Before the traditional Christmas break
Angara calls for support on SUCs products

In line with the efforts of strengthening domestic economy of the country, Senator Edgardo J. Angara called for the promotion and support of the state universities and colleges (SUCs) products especially during the Christmas season.

"We need to boost our domestic industry and tourism to spur domestic economic growth. This will make us less dependent on foreign investments and will shield us from the volatility of the foreign markets," said Senator Angara, who chairs Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.

"These products are based on researches made by brilliant minds of our SUCs. We must be proud of our own ingenuity in creating products that poses great benefit especially to people in rural areas," he added.

Meritorious SUCS each have its own products to showcase.

For one, the Aklan State University boosts its Mayon Turbo Stove and Dryer or the 'Poor Man's Gas Stove', which was a finalist in the World Bank Panibagong Paraan 2006 Competition. Meanwhile, the Mariano Marcos State University has fresh market tomato hybrids for off-season planting. This hybrid will enable local farmers to venture into a profitable tomato production during off -season and on periods of high-intensity rainfall and strong typhoons.

With such creativity, Senator Angara recently allocated P5 million to five meritorious state universities and colleges (SUCs) to continue efforts of strengthening research and development (R&D) in the country.

These five deserving and meritorious SUCs include: Visayas State College of Agriculture, Mariano Marcos State University, Aklan State University, University of Southern Mindanao and Central Luzon State University.

The P5 million allocation should be used primarily for the development of three key areas such as the electronics and telecommunications, agriculture and food sciences and health sciences.

"We need to step up public spending in these areas, especially in R&D, as it has the highest economic pay off of all economic activities," said Senator Angara.

During his term as secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Senator Angara greatly improved the human capital of the department by providing international and local scholarships to DA employees.