Former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the government should invest more in research and development so the Philippines are not left behind by its neighboring nations.
According to Teodoro, the government should also invest in emerging and disruptive technologies if it wants to keep up with other countries.
"Ang research and development investments po ng private sector at gobyerno kailangan pag-igitingin lalong-lalo na mga educational institutions," Teodoro told DZRH in an interview.
(The research and development investments of the private sector and the government need to be intensified especially on educational institutions.)
He cited the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology that sent Filipinos to study overseas so they can return and share what they have learned abroad.
"Kailangan po tayong gumugol dito kung hindi, pag hand me down ang hihintayin natin, mahuhuli tayo," he stressed.
(We need to look into it because if we keep on waiting for hand-me-downs, we will fall behind.)
He made the remarks as the country struggles to remain up to date in the genome sequencing aspect of COVID-19 cases, which helps in detecting new COVID-19 variants spreading in the communities.
