Legarda Restores Call to Mainstream Development in Government Programs through the Philippine Innovation Act

Deputy Speaker and Antique Lone District Agent Loren Legarda renewed today her call to scale up the mainstreaming of innovation as an essential element of the country’s nationwide development and sustainable economic development.

“Development is the secret that will drive the Philippines not just to achieving inclusive growth and advancement, however likewise to turning into one of the innovation leaders in Asia. In the 2020 Global Innovation Index ranking released by the World Copyright Organization, the Philippines ranked 50th amongst 131 countries and ranked 11th among 17 economies in Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania. [1] This is already an enhancement from our overall ranking at 54th last year,” Legarda said.

“Development is an essential element of the country’s advancement policies. Thus, we need to mainstream development in all federal government programs. If carried out properly, this will assist strengthen active micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), produce highly-skilled workforce, and promote competitiveness through the use and adoption of technological developments in our different markets and sectors,” Legarda added.

Legarda, primary author of the Philippine Development Act, worried that the national federal government ought to use science, development and innovation in transforming the Philippines into a competitive nation and adopt a wider view in developing its innovation goals and methods covering all prospective types and sources of innovation.

Moreover, Legarda urged the nationwide federal government to produce a community that helps with and supports innovation and entrepreneurial development through effective usage of the provisions of the Philippine Innovation Act to help in resolving the pressing needs of the various sectors.

“We still have a long method to go, but the enhancement in the Philippines’ 2020 Global Development Index ranking is already a good indication and needs to inspire us to more enhance by putting innovation at the center of our development policies and adopt a clear, long-lasting view of the country’s development objectives; improve the governance framework for innovation; and mandate key reform locations towards developing a healthy innovation community for the country,” Legarda stated.

Legarda pointed out that putting premium on development does not necessarily require extra funds. “Government agencies can extremely well work within their existing spending plan and, instead, pursue convergence with other firms to add greater value to already existing program. One example is the convergence between DOST, and the University of Antique in my house province. Through DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST), income support centers, likewise called Technohubs, are established in UA schools, while technology-based barangay economic business (TechnoBEEs) were developed in some towns to offer help and assistance to micro, little and medium business (MSMEs) depending upon the existing farming produce of the municipality.”

Republic Act No. 11923 or the Philippine Innovation Act, which was signed into law on April 17, 2019, aims to promote a culture of strategic preparation and innovation to motivate creativity and knowledge creation and dissemination towards broadening and keeping economic competitiveness; improve development governance in the nation and compel the adoption of a long-term vision and focused concerns for innovation; make sure effective coordination and remove fragmentation of innovation policies and programs at all levels; reinforce the position of MSMEs in the innovation system; adapting the regulatory structure to support the production of and diffusion of new knowledge, products, and processes; encourage entrepreneurial attitude; check out, promote, and safeguard potentials for innovation of traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, and genetic resources; and enhance and deepen interactions and partnerships among various actors. #

[1] https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_gii_2020.pdf