Marcos seeks to level up PH research, development efforts
While the Philippines is doing good on research, it lacks in terms of development.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stated this during the conferment of the Order of National Scientists and the Presidential Medal of Merit to two Filipinos on Thursday, Aug. 31, in Malacañang.
Marcos conferred the Order of National Scientist upon Dr.Carmencita Padilla and the Presidential Medal of Merit upon Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Allan Gepty.
In his speech, the President called on the scientists and government officials to support research and development endeavors of the administration.
"Hindi sapat na mayroon na tayong magandang research. Marami naman tayong magandang research. Iyong development, doon tayo medyo nagkukulang (It is not enough that we only have good research. We have a lot of good research. We just lack in terms of development)," he stressed.
"And that is why I have asked all of those who are involved that we need to now be very conscientious and put together a program wherein we can support in whatever way that the government can on research and development, and as I think all of us know that some of the problems are in the development side," he further said.
The Chief Executive committed that the government will do its part and include all the sectors of government and the private sector partners in initiating research and developments in the country.
He emphasized that the research and development must not be confined to healthcare alone but also to other sectors in the society and the economy.
"At ito ang magbibigay sa atin ng kakayahan na harapin kung anuman ang mga magiging bagong – sana naman wala ng pandemya, pero yung iba’t ibang problema na dadating (And this will give us the capacity to face whatever new—I hope not a pandemic, but different problems that will come)," Marcos said.
He also cited the challenge in bringing new technology to the market for the people to consume and utilize.
"It is the problem that we have faced in all parts, especially with the new technologies of scaling. And that I think is an important issue simply because, again, it does not matter if we have this very, very clever, very, very advanced and progressive technologies. But if they are not made available to the people, then that effort has gone to waste. And we do not want to do that," Marcos said.
"The other side of that problem and as we had identified is that we are confident we can do it so long as it is well-supported. Now, not only by the government. We spoke also about, again, in consonance with our approach, our policy, our concept of – and whole-of-government approach and whole-of-society approach that we include the private sector. Because as we all know, some of these research programs can become quite expensive and they can go on for a long time," he added.