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Recruit more lawyers: Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino proposes the strengthening of the legal department of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) after learning that the agency has only three lawyers during the hybrid marathon session Monday, November 15, 2021, on the proposed 2022 billion budget of the DOST and its attached agencies. Tolentino said the lack of DOST lawyers might be the reason behind the delay of the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act. He said RA 11037 was enacted on June 20, 2018. “Per records of the DOST, it was just promulgated last March 26, 2021. This is a very important program, especially as we navigate a post- pandemic era. This is also needed by the Department of Education and the local government units,” Tolentino said. He said DOST could consider writing the Civil Service Commission or the Office of the Solicitor General and have lawyers detailed in the department. (Henzberg Austria/Senate PRIB)