IBINAHAGI ni incoming Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Fortunato De La Peña sa Philippines News Agency (PNA) ang kanyang mga plano at prayoridad sa kanyang pag-upo.
”My top priorities will be on R&D (research and development) to address pressing concerns on health, agriculture and the process industries,” aniya.
Sinabi rin ni De La Peña na pagtutuunan niya ang mga programa na makapagpapabilis sa pag-unlad ng rehiyon, at ganoon din ang mga polisiya ng science and technology (S&T).
Ipinagdiinan din ng dating DOST undersecretary na ang R&D industry ay magiging matagumpay kung magkakaroon ng maraming investor sa mga technology intensive business.
”There will be many investors in this area if the economic climate is good, if the industry-academe-government linkages are strong and effective, and if we have enough human resources in advanced S&T areas who can be tapped by the industry,” paliwanag niya.
Pagdating sa human resource development, sinabi ni De La Peña na nais niyang pag-ibayuhin pa ito.
“There are many universities in the regions, especially the state universities and colleges (SUCs), which can be delivering institutions for S&T scholarship degree programs,” De La Pena cited.
Idinagdag pa niya na, “A little more help from the government will help them improve their capacity, capability, quality and attractiveness so that more scholars will stay in their respective regions to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) program.”
Ang STEM program, dating tinatawag na Engineering and Science Education Program (ESEP) ay sinimulan ng DOST noong 1994. Ito ay isang science and mathematics-oriented curriculum na iniaalok sa high school at pinamamahalaan ng Department of Education (DepEd).
Ayon kay De La Peña, kahit na hindi pa nagsasalita si President-elect Rodrigo Duterte kaugnay sa S&T, hindi maitatagong isa sa mga prayoridad ng Pangulo ang science and technology—sa pamamagitan ng R&D, S&T services at human resources development.
”He has repeatedly stated his emphasis on health, agriculture and food, education, and hastening the development in the regions,” pahayag ni De La Peña said
”The DOST programs and projects will support his priorities,” aniya.
