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

Senator Edgardo J. Angara underscored the necessity of finding holistic solutions to issues that surround the Philippine mining sector, following the mining conference held recently.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, noted that according to a recent study from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the country stands to gain more economic benefit from mining by focusing on value-addition, particularly in terms of downstream processing and manufacturing activities.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on students and professionals in the various scientific and engineering disciplines to remain in the country and contribute toward national prosperity.

Speaking at the 1st National Conference of scholars of the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resources Development (ASTHRD) program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Angara said the Philippines only 165 has S&T professionals—such as scientists and researchers— for every million Filipinos.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the Philippines is close to creating a new government agency dedicated to the development of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, after the Senate unanimously passed the DICT bill, which he authored and sponsored, on Third and Final Reading.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on the government to speed up the implementation of the Renewable Energy Act which passed in 2008 in support of the country’s fledgling RE industry.

“We have one of the most comprehensive renewable energy frameworks in the world. It was a remarkable piece of legislation when it was passed four years ago—however, it remains remarkable only on paper,” lamented Angara.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on select government agencies and SUCs to move swiftly in rolling out their R&D consortium programs.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara renewed his call for more investments into agriculture, saying that rolling out measures for climate change adaptation will make the sector more globally competitive.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, made the statement as Hideki Kanamaru of the Food and Agricultural Office (FAO) told participants at the APEC Symposium on Climate Change that the Philippines must adopt “climate-smart agriculture” to address mounting challenges faced in food security and climate change.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara lauded the Senate's passage on Second Reading yesterday of the bill creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, is the main author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 50 (under Committee Report No. 53), calling primarily for the reorganization of the communications-related agencies under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) into a separate agency.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara emphasized the need to enhance science and mathematics education in the Philippines to boost national competitiveness.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Culture and the Arts, made the pronouncement during a recent public hearing on the proposed K-to-12 curricular reforms to the Philippine basic education system.

PHOTO 1:
Senator Edgardo J. Angara delivers the keynote speech at the first General Membership Meeting of the InfoComm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP) yesterday at the Manila Peninsula.

PHOTO 2:
Senator Edgardo J. Angara, the guest of honor, answers some questions from a Member of the InfoComm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP) during their first General Membership Meeting yesterday at the Manila Peninsula.

PHOTO 3:
Senator Edgardo J. Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, swears in the new officers of the InfoComm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP). (L-R) Mr. Carlo Subido of Intel, Immediate Past President; Mr. Peter Tan of Fujitsu, Director; Mr. Dondi Mapa of Microsoft, President; Ms. Kathleen Kho of MetaSystems, Treasurer; Ms. Yvonne Flores of Intel, Secretary; Mr. Ronnie Latinazo of EMC, Director; Ms. Vicky Agorrilla of Lenovo, Director.

SPEECH VIDEO: InfoComm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP) - February 15, 2012
PRESS RELEASE: ICT is Crucial To The PHL Economy - Angara

Senator Edgardo J. Angara delivers the keynote speech at the first General Membership Meeting of the InfoComm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP) yesterday at the Manila Peninsula.

In a keynote speech, Senator Edgardo J. Angara emphasized the significant contribution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and various ICT-enabled industries to the Philippine economy.

Speaking to the attendees of the 1st General Membership Meeting of the Infocomm Technology Association (ITAP), Angara said, “You really are the crucial, critical sector of our economy. I am convinced our nation will be able to grow and prop itself up on account of ICT.”