MANILA — Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has publicly expressed gratitude toward the Marcos administration for their substantial support and the increased funding allocated to the department’s research and development (R&D) efforts for the upcoming year.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has earmarked PHP8.8 billion for the DOST’s Grants-In-Aid (GIA) program, which aims to bolster a wide range of science, technology, and innovation initiatives across the country. “We thank the Administration and DBM for the increased budget and continued support to R&D which is the foundation of innovation,” Secretary Solidum stated, acknowledging the significant role the budget increase plays in advancing scientific and technological research.
While the initial proposal for the GIA budget by DOST for 2025 was set at PHP17.092 billion, the approved amount, although lower, still marks an increase from the previous year’s PHP8.759 billion. This funding is designated to support various DOST-backed projects under the agency’s Harmonized R&D Agenda, which includes sectors such as agriculture, aquatic and natural resources, health, industry, energy, emerging technologies, productivity improvements for enterprises, community empowerment, and technology commercialization.
Secretary Solidum further announced that in partnership with industry and academic leaders, DOST is set to launch eight major R&D projects in 2025. These initiatives will focus on cutting-edge fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Geospatial Analytics, Industry 4.0, Circular Economy, Smart Agriculture, Smart Technologies, and Biologics in Pharmaceutical.
Additionally, the overall proposed budget for DOST in 2025 is PHP49.25 billion, with an approved budget of PHP28.77 billion, which surpasses the PHP27.22 billion allocated for 2024. This funding underscores the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and scientific advancement as pivotal drivers of national development.