Speaker Martin Romualdez —Screenshot from RTVM/live
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been steadily improving in sciences and innovation, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez announced at the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
Romualdez, in his speech delivered on Tuesday (Manila time), said that the Philippines’ Global Innovation Index has been increasing over time—noting that science, technology, and innovation are seen as the country’s “guiding lights of hope.”
To ensure the continuous progress of the country, Romualdez said the Philippine Congress has pushed for laws and bills that would promote these fields.
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“With all these legislation, policies and programs, in terms of innovation governance, the Philippines’ Global Innovation Index has been increasing over the last decade. In fact, the Philippines is recognized as one of the middle-income economies with the fastest innovation catch-up,” Romualdez said.
“The complementary, interdependent nature of these three different concepts means that they must be considered as one: together. Science, technology and innovation serve as our guiding lights of hope,” he added. “They are our tools in addressing some of the most pressing issues we have today. They support us in achieving our sustainable development goals and in shaping future peace. They hold vast potentials to form and drive global solutions to the world’s problems.”
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Measures to improve innovation
Romualdez, who was head of the Philippine delegation to the IPU Assembly, informed his lawmakers and parliamentarians from other countries that the Philippine Congress fully supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and has enacted measures to improve innovation governance.
Among the laws mentioned by Romualdez are:
- Republic Act No. 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act
- Republic Act No. 11927, or the Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act
- Republic Act No. 10055, or the Technology Transfer Act of 2009
Romualdez said the initiatives taken by President Marcos and measures enacted by Congress have “borne dividends” for the Philippines, noting that in the 2024 Global Innovation Index of the World Property Organization, the Philippines rose in the ranking from 59th in 2023 to 56th place this year.
In the same report, Romualdez noted that the Philippines was recognized as one of the decade’s top innovation performers, achieving its highest rank at 50th place in 2020 even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Romualdez also highlighted that the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan shows the importance of innovation in achieving socioeconomic transformation, like in the case of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) PAGTANAW 2050 project, which is focused on having a Philippine-focused Science Technology Innovation Foresight and Strategic Plan.
Key drivers
“(They are also) key drivers that enable and accelerate the global transformation towards prosperous, inclusive and environmentally sustainable economies in developing and developed countries alike. They are the pillars of sustainable development,” Romualdez said.
“They have the strong potential to contribute to the achievement of almost all the sustainable development goals. They are the heart of international cooperation and global partnerships for development,” he added.
According to the House Speaker, however, global cooperation is still needed to attain goals shared by countries.
“As we continue to work for our respective nations’ sustainable development ambitions, we need as well to work hand in hand to achieve our common global goals. Let me then urge each one of us to foster collaboration, equity and responsibility. It is through this collaboration that we can harness the technological tools to be able to build a future not only more sustainable but more peaceful,” he said.
“Let us ensure that innovations and technological advancements are accessible to all. Let us unite together and continue to cooperate for the betterment of the world we live in,” he added.