QUEZON CITY — The House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology officially adopted House Resolution (HR) 497 during its 4th regular meeting on March 17, 2026. This landmark resolution formally recognizes “PAGTANAW 2050: The Philippine Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Foresight and Strategic Plan” as the country’s core plan for science-based development.
Introduced by Representative Raymond Adrian Salceda, the resolution was adopted following the presentation by Academician Fortunato T. de la Peña, former Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, who initiated the foresight exercise. In his presentation, Academician de la Peña emphasized the critical role of PAGTANAW 2050 in guiding the nation toward becoming a Prosperous, Archipelagic, Maritime Nation.
PAGTANAW 2050 is a compendium of ST&I megatrends, global and national societal goals, transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary operational areas, and current and emerging technologies relevant to the nation’s development that is firmly grounded in the Filipino people’s aspirations within the context of the natural and physical endowments, as well as shared Filipino values and skills, and other potentials.
Following the presentation, Committee Chair Julio A. Ledesma IV underscored the importance of shifting toward a more coordinated, evidence-based approach to governance.
“Coordination and resource allocation—that’s the key to everything that we do. How you direct the resource determines the output that you want to attain,” he remarked.
Reflecting on the plan’s strategic approach, he added, “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Just adapt it. Adapt what works, apply it to a Philippine condition, and then scale it up.”
By adopting HR 497, the House of Representatives urges all national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and relevant public and private institutions to align their strategies, development plans, and investment programs with the PAGTANAW 2050 framework. This alignment is expected to promote policy coherence, enhance the country’s innovation capability, and support the Philippines’ ability to meet its national and global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals. — Clarene Bae Barbosa/NAST PHL
PAGTANAW 2050 is the first DOST-funded inter-disciplinal and trans-disciplinal project on Philippine-focused ST&I Foresight and Strategic Plan that would impact the aspirations of the Filipino people on or before 2050: A Prosperous, Archipelagic, and Maritime Nation.
