Angara Proposes 'Budget for a Competitive Filipino'

"Develop the country's future through human capital investment."

This is the main thrust of the budget presented by Senator Edgardo Angara in the plenary today.

Senator Angara, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee C on Finance, highlighted the efforts of the subcommittee to redirect public spending towards education and Research and Development (R&D).

Describing his subcommittee's budget as a "budget for a competitive Filipino," Senator Angara said the proposed budget "will prioritize spending in R&D, which has the highest economic return of all economic activities."

"These education and R&D efforts should be focused on the three areas which the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) has identified as the great enablers of the Philippine economy, namely (1) electronics and telecommunications, (2) agriculture and food sciences; and (3) health sciences," Senator Angara said.

As such, Senator Angara has recommended the allocation of more funds to the Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) scholarship program to deserving students, and has rationalized existing CHED scholarship programs -- from over 20 different programs to just 3 major headings, namely: State Scholarship; Special Study Grant; and Study Loans.

"There is a critical need for the Philippines to develop more scientists and engineers, as these professionals will lead our technological capacity for innovation, which will ultimately decide whether our country develops or not," Senator Angara pointed out.

In this light, Senator Angara has channeled funds for the creation of one Philippine Science High School in every region, with the goal of having one PSHS per region in the next three years.

Senator Angara has also supported the creation of a research consortium of SUCs in the Cordillera Administrative Region, which shall address the unique needs of this "rich, historical, cultural but impoverished region." In particular, the research consortium shall focus on conserving the rice terraces, and developing upland agriculture, indigenous industries, and a joint program on fish breeding.

Senator Angara described these education programs as "food for the Filipino's mind," and has placed these projects hand in hand with providing "food for the Filipino's stomach."

"Food, nutrition and agriculture are critical to our population of 88 million, which will grow to 100 million in 3 years. They will require not just adequate food but adequate nutrition."

Hence, Senator Angara emphasized public spending in water conservation, coastal and marine resources protection, and watershed and forest conservation, which will contribute to food security.

Senator Angara chairs the Subcommittee C of the Senate Committee on Finance, which handles the budget of the government agencies on agriculture, namely the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); the government agencies on higher education, namely the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) system; the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Department of Tourism (DOT) and cultural agencies.