Presidential bet Sen. Panfilo Lacson ang running mate Senate Pres. Vicente Soto III with Gapan City Mayor Emerson Pascual (2nd from left) and other city officials. Photo by Armand Galang
GAPAN CITY — Vice presidential bet Senate Pres. Vicente Sotto III underscored the need for upscaled research and development to address the recurring problem in Philippine agriculture, including plants infestation.
Sotto, along with his presidential tandem Sen. Panfilo Lacson, met with Mayor Emerson Pascual and other city officials here Tuesday.
The government, he said, shall invest to R&D should they win in the forthcoming May 9 national and local elections.
“Alam n’yo ba yung Huawei, ang laki ng inilalagay nilang budget sa research and development nila,” Sotto said, underscoring the need for budget to upgrade a product.
The company allocates 15 percent of its total income to R&D which makes it at par with the leading rivals, they said.
“Ang DOST (Department of Science and Technology) kailangang-kailangan ng pondo,” Lacson said.
They were asked on how to stop infestation, among others, in plants like armyworms that destroyed some 100 hectares of onions in Bongabon town this season.
Filipino talents should be harnessed, added Lacson.
They also vowed to curb smuggling and minimize importation that adversely affect local farmers.
