Basic research: Toward pursuing the ASEAN 2015 goals

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in 1967 initially with five countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Brunei joined ASEAN in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999, thus bringing the total number of member states in the ASEAN to 10. During the ninth ASEAN Summit in 2003, ASEAN leaders resolved to establish the ASEAN Community. In 2007, at the 12th ASEAN Summit, the heads of states affirmed their strong commitment to establish the ASEAN Community by 2015. The ASEAN Community has three pillars: ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community forming the roadmap for ASEAN Community 2015. Its target is the creation of a single regional economic market known as the ASEAN Economic Community. During the celebration of its 77th founding anniversary on Dec. 6, 2010 at the Trader’s Hotel, the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) explored the prospects of the ASEAN 2015. The occasion tried to chart the direction and policies the Philippines should take together with the ASEAN member nations toward the year 2015, convening various stakeholders from different sectors including business and industry and the academe and members of NRCP. The NRCP, under the leadership of its President, Acd. Alvin B. Culaba, was tasked by DOST to spearhead a series of consultations with scientists, researchers, engineers, policymakers, and executives of offices and institutions across the entire Philippines that would consolidate policy recommendations and initiatives in pursuit of the ASEAN 2015 goals.

The NRCP believes that fundamental research is vital to the theme of competitiveness articulated in the ASEAN 2015 framework. Commitment to basic scientific research by ASEAN members can help ensure the viability of ASEAN members accentuating their economic, social, political, and technological primacy in the Asia-Pacific region. Thus, the challenge is how to integrate the basic sciences in the general blueprint of development of national policies and initiatives. During the national consultative workshop, the participants reiterated the indispensability of basic research in their policy recommendations. The NRCP tapped all its 13 scientific divisions grouped into four clusters in the nationwide discussions, each of which identified specific priority areas, the issues and gaps in these areas, as well as opportunities. Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia were used as benchmark against which the priority areas were appraised in terms of Philippine competitiveness. The NRCP clusters later formulated policies and initiatives from the presentations and discussions held during the sessions.

The four NRCP clusters gave policy recommendations that should form part of the overall ASEAN 2015 agenda. Cluster I (Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies, and Governance) recommended (1) integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to curriculum, (2) emphasizing teaching in the mother tongue, (3) developing school infrastructure and providing for ICT broadband, (4) local food security, (5) harnessing indigenous knowledge systems and practices; Cluster II (Physics, Engineering and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and Mathematical Sciences) recommended (1) emphasizing degrees, licenses, and employment opportunities, (2) outright grants for peer monitoring, (3) review of RA 9184, and (4) harnessing science and technology as independent mover of development; Cluster III (Medical, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences) recommended (1) ensuring compliance of drug manufacturing firms with ASEAN harmonized standards by full implementation of the Food and Drugs Administration, (2) creating an educational council dedicated to standardization of pharmaceutical services and cares, (3) empowering food and drugs agencies to conduct evidence based research as pool of information, (4) allocating two percent of GDP to research, and (5) legislating a law supporting human genome project; and Cluster IV (Biological Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine) recommended (1) protecting and conserving biodiversity by full implementation of existing laws, (2) use of biosafety and standard model by all ASEAN countries, (3) promoting indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous people’s conservation, and (4) formulation of common food safety standard.       

In light of the ASEAN 2015 goals, the NRCP remains resolute and dedicated as an advisory council to the Philippine national government for basic sciences. The Council is steadfast in the fact that basic research is the foundation of scientific development, and in that context resolves that its social function is crucial in realizing a truly competitive Southeast Asian region where everyone coexists under one vision, one community and one ASEAN identity.

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The National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) is a collegial body of researchers formed in 1933 and mandated to promote basic research for the continuing improvement of the research capability of local scientists, foster linkages with other scientific organizations for enhanced cooperation in the development and sharing of scientific information, provide advice on issues of national interest, and promote scientific culture to all sectors of Philippine society. To more about the NRCP, visit its website at www.nrcp.gov.ph.