VP CITES ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN NATION BUILDING
March 18, 2008

The role of science and technology should be enhanced and further given importance in sustaining the progress that the country has so far achieved.

This is the assertion of Vice President Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro in his speech at the 26th Anniversary of the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) held recently (March 14) at the Dusit Hotel Nikko in Makati City.

In said speech, Vice President De Castro advanced ways on how science and technology could be given support for it to further work for achievements that would certainly contribute to national development. Among those mentioned by the Vice President are:

1) Strengthen the communication system between universities, research institutions, industry players, multilateral organizations, professional associations, donors, non-governmental organizations, agencies of government and the people in the community themselves. Through an improved networking sharing of ideas would be more effective in achieving successes in research.

2) Allocation of sufficient resources by the national government that would sustain the gains of science and technology. Though some argue that the budget for S & T should be no less than 1% of GDP, the Vice President believes that an achievable strategic target should be arranged so that policy makers would be properly guided.

3) Educational institutions should encourage their students to focus their research works to those that would benefit business, industries and the government as well. In this manner, Vice President De Castro is confident that positive impacts from the efforts they exerted would easily be felt.

4) And his unwavering support for ways and means in strengthening science education in all school levels for a more solid foundation in developing the science culture amongst students.

The Vice President also made special mention that amidst troubling news hugging newspaper headlines, a positive development on the feat of Dr. Baldomero Olivera, a Filipino scientist hailed for his works in the United States on neurotoxins caught his attention. What is also particularly admirable apart from his successes is that Dr. Olivera is very active in mentoring young Filipino scientists thus imparting to them the importance of hard work in preparation for the tasks ahead.

Vice President De Castro also took the opportunity to hail the DOST through PCIERD, for taking the lead in promoting the effective application of science, technology, research and development in the industry and energy sectors.

Among those he cited are the key role the PCIERD plays in the implementation of the biofuels law as the agency responsible for the development and implementation of an R&D program supporting a sustainable improvement in biofuel production and technology utilization.

But the accomplishment that was closest to his heart was what PCIERD has done to support the construction and housing sectors intimated to him by DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro since the Vice President is in charge of the government housing programs.

I am happy to know that PCIERD is also promoting the use of cost effective and energy efficient housing materials and components.

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