Press Release
October 20, 2010

ANGARA SEEKS URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF COMSTE PROGRAMS

Senator Edgardo J. Angara announced today during a meeting among the heads of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) that all government institutions involved in COMSTE-recommended science and technology, agriculture, health and energy programs should prepare to carry out their projects as the hearings for the 2011 proposed budget come to a close.

"Now is the time for action. We should move into the implementation stage of all the proposed COMSTE programs which have been approved," he said.

According to Angara, who also heads the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, these programs include the establishment of a Philippine Genome Center and the expansion of Telemedicine. He also reiterated the need to establish international ties to advance our efforts in Science and Technology, especially in Research and Development (R&D).

"We've studied the science behind these projects to see if they are feasible, and now we must move towards the development of technologies are necessary to execute these programs," he said.

As COMSTE chair, Angara led today's meeting in order to set the commission's priorities for 2011.

"As I have mentioned in the past, we must establish networks with different institutions, especially with those from more advanced countries, so that we may reach our R&D goals," he said.

"For example, we could partner with Brazil, which is famous for their renewable energy sources; or Taiwan for their efficient disaster management programs, and other Asian neighbors with good agriculture programs. This way, we learn of their techniques and we can tailor them to fit our country's needs," he explained.

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