Press Release
May 2, 2011

ANGARA : MAKE PHL LABOR FORCE MORE COMPETITIVE

In light of the worldwide commemoration of Labor Day, Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged government to prioritize human capital development in the Philippines to enhance the skills and knowledge of our workers. These measures, he said, "would make our labor force more internationally competitive."

"Our professionals are already in high demand abroad because of innate talent and adaptability. Our task is to ensure that they get the regular training and education they need to keep up with rapid global developments," he explained.

Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, also emphasized the need to re-educate and re-skill those who work in the Science and Technology sector, which boosts the Philippine's innovation and economic growth.

"Without a dynamic S&T sector, there would be no driving force behind the country's research and development initiatives. To do this, knowledge must be refreshed and updated every so often. Our scientists and engineers are key to raising the country's competitiveness," said Angara.

The Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), which Angara chairs, led the creation of the Industrial Research and Development Institute (IRDI) for which the Philippine national government allocated P100 million for its establishment.

"The IRDI is inspired by Taiwan's success in harnessing Public-Private Partnerships or PPP's, which was the birthplace of its innovation in semiconductors and electronics," he said.

"With IRDI, we hope to similarly provide small Philippine businesses with the means and access to technology that they would otherwise not be able to afford. With IRDI, we plant the seeds of innovation for our talent-rich country. This is one of the pillars of growth that will prop up our R&D and bring us to world-class levels," said Angara.

Angara also authored Senate Bill No. 2581, which seeks to establish a Center for Leading-Edge Educational Technologies (CLEET). The CLEET is slated to become a hub for tech-training and education, focusing the combined resources of the government and private sectors towards the development of the Philippine's IT and S&T sectors.

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