Tolentino leads budget defense of DOST
SENATOR Francis Tolentino led on Friday the defense of the 2024 proposed budget of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) pegged at P26.73 billion.
The agency’s Office of the Secretary got the biggest portion of the said budget with P6.85 billion.
During the defense at the Senate plenary, senators tackled the most pressing issues related to DOST such as the recent quake in the southern Philippines, Food Stamp program of the administration, rightsizing, and flood management, among others.
In connection with the 6.7 magnitude earthquake in the southern Philippines, Tolentino underscored that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), a DOST attached agency, has a “quick response team” tending to the affected areas.
He likewise said that the agency is vital in monitoring aftershocks.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel lauded the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) for its valuable input in the administration’s flagship project, the Food Stamp program.
“At least nakikita natin yung ano po sometimes kasi we look at the long list of attached agencies sa DOST nag tataka tayo ano ba mga outputs nito, ano ba mga practical value ng outputs,” Pimental said.
For his part, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said that DOST must take a look at overlapping functions in DOST and other executive agencies.
Tolentino clarified that the DOST is mandated for research and development while the other agencies are for execution.
“Studies produced by the DOST family not being utilized by the other government agencies is not a problem of lack of scientific research and data coming from the DOST, but the seemingly lack of utilization of other government agencies,” Sen. Tol noted.
He then recommended the “fusion of government outputs for a more cohesive and efficient bureaucracy.”
Tolentino further said that the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has been vital in the aspects of disaster risk management, national security, and agriculture.
Tolentino presented the agency’s significant achievements on the said areas during his defense of the Philippine Space Agency’s (PhilSA) 2024 budget at the Senate.
The Senator said that the agency was able to enhance satellite data for disaster risk reduction and monitoring of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
He added that PhilSA was able to conduct “117,952 person hours of training and intensive workshops on utilizing satellite data for various groups in the country working on national security, environmental monitoring, agriculture, and DRRM.”
According to Tolentino, PhilSA also had a hand with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in shutting down illegal mining sites through the establishment of geospatial database office.
The Senator further said that through PhilSA, the Philippines will become a “hub for Copernicus Space Data,” in Southeast Asia. The said data is the leading provider of Earth observation data for service providers and public authorities, among others which can be used to improve the quality of life of the citizens.
Tolentino urged the utilization of the studies produced by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which can help other agencies improve their respective services.
“Studies produced by the DOST family not being utilized by the other government agencies is not a problem of lack of scientific research and data coming from the DOST, but the seemingly lack of utilization on the part of other government agencies,” Sen. Tol said during his defense of the 2024 DOST budget on Friday.
He added that the rationalization can generate “a fusion of government outputs for a more cohesive and efficient bureaucracy.”
This comes after Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva queried the overlapping functions of some DOST-attached agencies with other executive agencies.
Tolentino clarified that the DOST is the one assigned to research and development and “the other government entities are supposed to coordinate.”
“Palagay ko, iyong pagkukumpas nito ang nagkukulang. Perhaps there must be a research and development office in every local government office,” the Senator further suggested.
