Press Release
January 18, 2008

STI KEY TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR RP - ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today stressed the need to strongly push science, technology and innovation (STI) in the country, saying it will help ensure stable economic growth for our country.

"STI has the potential to contribute substantially to economic growth and poverty reduction. And basic to the realization of this potential, is education," said the Senator, former President of the University of the Philippines.

In his lecture delivered for the 6th Jaime V. Ongpin (JVO) Annual Memorial Lecture, Angara said that -- in today's economy where knowledge plays a very crucial role -- investments made in science education at all levels, will help uplift the living standards of every Filipino.

The JVO Lecture was created to help increase the awareness of the business sector on key national issues in order actively participate as partners in nation building.

With reactors composed of Social Weather Station President Dr. Mahar K. Mangahas, National Historical Institute Chairman Ambeth R. Ocampo, and Philippine Daily Inquirer Columnist Manuel L. Quezon III, Senator Angara - with his broad experience in the field of education -- will take the challenge to discuss and expound our country's future through S&T.

Angara has authored many significant laws in education, which include: the Free High School Act, which ensured secondary education even for the poorest; the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), one of the biggest scholarship programs in the country; as well as the acts creating the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skill Development Authority.

Senator Angara also filed a resolution creating the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), which will undertake a thorough review of science education in public and private schools, particularly at the graduate level. It aims to improve RP competitiveness and build public support for making the wealth-generating fields of science, technology, and engineering a national priority.

Angara is a former President of the University of the Philippines (UP) and, as a Senator, authored many of the country's education reform laws including the Free High School Act, CHED, TESDA, GASTPE.

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