Budget cuts won’t affect research projects: DOST

By Erwin M. Mascariñas
Correspondent

Butuan City — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) assured that none of the ongoing scientific research projects would be affected by the budget cuts for 2019 during the press conference at the launching of the Regional Science and Technology Week celebration in Caraga Region, Wednesday morning.

For 2019 the budget for DOST has been cut to 19.8 billion from the 21.23 billion budget for 2018.

DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de La Peña pointed out that the budget cuts on the department will not affect the researches that are currently underway.

“In terms of ongoing researches, these are assured of the budget for the continuation of the project and won’t be affected by the budget cuts on DOST,” said de La Peña.

De La Peña further explained why the researches wouldn’t be affected.

“Research projects are usually multi-year, from one to five years, so if we have an approved project that has started already, then we have already set aside reserved funding for that project.”

The secretary, however, said the new research proposals would definitely be affected by the budget cut because they now have lesser fund for these.

De La Peña expressed hopes that some of the research projects being done in collaboration with government agencies, academe, and private institutions.

“Hoping to achieve synergy, as Ched has been very vocal in collaborating with DOST because basically, we team up in assisting higher education institutions.”

De La Peña further assured that the budget and funding for scholarship grants will not be affected as it has been increased.

“Among the items which received a bigger allocation is that of the scholarships, so they have increased the budget for scholarships,” he said.

The Department of Budget and Management proposed the P19,801.2 billion 2019 budget for DOST.