S&T key to solving widespread poverty

Inquirer’s Sept. 20 editorial, titled “Family ties,” concluded, “It is thus necessary that the government solve as soon as possible the perennial problems of poverty and lack of gainful employment, so that more and more parents would stay in the Philippines and continue to care for their children.”

This is not possible. First, poverty and lack of gainful employment are just symptoms of underdevelopment. Second, underdevelopment can only be solved by improved science and technology (S&T). Third, our S&T department and S&T academy—the Department of Science and Technology and the National Academy of Science and Technology—in their over 50 and 30 years of existence, respectively, have been, and still are, run by nonscientists or, at best, second-rate scientists.

“Development goals that do not recognize the importance of science and technology in economic transformation are likely to fail, especially those aimed at reducing poverty and raising income levels” (Harvard Report: Meeting the needs of developing countries, 2001).

For a more serious discussion on national development issues, Google or see “Only science can solve poverty” (Inquirer, 6/21/07) at https://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/ lifestyle/ view/20070621-72442/ Only_science_ can_solve_poverty#_

—FLOR LACANILAO,

retired professor of marine science,  University of the Philippines Diliman,

[email protected]