Press Release
June 16, 2010

ANGARA URGES DOST: CREATE PREEMPTIVE MEASURES
FOR CALAMITIES

With the rainy season looming, Senator Edgardo J. Angara emphasized the vital role of science and technology in addressing calamities and challenged them to come up with a measure that will preempt such events.

Angara was referring to last year's Ondoy and Pepeng tragedies, after which the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that 69,513 families are displaced and 337,216 are severely affected in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. He then urged the Department of Science and Technology to devise new measures to bolster the country's disaster-preparedness capabilities.

" I call on experts in the field of science and engineering to create a coping mechanism and learn from best practices abroad and see what can we adopt in the Philippines. Next time our country faces this kind of tragedy we are better prepared and equipped," said Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science and technology and Engineering (COMSTE).

Angara said calamities impede basic education and overall socio-economic development, adding that "building a strong science and technology foundation is necessary for the country to push forward--to equip itself for disasters."

To date science and technology is not given utmost attention in relation to its role in the progress of our country; making it imperative to push more effort in bringing science and technology part of political debate and ensure its inclusion for the next administration's agenda.

Angara encouraged the DOST to work with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Education (DepEd) and lead a crash course program enhancing S&T in the country and provide solutions and recommendations for disaster-preparedness programs.

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