In the 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA)
Angara seeks more budget for S&T, R&D

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara today pushes for higher budget for Science and Technology especially on research and development, saying that the 2009 General Appropriations Act should be crafted not only in the context of the global food and fuel crisis, but more importantly it should be linked to the country's effort to achieve global competitiveness.

"Efforts towards making the country globally-competitive should be coupled with investments on Science and Technology, especially on the field of Research and Development. Philippine competitiveness has steadily and consistently slipped as a result of our measly investment on education, health, research and development and basic infrastructure. We need to step up public spending in these areas, especially in R&D, as it has the highest economic pay off of all economic activities." said Angara who is the chairman of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology, and Engineering (COMSTE)

He added, "All around the world, countries are racing towards innovation. Developed and developing countries alike are gearing up to introduce innovative products and services, and adopt strategies that will gear them for an increasingly competitive world."

"To keep up with this race, we badly need to invest more in our R&D efforts and our human capital," Angara said.

He also stressed the role of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in research by advocating for more budgets in the last General Appropriations Act (GAA). In the 2008 GAA, Ten (10) SUCs were given extra P5 million for research capability building through Angara's effort.

"We must continue investing on our human capital. We have talent but we don't invest," said Angara who is advocating for more research funding and scholarship grants. Building a strong S&T foundation for the country is necessary if we want to push forward and become competitive on the global stage," noted Angara.

COMSTE -- jointly chaired by Angara and Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya - is expected to introduce legislations that will make the Philippines more globally competitive, particularly in Science and Technology.

It is composed of six (6) expert panels from different sectors in Science and Technology namely Gregory Tangonan, PhD (semicon/electronics), Joaquin Quintos (ICT/ICT services), William Padolina, PhD (food and agriculture), Reynaldo Vea, PhD (basic science, math and engineering education), Ramon Arcadio, MD (health), and Francisco Viray, PhD (energy and environment).