Bill seeks to expand DOST scholarship program

A bill in the House of Representatives is seeking to expand the government's science and technology scholarship program to encourage more deserving students to go into scientific and engineering fields. The proposed law also calls for an increase funding for the science scholars' studies to ensure that the country will have enough scientists in the coming years. Deliberations on a House bill seeking to bolster the Department of Science and Technology scholarship (DOST) program started this week, with a hearing held at the William G. Padolina Hall of the DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI). House Committee vice chair and Agham party-list Rep. Angelo B. Palmones said House Bill No. 3676, which he also authored, seeks to continue and strengthen the DOST's scholarship program that was created through Republic Act 7687 or the Science Scholarship Act of 1994. Since the program was established, it has funded the studies of at least 10,000 students. New law needed “We need a new law," Palmones said in a phone interview yesterday. He noted that the program, which is open to poor, talented and deserving students who wants to take up BS or science-related technical courses, needs to be strengthened to catch more scholars and ensure that they are fully supported throughout their studies. One of the salient features of the bill is the expansion of the scholarship program. Under the current set-up, only students in the top 5 percent of the graduating class are allowed to take the DOST scholarship qualifying exams. Palmones said the new bill eliminates this criteria as this limits the pool of applicants. “Anybody should be able to take the exams," he said. “In the past, the student's average in all of his classes are taken into consideration. But sometimes, there are math and science students who are not good in other subjects, like Filipino," Palmones added. As long as the student has passed the tests and his math and science grades are stellar, he should be able to get a scholarship, he explained. Not enough scientists The scholarship program started in 1994, with the aim of creating Filipino scientists who could help propel the Philippines to industrialized status with innovations in science and technology. Palmones said this did not happen. According to Palmones, the Philippines lags in terms of trained personnel in S&T for developing countries as it stands at 165 per million population, a far cry from the 380 per million population the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) recommended level. “Republic Act No. 7687, also known as the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994 has been implemented for about a decade now; yet the country’s S&T manpower is still below the UNESCO recommended level because of the increase in population. Furthermore, the existing (law) needs amendments to make it responsive to the need of the country," he said. The lawmaker lamented that the few students who enter the science and engineering disciplines in the country are being pirated by other countries because of low pay here. The Agham party-list lawmaker said the Philippines badly needs scientists, noting that the country has a dearth of meteorologists and marine scientists, for instance. Palmones cited the case of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, which lost 24 experienced weather forecasters in the past 10 years. Pinoy scientists' diaspora This was also the trend in other science disciplines, according to a DoST study. the outflow of Filipino science and technology workers has risen to 148 percent in the past decade. DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) Officer in Charge Dr. Leticia V. Catris said that based on the preliminary findings of the SEI study on the Migration of S&T workers, outbound S&T workers in the Philippines has increased from 9,877 in 1998 to 24,502 in 2009, amounting to an increase of about 148%. The Philippines experienced the highest outflow from 2000 to 2001 when it increased from 11,186 to 17,756 or a difference of about 59 percent, the study said. More funding sought Aside from expanding the pool of potential scholars, the House proposal also seeks to ensure funding for poor but deserving science and technology students. Under the current program, the government shoulders the students' tuition and other school fees. Transportation allowance, monthly living allowance, group health and accident insurance are given in every semester/term. After their government-funded studies, the beneficiaries are expected to work in the Philippines after their graduation. Palmones noted that the funding from the Philippine Amusement and Games Corp. has stopped two years ago and it was not renewed. The new bill would mandate Pagcor to allocate part of its income to science and technology scholarship. At present, the scholarship's fund comes from DOST's annual budget. “We really need to legislate to strengthen the funding," the lawmaker said. The bill also proposes an increase in the fund allocation for the DOST scholarship to inflation and the cost of education, Palmones said. No funding cap Furthermore, the bill would not put a cap on the capacity of the scholarship program. The previous law provides that the funding should not cost the department more than P300 million, Palmones said. “We're taking it out. How can you sustain a program if it has a cap?" he said. DOST officials expressed support to the bill, saying this would encourage more students to go into science. Catris said the bill would be a great help in creating a critical mass of scientists and engineers in the country. “Strengthening the DOST S&T Scholarship will help us provide better chances for our students to become the scientist, engineer or science educator they want to be. Moreover, the country benefits with an empowered DOST S&T Scholarship as it ensures a greater influx of research and development personnel that the Philippine science community needs," she said in a statement. DOST Undersecretary for Science and Technology services Prof. Fortunato T. dela Peña said DOST-SEI, the country’s S&T human resource development agency, hopes that the amendment will entice more students to get into science careers and become S&T movers in the country. “Through the S&T Scholarship, we create opportunities for science and technology. We hope that our students will take the exciting adventure of getting into science careers," he said. — TJD, GMA News