Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the government needs to make a push towards funding programs that would create more Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) holders in science and engineering in order to help make the Philippines more globally competitive.

Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said that a report by the commission listed the lack of high level S&T and engineering degree holders as one of the foremost reasons why the country is lagging behind in terms of S&T development.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone yesterday asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to reduce its programs so it could save money and focus on “the basics to improve the quality of education.”

Evardone, member of the House committee on basic education, said at present DepEd has 54 different programs grouped under the categories of access to basic education, quality and relevance to basic education, teacher competence, school-based management, alternative learning system, health and nutrition, and other programs and projects.