Press Release
July 25, 2011

TIME IS RIPE FOR REFORM IN AGRI, EDUC, S&T - ANGARA

"To attain progress in this age of innovation, we must ensure that our country is as competitive as the rest of the world, if not more so," said Senator Edgardo J. Angara as the country prepares for President Benigno Aquino III's second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The veteran legislator called on the administration to institute nationwide reforms in the areas of science and technology, education and agriculture to boost the country's infrastructure and human capital.

"To do this, we must increase the number of scholarships such as those supported by COMSTE [Congressional Commission on Science & Technology and Engineering], including the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT). We must also increase the funding for academic and research grants. These professors and teachers will, in turn, shape our future professionals and ensure the growth and development of the Philippines."

According to Angara, former Secretary of Agriculture, we must also seek self-sufficiency in terms of rice and other staple crops. Angara explained that our government must provide "better financing, post-harvest and food processing facilities and support for our farmers to truly claim that we are modernizing this sector."

Angara also urged the government to prioritize job creation, especially for the fresh graduates who have difficulty securing employment.

"For example, the thousands of registered nurses in the Philippines could be sent to work in the rural areas, which are much in need of skilled health professionals," he said, referring to the RN HEALS project by the Department of Labor and Employment which deploys nurses to the local government units in rural areas.

Angara also authored S.B. No. 2629, which will establish a Local Health unit in each municipality and a Rural Health Unit in each town with a team of at least two nurses.

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