EdAngara.com - The Official Website of Senator Edgardo J. Angara

Two major sectoral groups have recognized Senator Edgardo J. Angara for his unparalleled contributions toward promoting science and technology as a major component of the country's national agenda.

In separate occasions, the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (CanCham) accorded Angara with the highest individual honor.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara underscored the need to bring Renewable Energy (RE) directly to consumers who need alternative sources of electricity: the fisherfolk, farmers and those living in distant areas still not connected to the national power grid.

During his keynote speech at the German-Philippine Policy Dialogue on Renewable Energy held last week, Angara explained that the government’s continuous support of RE is vital in helping these communities become self-sufficient.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on the government to embark on “an overall greening” or cleanup of the country to reduce the high levels of pollution and to meet the challenges of urbanization and overconsumption of resources and energy.

Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said this movement can be initiated through the creation of comprehensive environmental laws that will promote eco-efficient construction and environmentally sound technology (EST).

Senator Edgardo J. Angara sought to strengthen the country’s capacity to conduct research and development (R&D) in health under the sin tax measure passed by the Senate on Tuesday.

In his amendments, which were accepted by the chamber, Angara urged that the additional revenues be used to fund R&D projects into such key fields as aging, regenerative medicine, and the production of drugs from indigenous sources among others.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the government to allocate more funds for the skills training of frontline leaders and potential Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) employees as he expressed confidence that the country's healthcare information management outsourcing industry will continue to fuel the country’s economy.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to use part of its P36.98 billion proposed 2013 budget to create and implement a rational road transport plan for decongesting vehicle traffic throughout Metro Manila.

During the DOTC budget deliberations in the Senate, Angara said, "Our roads are already over capacity, especially during rush hour. And the resulting delays due to traffic are costly to business and trade especially in Metro Manila."

During debates on SBN 3312, which seeks to amend the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 (RA 9189), Senator Edgardo J. Angara emphasized that overseas voters should be able to use postal mail, fax, email and other secure online means in casting their ballots for Philippine elections.

Senator Edgardo J . Angara lauded the Department of Energy (DOE) for tying up with academic institutions for renewable energy (RE) projects but urged that industry stakeholders should also be involved.

DOE Undersecretarty Jose Layug Jr. recently told the press that the department will partner with select universities across the country to form affiliated renewable-energy centers (ARECs) that will monitor RE projects for research and development (R&D) purposes.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on the government to intensify its programs and reforms in social protection by creating more quality jobs and revenue-generating sources of employment for the Filipino youth.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, made the call following a report from the International Labor Organization (ILO) that many Asians continue to work in vulnerable and precarious forms of work, where incomes are low or unstable and access to rights and benefits is restricted.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara expressed alarm over the results of the World Risk Index of the 2012 World Disasters Report, which ranked the Philippines third out of 173 countries in terms of susceptibility to disasters – next to small island nations Vanuatu and Tonga.

Angara, Chair of Senate Committee on Science and Technology, warned that the Philippines could suffer dire consequences if it does not adopt radical approaches to disaster risk reduction, mitigation and adaptation.