00:00India is the country's top competition in the international BPO sector.
00:04It also offers other fields of studies integrating more current technologies the country can benefit from,
00:10to include biotechnology, smart agriculture, battery storage, vaccine development, and artificial technology, among others.
00:17Hence, DOSD's inking of a bilateral cooperation with its Indian counterpart earlier today
00:22is crucial to Philippine advancement in R&D, as we hear the full report from Arrod Bagusan.
00:30To further strengthen the ties between the Philippines and India in the field of science and technology,
00:35the Department of Science and Technology signed a program of cooperation with its Indian counterpart.
00:41This follows the state visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcus Jr. to India.
00:46According to Secretary Renato Sildom Jr., an initial agreement ended last 2022,
00:51and it has now been renewed to cover the period from 2025 to 2028.
00:56He said the agreement focuses on key areas of science, including disaster-related initiatives.
01:03This will cover a broad topic but very critical, like for example, biotechnology,
01:11and the subject related to smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, battery storage, vaccine development,
01:22oceans and atmosphere, to name a few.
01:24He stated that renewing the bilateral agreement with India is important.
01:29The Secretary stressed that India is a valuable partner,
01:32such as in the field of research and development,
01:34which remains a focal point for the department in the country.
01:38Sildom previously emphasized the importance of commercialization of these scientific outputs to benefit the public.
01:44They do a lot of R&D, but they can scale up the results in a cheaper manner.
01:52And so we can learn a lot from them and vice versa.
01:55They can also learn from the other things.
01:57They are interested in blue economy and geospatial work, which we also do.
02:03Following this, a working group between the two countries will be created to carry out future collaborations and meetings.
02:09Rod Laguzad, from the National TV Network, for a new and better Philippines.
