House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has showcased the country's science, technology, and innovation progress to the international community under President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr.
Speaking at the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday (Switzerland time), the leader of the 300-plus members of the House of Representatives said the President and Congress have been taking steps to promote science, technology, and innovation to sustain the nation's development.
In line with the president's legislative priorities, Speaker Romualdez said the National Innovation Council was created "to ensure that innovation is embedded as a key priority in our country's pathway to socioeconomic development."
He said the council, chaired by the President, administers a 10-year policy vision, goals, and strategies collectively called the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document.
The document contains the Philippines' vision and long-term goals for innovation and a road map of the strategies for improving innovation governance, deepening and accelerating innovation efforts, and integrating and fostering public-private partnerships, mindful of the policy of "leaving no Filipino behind," he said.
The House leader, who heads the Philippine delegation to the IPU Assembly, informed his fellow lawmakers and parliamentarians worldwide that the Philippine Congress, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, has enacted several measures to improve innovation governance in the country.
He specifically mentioned three laws: Republic Act 11293, also known as the "Philippine Innovation Act;" Republic Act 11927, or the "Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act;" and Republic Act 10055, or the "Technology Transfer Act of 2009."
Romualdez said the president's initiatives and Congress's measures have "borne dividends for our country."
He said that in the 2024 Global Innovation Index of the World Property Organization, which measures the innovation-based performance of 130-plus economies, the Philippines rose from 59th place in 2023 to 56th place this year.
In the same report, he said the Philippines was recognized as one of the decade's top innovation performers, achieving its highest rank at 50th in 2020 during the global pandemic.
The Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act aims to address digital technology and skills gaps by providing programs that equip Filipinos with the necessary competencies for the global labor market.
The law ensures support for the digital workforce through co-working facilities and loans with concessional terms. It also allows public-private partnerships to plan and implement training, skills development and certification programs for digital careers.
The Technology Transfer Act seeks to promote and facilitate the transfer and commercialization of intellectual property, technology, and knowledge resulting from government-funded research and development programs to benefit the Philippine economy.
Under the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan, the government has emphasized the importance of innovation in achieving profound socioeconomic transformation.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched PAGTANAW 2050, the first DOST-funded inter-disciplinal and trans-disciplinal project on a Philippine-focused Science Technology Innovation Foresight and Strategic Plan.
The plan is a compendium of science, technology, and innovation megatrends, global and national societal goals, trans-disciplinary operation areas, and current and emerging technologies relevant to the nation's development, firmly grounded in Filipino aspirations.
"With all these legislation, policies and programs, in terms of innovation governance, the Philippines' Global Innovation Index has been increasing over the last decade. The Philippines is recognized as one of the middle-income economies with the fastest innovation catch-up," Speaker Romualdez told his IPU audience.
He emphasized the importance of science, technology, and innovation in addressing many nations' development issues.
"The complementary, interdependent nature of these three concepts means they must be considered one. Science, technology and innovation serve as our guiding lights of hope," he said.
"They are our tools in addressing some of the most pressing issues today. They support us in achieving our sustainable development goals and shaping future peace. They hold vast potential to form and drive global solutions to the world's problems," he said.
The House leader added that they are also "key drivers that enable and accelerate the global transformation towards prosperous, inclusive and environmentally sustainable economies in developing and developed countries. They are the pillars of sustainable development. "
"They have the strong potential to contribute to achieving almost all the sustainable development goals. They are the heart of international cooperation and global partnerships for development," he stressed.
The Speaker called for global cooperation to attain the world's common goals.
"As we continue to work for our respective nations' sustainable development ambitions, we also need to work hand in hand to achieve our common global goals. Let me urge each of us to foster collaboration, equity and responsibility. Through this collaboration, we can harness the technological tools to build a more sustainable and peaceful future," he said.
He urged his colleagues to "take advantage of this potential of science, technology, and innovation and utilize them fully and responsibly to address the challenges of modern times."
"Let us ensure that innovations and technological advancements are accessible to all. Let us unite and continue to cooperate for the betterment of our world," he said.
The five-day IPU conference focuses on "Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovation for a More Peaceful and Sustainable Future."
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