RP will de in 'Dire Straits' unless Govt invests in R&D
Balita News
By Erwin Lemuel G Oliva, Metropolitan Computer Times.
Unless the Philippine government decides to provide
substantial funding for research and development
(R&D) activities, "nothing substantial" will happen to the initiative to
transform the country into "the knowledge center of Asia," said
Congressman Leandro Verceles during the opening ceremonies of
the recent National Science and Technology Week in Manila.
The government recently came out with a proposed budget for the
year 2000, which gives the biggest chunk of the total budget to the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS).
Sadly, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
according to Secretary Filemon Uriarte, will be given around 2.7
billion pesos (US$70.53 million) for the year 2000, a far cry from
what the DOST was expecting, which is 7 billion pesos ($182.86
million). For 1999, the DOST is trying to survive on a budget of 2.6
billion pesos ($67.92 million).
"Apparently, government believes that fulfilling Filipinos' basic needs
such as access to potable water, work, and food, is still the priority,"
said Uriarte in an interview.
Meanwhile, in reaction to the government's proposed budget for the
year 2000, Verceles said that he hopes to convince Uriarte to ask
President Estrada to certify House Bill 539.
The proposed law, known as the Scientific and Technological
Research and Development Act of 1998, is expected to set aside at
least two percent of the country's gross national product (GNP),
amounting to 18.6 billion pesos ($485.85 million) annually, for
research and development activities. In the 1990s, the Philippines
has set aside around 0.3 percent of GNP to R&D.
Uriarte's proposal, on the other end, expects to set aside 1 percent
of GDP to R&D.
"We'll try to convince the President that science and technology is
the way to survive in a global economy," Verceles added.
Unlike Uriarte's proposal, Verceles' bill expects to set aside a
certain percentage of the GNP to R&D. "We particularly want to tap
the money being brought in by the Overseas Contract Workers," he
added, as he explained why the R&D budget will be based on the
GNP and not on the GDP.
The Congressman, however, expects a "tough fight" in lobbying
the bill in Congress and later in the executive branch of
government.
Meanwhile, Uriarte, in a speech made during the National Science
and Technology Week, stressed that science and technology
should "converge" with the needs of the society.
"We have to do this because the DOST is faced with different
problems, including the lack of funding, resources and
infrastructure, and brain drain. On top of this, we also have trouble
increasing government spending on R&D," he said.
In relation to this, the department hopes to cut deals with the
government of Japan, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank.
"What we intend to do is to get the private sector, the academe,
and government to work together," he said.
Exchange Rate: $1 = 38.26 pesos
Reported By Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com