DOST execs worried about P76-M budget cut for R&D institutes

Officials of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Wednesday expressed concern that their research and development initiatives would not push through as planned following a massive budget cut in this area under the proposed 2021 national appropriations.

During the House panel deliberations on the proposed DOST budget for next year, it was revealed that the department would only be receiving P2.411 billion for its research and development institutes for 2021 from P2.488 billion this year, equivalent to a reduction of P76 million.

Although the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved a higher allocation of P23.89 billion for the DOST next year compared to this year's P20.52 billion, this is still lower than the department's original budget proposal of P36.27 billion.

DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña said that with the reduction in the budget for research and development centers, at least three of these institutes will be highly-affected —Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), Metals Industry Research and Development Center, and Philippine Textile Research Institute.

"The Metals Industry Research and Development Center has a very big responsibility and yet its budget has remained at a low level over the years," he said.

"The Philippine Textile Research Institute is handling more and more projects now because of their desire to make use of local fiber including new materials like bamboo [but their] new projects were not considered," he added.

Dr. Carlo Arcilla, director of the PNRI, for his part, said the budget cuts for their institute would affect their capability to establish a nuclear medicine facility that could help in the early detection of cancer among Filipinos.

"Yung pinakamagandang early diagnosis ng cancer ay through nuclear PET CT scans. Magpapatayo sana kami dito ng nuclear medicine facility [pero] yung initial parts niyan ay nabawasan," he said.

Apart from those for research and development institutes, DOST Assistant Secretary Maridon Sahugan some of their proposed allocations for technology transfer and capital outlays were also not included in the 2021 National Expenditure Program.

Asked to explain the budget cuts, the DBM said the DOST could still use their funding for their Grants-in-Aid (GIA) projects for the research and development initiatives.

"Meron naman kasing GIA projects ang DOST. Pwede naman nila doon kunin yun. Malaki kasi ang pondo doon sa GIA nila. So yung mga research pwedeng ipasok doon," Leah Nuñez of the DBM said.

Still, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago called on her fellow lawmakers to augment the budget of the DOST so that its research and development activities would not be affected.

"Nararapat lamang na bigyan natin ng buong-buong suporta ang pagpapaunlad ng agham, teknolohiya, at pananaliksik dito sa ating bayan lalong-lalo na sa COVID-19 pandemic response at recovery na hinahangad natin kung saan walang maiiwan," she said. —LDF, GMA News