PARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson believes that increased government support for research and development will not only benefit Filipino scientists, researchers and the academe but will also boost rice farmers – who have fallen behind their Southeast Asian counterparts in terms of production.

In his visit to the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Lacson lamented that the Philippines is far behind other Asean countries in agricultural output.

“Alam mo pangalawa tayo sa pinakamababa sa rice production. Ang naungusan lang natin Myanmar kasi ang production ng Myanmar 9.9-million metric tons, ano. Tayo nasa 18.8 million metric tons,” he said.

“Tapos ‘yung Thailand nasa trenta na sila. ‘Yung Vietnam nasa kwarenta na. Isipin mo napag-iwanan na tayo samantalang sa atin nag-aral ‘yang mga ‘yan. E wala kasing suporta nga e,” he added.

The senator stressed the importance of R&D, saying that the Philippines only allocates about 0.4 percent of its Gross Domestic Product for research and development.

“Kaya sinasabi ko nga lagi, ‘yung research and development pag-ukulan natin ng pansin. E pag-scrutinize ko ng budget, alam mo kung ilan lang bahagdan o porsiyento ‘yung ibinibigay natin para sa research and development?” Lacson said.

“Pangkalahatan na ito ha, kung ikukumpara mo sa national budget. 0.4 percent. Dati nga ‘yan 0.38 percent lang. E ang international standard at least nasa mga 2 percent man lang ilagak natin sa research and development,” the Partido Reporma chairman and standard bearer added.

Lacson said a combination of government neglect and lack of funding for R&D has left Filipino rice farmers barely able to make ends meet.