'Education is key'

Monday, 08 February 2010 10:30 AM Ivy Jean Vibar

Education, is the key to addressing many issues, Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said during the Blog Watch talk on February 6. However, he can't give an exact figure on how much the government will spend on it if he wins.

According to Aquino, the government has many other financial problems such as the budget deficit, deals with contractors, and corruption. Thus, despite the Constitutional mandate that budget allocations must largely go to education, the government can probably consolidate the activities of the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) so that the said agencies will be able to better coordinate with each other.

The Senator, however, did not specify how the consolidation will be done. Neither did he say if he would want to sign a Republic Act rearranging the functions of the said agencies, such as former President Fidel V. Ramos did in 1994 when he signed Republic Act 7796, fusing the National Manpower and Youth Council, DepEd's Bureau of Technical and Vocational Education and the Apprenticeship Program of the Bureau of Local Employment of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Manufacturing base

According to Aquino, research and development (R&D), while not at the top of the list, is a priority. However, education is again a factor, as there are only a few students focusing on the sciences.

"It is a question of the chicken and the egg," he said. "Where should we start?"

The country, he noted, should first improve its manufacturing base, so that there will be a demand for the graduates of science-related courses. Jobs focusing on research and development must first be created, then measures such as lowering taxes on equipment must be implemented to support the industry.

The government's R&D projects are undertaken by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). In cooperation with DepEd, DOST also facilitates research projects done by students enrolled in science high schools and science courses in state universities such as the University of the Philippines.

If the Philippines will concentrate on education, there will be several improvements not only in the educational system itself, but also in health and employment, Aquino asserted.

Education will allow citizens to know more about the prevention of diseases, he said, as well as let them understand the importance of sanitation.

Greatest weakness

When asked what his weakness was, Aquino promptly replied that he needs a physical fitness regime. "I also want to get to the faith level my mother had," he said.

Viewers of the Blog Watch talk live stream noted that Aquino coughed a lot, prompting Twitter user raggster to comment that while the presidentiable had "good answers," he should "have that cough checked."

Some controversy surrounds Aquino's "secret" smoking habit -- The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay in 2009 as saying that the only son of the late Ninoy and Corazon Aquino should quit, as it is "not appealing...to see a leader smoking" and that it sets a bad example to the public.

Yellow birthday

Aquino, born in 1960, turns 50 today. His supporters in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, Sun.Star reported, will celebrate his birthday by having a "Yellow Party" in Bacolod.

According to the Manila Bulletin, Aquino's Muslim supporters yesterday arranged for a motorcade to pass through Islamic communities in Metro Manila, their way of wishing the presidentiable a "Happy birthday."