COMSTE meets at BAR for a national review on S&T and engineering

8 July 2008
Ma. Eloisa E. Hernandez

The Agriculture and Food Panel of the Congressional Commission on Science and Technology, and Engineering (COMSTE) chaired by Dr. William G. Padolina held a meeting on 8 July 2008 at the BAR Conference Room, RDMIC Bldg., Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City.

The whole afternoon was dedicated for presentations of invited resource persons. Topics discussed are on the: (1) Supply and Utilization Accounts (SUA); (2) Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (DOST-PCAMRD)? profile; (3) Formulation of Investment Policy Report and Indicative Investment Plan for Agriculture and Fisheries Research, Development and Extension; (4) GMA Fisheries Program; (5) Scenario Building Framework.

Dr. Ponciano Intal, Executive Director of the De La Salle - Angelo King Inst. presented the study conducted by SEARCA and submitted to BAR in 2005 on the Formulation of Investment Policy Report and Indicative Investment Plan for Agriculture and Fisheries Research, Development and Extension. According to him, the Philippines suffers from "productivity crisis" in agriculture and agricultural RD&E; for nearly all crops except corporate-based fruits, the country fared poorly in yield and productivity as compared to countries in the region. This can be attributed to the underinvestment in agricultural RD&E and its ineffective use.

Dr. Intal enumerated the opportunities in different areas in order for the country to jumpstart agricultural modernization and competitiveness through RD&E: These include: (1) growing demand in new industrial uses (geotextile, cocopeat) and food and nutritional uses (cocowater, cocomilk); (2) recent output performance supports and RD&E-based import substitution strategy for the sugar industry; (3) large potential for mariculture, fish fillet and tilapia for export; (4) Rice: hybrid rice can substantially raise palay yield in tandem with open-pollinated varieties-high yielding varieties (OPV HYVs); (5) new product uses widens market for abaca if yield improves substantially e.g. furniture, Laminas, burlap bags, among others.

Also, Dr. Intal reported that the country could be a net importer in a decade given the current production and domestic consumption trends. There is a need to improve management of municipal fishery resources, increase productivity of aquaculture and expand mariculture and capture fishery.

Dr. Padolina concluded by considering "industry-specialists" that can lead in the development of projects. "We should have a holistic value-chain and know how to handle food security,' he ended.

COMSTE was created through a Joint Resolution No. 1 of the Thirteenth Congress signed on 19 February 2007. The Commission is tasked to undertake a national review and assessment of the science, engineering, and technology research and development system of the country with a view to: (a) enhancing the system's internal capability to satisfactorily implement the constitutional provisions on science and technology; (b) providing the system with the necessary funding requirement and other infrastructure support; (c) strengthening the linkages will all sectors concerned with science, and technology and engineering R&D; and (d) assisting the science and technology and engineering sector in achieving its goals and targets through policies and approaches that are consistent with the nation's development perspectives.