For the government’s digitalization efforts to succeed and benefit the people, it needs to provide more funds for research and development (R&D) in the national budget, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.
Lacson said government agencies must use homegrown R&D to develop solutions, and go beyond “googling” for equipment and technologies imported from abroad.
“When we scrutinize the national budget, I noticed that R&D accounts for only 0.4 percent. How can we become self-reliant when we are so dependent on imports?” he said in Filipino in an interview on “Bakit Ikaw? The DZRH Job Interview.”
“Isn’t it better to have homegrown solutions? We must bolster our research,” he added.
Related: Ping Lacson, Itinulak ang Mas Malaking R&D Budget Para sa Digitalization
Lacson, who noted other countries allot at least 10 percent of their budget to R&D, said R&D can be the key to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s push for digitalization.
Earlier, the President noted digitalization can help minimize the avenues of corruption as government transactions become more transparent.
More importantly, Lacson said digitalization through homegrown R&D would benefit Filipinos and Philippine entities instead of foreign companies.
“How can we become self-sufficient if we resort to importing? We would be enriching other countries, and we won’t become self-sufficient,” he said.
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Ping Lacson, Itinulak ang Mas Malaking R&D Budget Para sa Digitalization
Upang magtagumpay ang pagsisikap ng pamahalaan para sa digitalization, kailangan ang mas malaking pondo para sa research and development (R&D) sa pambansang budget, ayon kay dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Huwebes.
Giit ni Lacson, dapat gumamit ang ahensya ng pamahalaan ng homegrown R&D para lumikha ng solusyon, sa halip na mag-Google para sa mga gamit at teknolohiya mula sa ibayong dagat.
“Tuwing magbubusisi kami ng budget napansin ko ang nakalagak para sa R&D, 0.4% ng national budget. Sabi ko bakit ganoon kaliit paano tayo aasenso kung aasa tayo sa pag-import?” aniya sa “Bakit Ikaw? The DZRH Job Interview.”
“Di ba mas mainam tayo ang gumawa? Pagyamanin natin ang research,” dagdag niya.
Ani Lacson, ang puhunan ng ibang bansa para sa R&D ay umaabot sa 10 porsyento ng budget nila. Dagdag niya, maaaring maging susi ang R&D sa pagtulak ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s para sa digitalization.
Ayon sa Pangulo, malaki ang maitutulong ng digitalization sa pagbaba ng katiwalian dahil magiging mas transparent ang mga transaksyon ng gobyerno.
Mas mahalaga dito, ayon kay Lacson, ang digitalization gamit ang homegrown R&D ay makakatulong sa mga Pilipino at kumpanyang Pilipino, sa halip ng dayuhang kumpanya.
“Paano tayo maging self-sufficient kung import tayo ng import? Pinapayaman natin ibang bansa. Tayo hindi aasenso,” aniya.
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