Press Release
August 6, 2008

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH RESOLUTION OF ISSUES ON FUEL, FOOD -- ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today said that energy independence can only be attained should the country take the necessary steps toward the resolution of issues on continuously increasing prices of petroleum products as well as on food security.

"Our outlook for the future involves the cooperation of the energy and agriculture sector in achieving an outcome that will provide us with clean, renewable energy and an ample supply of food as well," said Angara, who chairs Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE).

He added, ""Our energy and agriculture panels have been working together and it seems that food and fuel is an issue affecting nations worldwide. In our case there is a suggestion that we should commission a study that can simulate food and fuel demands for the next ten years to help us paint a clearer picture for our future."

The suggestion to conduct a study to simulate a long-term fuel and food demands in the country was brought about in an en banc meeting of COMSTE.

COMSTE is composed of six expert panels: Energy and Environment; Health Sciences; ICT and ICT enabled industries; Food and Agriculture; Electronics and Semiconductors; and Science, Math, and Engineering Education, which convene to assess the current state of their respective fields and formulate a plan for legislators in beefing up Science and Technology through research and development.

In the end, Angara strongly believes that with a study on food and fuel demands, a better assessment on key issues can be made.

"Armed with data and hard facts, we can move beyond listening to anecdotes that don't do us any good. We can act with a purpose to achieve our goals if we have the supporting information guiding us," said Angara.

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