MikeLigalig.com

By Bohol Chronicle

Upon his return from Silicon Valley, Rep. Rene L. Relampagos, from the first district of Bohol, pushed for the creation of a science and technology advocates group in Congress.

“It is very sad that our country is not investing in research and development in the field of science and technology. We fail to tap the most important and abundant source our country has – its people,” Cong. Relampagos lamented.

Rep. Relampagos, vice-chairperson of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) joined the official House delegation to the Silicon Valley on Nov. 13-16, 2011 upon the invitation of the Science and Technology Advisory Council of Silicon Valley Chapter and Cisco Systems, Inc. to discuss new technology and education infrastructure for our country's ICT development.

Aside from Rep. Relampagos, the six-member House delegation included ICT committee chairperson Rep. Sigfrido R. Tinga, and Reps. Vincent P. Crisologo, Maria Rachel J. Arenas, Ben P. Evardone, Joseph Augustus A. Abaya and Tom Apacible.

“It would be good if we can have something akin to “Silicon Valley” in Congress. We want to build a citizenry not just knowledgeable in ICT but also dept in it. We want a generation of Filipinos becoming more than consumers of technology and its products, but creators as well – building on and improving existing technology and producing digital content,” Rep. Relampagos stated.

Silicon Valley refers to a region in Northern California in the United States which serves as home to many of the world's largest technology corporations.

“So many of our kababayans are employed by big companies abroad where there talents are better appreciated and utilized. We had the privilege of meeting Dado Banatao, who made a name for himself in Silicon Valley, did, so can other Filipinos,” he said.

In the trip, they were welcomed by Philippine Consul General Marciano A. Paynar, and accompanied in all their meetings by trade representative Josephine Romero.

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