Technological innovation is the key to the competitiveness of the Philippines, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, chairman of the Congressional Commission on Science & Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said Wednesday.

Angara, a former University of the Philippines (UP) president, stressed this after noting that the country’s lack of technological capacity is one major reason why the Philippines is slipping so rapidly in the competitiveness index.

Speaking at the workshop for enhancing institutional framework for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure development sponsored by the SGV& Co. and Ernst and Young,  Angara emphasized the need for the public and private sector to invest heavily in Research and Development (R&D).

“In order to build a critical mass of scientists, researchers and engineers, we have to modernize and upgrade our facilities and research laboratories and mobilize support for our creative people,” he said. (Mario Casayuran)