Emailed to MN for posting by Jojo T. Taduran (Toronto-Canada)

PROFILES, OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES (AGHAM is the Filipino word for SCIENCE)

In 1965 the Philippines was second only to Japan in economic development. One reason for the economic development of Japan was the use of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (S & T). They say that the contribution of the use of S & T to economic development is 70%. The contribution of S & T in the Philippines is only about 40%. Among the reasons are:

1. Inadequate funds for S & T and R & D (S & T competes with other sectors for government investments). The UN advocates that for a developing country at least 1.0 % of its GNP should be allocated for R & D and S & T. The Philippines allocates less than 0.10% of its GNP for R & D and S & T.
2. Low number of R & D workers and engineers (few college students pursue engineering and science courses vs other professions)
3. Low number of inventions and patents (little support for inventors), and
4. Low consciousness of the leaders on the value of S & T in economic development

Mindful of the science and technology situation in the country the AGHAM Party List was organized in 2005 as an association of science professionals, science journalists, advocates and supporters who seek to push Science and Technology as tools for economic development, advance science and math education in the country and help develop the culture of science of the Filipinos.

AGHAM has decided to pursue its objectives through the legislative process by joining the May 2010 elections. It did so in 2007 but unfortunately was not successful in obtaining a seat in Congress, losing to the last qualifier by only 12,000 votes.

AGHAM has the following objectives:

1. promote science education and culture of science,
2. advocate national policies and programs that will advance science and technology for sustainable development and wellbeing of Filipinos,
3. assist and support Filipino science workers engaged in R & D, in invention and popularization of technologies and products, and
4. promote the welfare of Filipino science workers and sustainability of science-based institutions, organizations and enterprises.
5. explain to the Filipino masses the importance of S & T in their lives.

In the last Pulse Asia survey among 150 Party List most likely to gain seats in Congress, AGHAM was among those that would likely get at least one seat. This means that the Party is now better known among the electorates and its objectives and purposes better understood.

AGHAM has a tentative legislative agenda that it will pursue when it gets to Congress:

1. Work for the allocation of more resources (funds) for R & D and S & T,
2. Improvement of science education at the elementary and high school levels,
3. Training of more science and mathematics teachers,
4. Expansion of scholarships for science and engineering at the BS and graduate level,
5. Establishment of science high schools in all the regions. Presently there are still 5 regions without a science high school.
6. Push for the passage of the Sustainable Environmental Management Act
7. Establishment of a College of Meteorology at the University of the Philippines,
8. Establishment of a College of Marine Science at the Mindanao State University in General Santos City,
9. Establishment of the Philippine Bamboo and Rattan Authority (to improve the livelihood of upland farmers, improve competitiveness of Philippine furniture and handicraft industries),
10. Institutionalization of Tribal Health Workers to improve health services to rural and far-flung areas of the country, and
11. Support for the establishment of Centers of Research and Development Excellence (CORE) in the country.
12. Science education of the barangays, particularly on adapting to the impacts of climate change, including disaster preparedness

The nominees of AGHAM are Mr. ANGELO PALMONES, science journalist and a science program host at DZMM of ABS-CBN; Dir. ANSELMO ADRIANO of Pangkat Kaunlaran who runs a dairy farm and an advocate of livestock development as base for small holder enterprises in this sector; Dr. FLORENTINO TESORO, former professor of forestry at UPLB and former Undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology; DR. EPHRAIM RUBIANO, a medical doctor and MS. CLEOTILDE ELMEDOLAN, PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF MIDWIVES

AGHAM requests your permission to represent the science workers and professionals in Congress, on behalf of the Filipino masses. If you agree that this important sector should be represented in Congress please vote for AGHAM, No. 49 in the list of Party List on the ballot, on May 10, 2010.

Professor Torsten Wiesler, a Nobel Prize Winner for medicine in 1981 recently visited the Philippines. He urged candidates to come up with programs related to education and S & T. Government must invest more resources for science and for education for global harmony and peace and development.