MANILA, Philippines -- The government should invest heavily in science and technology development, as well as education, to lay the foundation for the country?s long-term progress, the country?s former socio-economic planning secretary said on Wednesday.

Solita Monsod, a University of the Philippines economics professor and the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority during the Aquino government, made the pitch for science and technology as awards were given to 10 of the government?s outstanding scholars in the field.

The awardees of the Department of Science and Technology in the field of research and development were:

Dr. Jose Bacusmo, plant breeder and president of the Visayan State University; Dr. Carmela Centeno, associate professor of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas; Dr. Jonathan Rivera Dungca, associate professor of the De La Salle University;

Filipinas Natividad, vice president of the research and development division of St. Luke's Medical Center; Dr. Jurgene Primavera, scientist emerita of the aquaculture department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center in Iloilo; Dr. Henry Ramos of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for R&D of the University of the Philippines Diliman;

Delfin Sabido IX of Technology Management Consultant; Fortunato Sevilla III, UST College of Science professor and assistant to the rector for R&D; Edward Wang, associate dean for faculty and students of the UP College of Medicine; and Dr. Elmer Dadios, a robotics expert and professor at the DLSU.

At Wednesday's awarding rites, Monsod lamented the perennially low budget of government for research and development (R&D) despite its potential as a key to the country's econmic growth.

"Science and technology is about the most powerful tool, probably at least equal to education, in addressing the problems of development," said Monsod.

"Unfortunately, like education, science and technology in the Philippines is not really given the importance that it should have," she said at the event marking DOST's 50th anniversary.

Citing data from the World Bank, Monsod said the Philippines spent only 0.11 percent of its gross domestic product for R&D, unlike Malaysia (0.69 percent), Singapore (2.25 percent), and topnotcher South Korea (2.64 percent) from 2000-2005.

From 1990 to 2005 the Philippines had the lowest number of researchers at 48 per million people, compared to Malaysia's 299, Singapore's 4,999, and South Korea's 3,187.

Monsod said developing countries must devote at least 2 percent of their GDP to R&D if they were to move forward, but the Philippines has been relying more on private businesses for R&D funding.

Monsod lauded the 10 R&D scholars but said the government needed to do much more, "otherwise there is no way we can improve our development base."

DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro said the 10 scholars awarded were "shining examples of the success of our initiatives in developing outstanding human resources for science and technology.

Alabastro said the DOST began its scholarship program through the National Science and Development Board 50 years ago. Starting with 10, she said the number grew to 4,000 new undergraduate scholars annually.