INTRODUCTION
Our government has always placed Science and Technology (S&T) in the forefront of our globalization efforts. This is in recognition of the fact that, without scientific and technological progress, no amount of achievement in other fields can ensure the security and prosperity of our nation in these modern times.

It is in this light that the government established policies to further scientific and technological development, for in it lies much of our hope for the future. Thus, we have initiated measures to achieve this purpose, such as Republic Act No. 7687, now popularly known as the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994. A total of 4,413 scholars are being supported at present by this flagship program to meet some of our S&T personnel requirements by the year 2000.

Today, we reaffirm our commitment to this national priority with the signing of Republic Act No. 8248 which amends R.A. 7687 to further strengthen the S&T program of the government.
S&T HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
R.A. 8248 calls for the creation of a S&T Human Resource Development (HRD) Council composed of the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as chair and the heads of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) as members.

The council is tasked to coordinate our HRD programs and formulate a medium- and long-term S&T HRD plan to be submitted to me six months after the effectivity of this act.

The council, which shall have a term of four (4) years, will likewise formulate:

1) broad policies for the allocation of S&T scholarships;

2) policies on advanced degree programs for S&T;

3) a career system for technologists and technicians to complement the scientific career system: and

4) programs to train and retrain scientists, engineers, researchers and technologists and encourage them, through various incentives, to return to and practice their professions in the Philippines to enhance and accelerate the technological development of the country.
S&T AS A REQUISITE FOR GROWTH
Another key feature of R.A. 8248 authorizes the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to contribute three percent (3%) of its annual gross earnings to support the S&T scholarship program. This is deemed necessary in order to finance the huge cost of effectively running this enhanced scholarship program.

Originally, the amount necessary to carry out the implementation of the program was charged to the budget of the DOST but even an increase in that department’s budget of p60 million per year proved insufficient to sustain the needs of the program’s target beneficiaries.

It is to PAGCOR’s credit that it has performed its mandate in a dynamic manner, thus being able now to support our S&T and other important reforms.

The additional support provided under this new law shall be taken from the income share of the national government but will be strictly used to subsidize the expenses of the beneficiaries. PAGCOR’s contribution shall be for a period of four (4) years after which the same shall be reviewed by the council and Congress.

With this new law, congress has signified its recognition of the need to focus our efforts on harnessing the unlimited potential found in S&T in order that we may achieve sustainable and equitable growth and enable our country to compete in the global market.

The experience of Asia-Pacific in becoming today the most vigorous region in the world economy bears this out.

From 1965 to 1990, according to the 1992 world bank report, the 23 economies of East Asia grew faster than all other regions of the world. In large measure, these economies achieved progressive growth by building up their S&T capability, in particular, their human or intellectual capital.

Very recently, the Philippines emerged as Asia’s newest tiger cub, in the view of prestigious international investment and media organizations. Despite this achievement, however, we have a great deal of catching up to do.

In terms of our S&T human resource base, the DOST-Science Education Institute, using United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) standards, estimates a gap of about 30,000 highly qualified Research and Development (R&D) personnel for the country to stay on the right track.

We must close this gap without delay, if we are to pole-vault into the 21st century.
PREMIUM ON HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
This is one of the reasons why the Ramos administration has put a premium on human resources development as a critical factor in building our nation.

We have created the TESDA as a multisectoral body responsible for planning, setting standards and allocating resources for technical, vocational and skills development. It organizes our manpower development program by continually upgrading the skills of our young workers.

We have also succeeded in being chosen as the site for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Center for Technology Exchange and Training for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It is now part of the National S&T Center in Los Baños, Laguna.

To develop our communities through scientific, technological and environmental initiatives, we launched the Gawad Agkatek (Agham-Kapaligiran-Teknolohiya) which annually recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of our science-inclined youths in improving their localities in tandem with their elders.

This new law, therefore, fits in very nicely with our continuing desire for appropriate and timely S&T programs which will contribute to the uplift of the Filipino community and the Philippine economy.
CLOSING
I commend the numerous authors and sponsors, from both houses of Congress, for spearheading the enactment of this crucial legislation to secure our future, and I thank the Senate President and the Speaker of the House for their leadership.

In closing, I enjoin all the other sectors of our society, particularly the academe, the science community and the private sector, to closely cooperate and work together in initiating more S&T undertakings until we shall have attained total sustainable development and become truly globally competitive.

Maraming salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!