WHAT has been done by AGHAM Party-List in its first 100 days of service to support the goals of the science and technology (S&T) sector?
“When we started in July this year, AGHAM has identified priorities which we will pursue with corresponding legislation for the next three years. As of today, we have already filed 29 legislative measures,” said AGHAM Rep. Angelo B. Palmones.
Rep. Palmones said that AGHAM is taking an active role in addressing national problems needing direct Science & Technology intervention, such as issues on health, food, natural resources, and environment, among others. To address environmental concerns, AGHAM has filed House Bill No. 03103 (providing for protection and sustainable management of forest ecosystem) and House Bill No. 00844 (promoting national strategy for sustainable mangrove resources). Just submitted is a resolution (House Resolution No. 00508) directing BIR, MWSS, Maynilad, Manila Water , NIA, NPC, PSALM and DENR to inform the House of Representatives on the status of fund collection for environmental conservation and reforestation services and how these have been utilized, in aid of legislating a national reforestation program; while a resolution (House Resolution No. 00301) to immediately stop importation of choice cuts (frozen chicken) has been filed and adopted. On health, House Bill No. 02005 (providing free pulmonary function tests and treatment for smoke-related diseases); House Bbill No. 01603 (institutionalizing tribal health workers); and House Bill No. 02889 ( strengthening the barangay nutrition scholar program) have been filed.
“We also support the move to allot bigger budget for research and development (R&D), i.e. at least 0.80% of the country’s GDP,” continued Rep. Palmones. As initial step, he said that he has filed House Resolution No. 00200 directing concerned institutions to submit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives the priority industries to be developed and the technologies and policies needed to support these industries, to help them determine the needed funding support for research and development and extension. He added that he has also filed House Bill No. 03382 (an act to establish financial management reforms for government research and development operations).
Rep. Palmones assures AGHAM’s support to Science, Engineering and Mathematics education in order to guarantee the country’s steady supply of talented S&T knowledge workers. “However, it is equally important that we create job opportunities for graduates of science and engineering,” he said. Relative to this, he has filed House Bill No. 00842 (regulating the practice of microbiology in the Philippines), House Bill No. 00844 (promoting the growth of biotechnology industry in the Philippines and the creation of wealth from biodiversity) and House Bill No. 02701 (regulating and modernizing the practice of chemistry in the Philippines). (AGHAM/Vicky B. Bartilet)
Comments
Post a Comment