressive and service-oriented organization, can further help leverage the status of agriculture professionals through equitable legislation and contribute to the improvement of working conditions and lives of our farmers across the country.

"This is only the start. We have to push for more policies like the Magna Carta for Agricultural Development Workers, and hopefully our registered agriculturists together with our farmers will contribute to a more food secure Philippines," she stressed.

Joining her during the awarding were PAA Chairman Dr. Roberto F. Rañola, Jr., PAA Business Manager Dr. Jessica D. Rey, and PAA Awards Committee Chair Dr. Rosalina M. Lapitan.

Published in their program promotions, the “ANG SUSI” Awards symbolizes the key contributions that associations and association leaders give to national sustainable development.