A bigger budget for research and development (R&D) in the next five years tops newly elected Congressman Angelo B. Palmones’ priorities for his three-year term. This, among other plans, Palmones shared to the PCARRD Directorate during a visit to the Council recently.
Palmones is the president of the Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya, popularly known as AGHAM.
Palmones explains that the increase in the budget he envisions will be gradual, such that in the next five years, the total budget for R&D would be around 0.8-1.0 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recommends that the budget for R&D of developing countries should at least be 1.0% of the GDP. Currently, the country’s R&D budget is around 0.4 percent.
Aside from this, Palmones would like to see an increase in scholarship funds for science, mathematics, and engineering, including for the medical/health sciences. According to him, his group has likewise started the move for the development of a BS curriculum in meteorology. At present, courses offered in this field are at the MS and PhD levels.
“About 33 weather specialists have been pirated by foreign companies and have migrated to other countries. We have to build our human resources in these fields, including science and math teachers”, the broadcaster-turned-politician said.
The congressman also aired his support to the sustainable development of the environment, specifically the watersheds.
“We should rehabilitate about 500,000 hectares of watersheds for they are the ones that sustain our supply of water. The agriculture, industry, and energy sectors will not succeed without sufficient supply of water that comes from our watersheds,” Palmones said.
Meanwhile, Palmones filed five house bills to start the legislative support to advance science the technology (S&T) in the country.
On top of these is House Bill (HB) 845, "An Act Providing for Sustainable Forest Management". This HB is envisioned to ensure that the country’s forests will meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs.
Second is HB 844, "An Act Promoting the Growth of a Biotechnology Industry in the Philippines and the Creation of Wealth from Biodiversity". The bill aims to address the weaknesses of the present system to enable the country to develop a biotechnology-based industry.
Third is HB 843, "An Act Promoting the Mechanization Development in the Country for Agriculture, Fisheries, Agro-Forestry, and Forest Industries". The goal of this bill is to lay the foundation for the establishment of local tools and machineries industries in order to wean the agriculture, fisheries, agro-forestry, and forestry sectors from dependency on imported products; generate employment; reduce outflow of foreign currency; and provide a reliable source of tools and machines that meet international standards.
The fourth is HB 842, "An Act Regulating the Practice of Microbiology in the Philippines and for Other Purposes". The bill recognizes the important role of microbiologists in the quality control of processed foods and manufactured goods in managing environmental pollution; and managing/preventing epidemics and pandemics in human, animal, and crop populations and in efficiently producing microbial-based goods and services.
The last is HB 841, "An Act Promoting the National Strategy for the Sustainable Development, Management, and Protection of Mangrove Resources in the Philippines and for Other Purposes". The bill is seen to set a new and responsive direction to revitalize mangrove development and management in the country.
Palmones emphasized that he needs support to be able to push these bills into law, and make them work for our country and people.