MANILA -- In the wake of an eye-opening report on the Philippines' faltering R&D spending, domestic legislators are calling for new investment to beef up the nation's electronics industry.

Electronics, including semiconductors, make up 62% of the country's $31 billion in annual exports. But a recent report from the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering pegged the country's R&D spend at 0.43% of the nation's GDP, below the recommended 1.15% for developing countries.

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara says new resources are needed to keep the sector globally competitive. "Our educational standards and weak R&D infrastructure are hurting the global competitiveness level of the nation."

Angara advocates public-private partnerships as a means to strengthen the competitive base. "A strategy that ties industry needs with government policy will help us develop innovative programs for the sector," he said.

Among COMSTE's Semiconductors and Electronics panel is Arthur Tan, CEO of IMI Inc., the world's 25th largest EMS company.

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