RESEARCH AND development have often been overlooked in the Philippines. For the past decade, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) did not receive any significant increase in their budget allocation. This year, the DOST was forced to cut their budget for research and development institutes because the administration only approved Php 23.89 billion of their initial proposal of Php 36.269 billion.
These budget cuts, along with decreased opportunities for research, has made it difficult for scientists to pursue studies that can further the country’s development. The continuous neglect of scientific research leaves institutes waiting again for another year—hoping that they will receive enough budget to sustain their drive for innovation.
Despite the lack of government funding, our scientists have historically created systems that improve the lives of Filipinos. In 2012, DOST spearheaded Project NOAH to improve disaster risk reduction by providing tools and information that can create better assessments for natural disasters. It gave timely advisories for affected localities, real-time weather information, and hazard maps even at barangay-level. However, operations were halted in 2017 due to lack of funds. It would have greatly helped in the recent typhoons that hit the country and minimized losses.
Scientific projects like Project NOAH highlight the importance of boosting support for scientific research. We have scientists who contribute groundbreaking ideas in their respective fields—allowing them to be part of Asia’s leading scientific researchers. The success of our researchers means that our scientists can leave a significant impact in the scientific world and Filipinos’ lives.
Supporting scientific research also boosts people’s trust in scientists. This will allow them to see that scientists are important in building knowledge; it will also develop a culture where people consider data as a ground for truth. In a time when disinformation is prevalent, being data-driven is a must.
Moreover, research and development should be encouraged to mitigate the decrease of Filipinos who pursue the sciences in the country. Instead of empowering our own, we rely on the success of foreign scientists’ research and projects. Neglecting the call of scientists for support will only force them to leave despite them having the potential to contribute to national development. In doing so, they are left to harness their knowledge abroad and become part of the long list of Filipinos that we claim to be proud of—but did not even bother to support in the first place.
Now is the time to shift our focus to our own scientists and let them shine in their respective fields. They can turn the Philippines into a nation that produces their own medicines as cure for illnesses and become a forefront of natural production research by studying alternatives using resources found in the archipelago.
