NEDA vows to augment RP science and technology development

CEBU, Philippines - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) vowed to help the strong development of Science and Technology (S&T) in the Philippines to help brilliant Filipino inventions gain global attention.

NEDA-7 regional director Marlene P. Rodriguez said that an additional funding to boost the S&T development has already been approved, through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

She said at least P1 billion is allocated for DOST budget this year and larger part of which will be spend in the support of S&T.

“We have to fast track the effort of Science and Technology development,” Rodriguez said.

Earlier, DOST undersecretary for S&T services said that researches must help the country respond to competition from neighboring countries that produce higher value added products.

This could be achieved by developing human capital, encouraging technology business incubators, providing strong incentives for innovation, and upgrading the Filipino mindset towards generating innovations.

For his part, National scientists Benito S. Vergara said that scientists must have a game plan to augment their retirement benefits. After bowing out of civil service, they can continue doing research, work as consultants, or set up a business using their expertise.

According to Rodriguez the development of S&T in the country, is expected to help sustain the economic growth in the country, while attracting high-value investments from other countries.

Meanwhile, Carmen G. Peralta of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) also explained that “researches used to live under the dictum ‘publish or perish’.

Today, the need is to “protect, publish and profit.” It is important to publish, but researchers must file for patent as soon as possible.

Also, Graciano P. Yumul, DOST undersecretary for R&D said that the researchers’ priorities must be shaped by five major concerns such as food, fuel, fiber further of the ASEAN and funds.”

In Cebu, the exporters’ group, through the PhilExport-Cebu, and the German Technical Cooperation-Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (GTZ-SMEDSEP), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 7, they started the development of Materials Research and Development (R&D) program recently.

The Material R&D program aims to help export industry players—those in the furniture, fashion accessories, and gifts, toys and house-ware (GTH) sectors—explore various opportunities in materials manipulation and development, as well as technology applications, to maximize their design capabilities and increase their competitiveness in the global market.