Senator Camille Villar, Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance (Subcommittee “L”), underscored the need for full transparency and accountability in the spending of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as the Senate began deliberations on their proposed 2026 budgets.
During the budget hearing, the youngest senator of the 20th congress highlighted that science, technology, and innovation are critical to the country’s economic growth, disaster preparedness, and global competitiveness, and must directly benefit ordinary Filipinos—particularly farmers, fisherfolk, women entrepreneurs, and the youth.
“Science and technology must not only propel us toward space exploration; they must also provide practical solutions for Filipinos on the ground from improving our agricultural productivity to enhancing disaster preparedness,” Villar emphasized.
Villar pressed PhilSA officials, led by Dr. Gay Jane Perez, on the agency’s capital outlay utilization, which registered only 4.61% as of June 2025 and 15.91% by August. Despite PhilSA’s projection of 96% utilization by year-end, the senator sought a clear explanation for the slow spending in the first half of the year.
“It is already past mid-year, yet utilization remains low. We need to understand the cause of delay and ensure there are no bottlenecks in procurement,” Villar said. “We expect all government agencies, especially those with vital science and technology mandates, to use their budgets efficiently and effectively.”
PhilSA officials cited procurement schedules for the rehabilitation of ground stations and acquisition of scientific equipment as the primary reason for the delay but assured that operations remain unaffected and that targets will be met by year-end.
Villar emphasized that strict Senate oversight will continue to guarantee that 2026 science and technology funds—covering PhilSA and 19 DOST-attached agencies are spent responsibly and aligned with national priorities such as climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, health research, and the advancement of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The senator reiterated her call to bring science and technology closer to Filipino communities, ensuring that research and innovation directly uplift lives and inspire the next generation to pursue careers in these critical fields. ###
