SENATOR Lito Lapid filed a measure expanding the benefits of Science and Technology scholarship grantees of agriculture, geology and meteorology programs.

Senate Bill 2541 aims to amend Republic Act 7687 or the Science and Technology Scholarship of 1994.

The senator said agriculture plays a significant role in Philippine economy.

“Given the significance of agriculture and fisheries, geology, and meteorology to our national interests, it is extremely unfortunate that we have a low number of enrollees in programs related to these fields,” Lapid said in his explanatory note.

The senator stressed it is essential to national interest to establish and maintain scientific communities and organization specializing in food production and geosciences.

“It thus behooves our government to escalate our efforts to promote education and entry into the said fields,” the senator said.

He added one way to encourage more enrollees in programs related to the said fields is through the provision of additional financial assistance.

The grant of financial assistance, the senator said, shall be subject to the availability of funds, purchasing power of the peso, and the rate of financial given under the government scholarship programs.