INITIATE MORE EXCHANGE SCHOLARSHIPS IN ASIA--ANGARA

In promoting bilateral trade talks with Asian giants, Sen. Edgardo Angara urged universities and government agencies for education and the sciences to increase foreign exchange scholarship programs in Asia. He specifically called for partnerships in the fields of science, mathematics, digital technology and engineering.

As the Senate hears the 2010 national budget this week, including those of the DepEd, the CHED and DOST, Angara called for augmented efforts in initiating and maintaining educational exchange ties with South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

"These countries are the most advanced centers of learning in the region. Our students can benefit so much from their universities, and eventually we will have more competitive scientists and engineers," stressed Angara, former President of the University of the Philippines and Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

Angara admitted that the country lacks facilities in research-development but was quick to assert that "these are issues that can be easily addressed over time." He cited his investment agreements with Taiwanese officials that include provisions on exchange scholarships.

In a Memorandum of Agreement with the Taiwanese Minister for Science, Angara said the [Philippines] will be sending 75 Masters and 25 PhD IT and engineering students and professionals to various Taiwanese universities. "They have extra capacities and high-standard training, but they are short in manpower in IT. Back home, we have more aspiring experts than we can train," he said.

"The training our scholars get from our Asian neighbors will equip them with the standards of training accepted in such countries where our Filipino workers can benefit from, also preparing them for higher positions in their [other] organizations in the future," stressed Angara.