English: Gatchalian pointed out that based on UNESCO Institute of Statistics data, there are only 186 researchers per million inhabitants in the Philippines, one of the lowest among ASEAN countries. Thailand and Malaysia, for example, have 963 and 2,054 researchers per million inhabitants, respectively. To fulfill our collective goal to be the next Asian tiger economy, we must address these skills shortage through strategic human capital investments focused on the fields of Mathematics and Science, according to Gatchalian.
Filipino: Binigyang diin naman ni Gatchalian na batay sa datos ng UNESCO Institute of Statistics, 186 mananaliksik kada isang milyong katao ang meron sa bansa. Ang bilang na ito ang isa sa mga pinakamababa sa buong ASEAN. Sa Thailand, may 963 mananaliksik kada isang milyong katao, samantalang merong 2,054 mananaliksik kada isang milyong katao sa Malaysia. Upang matupad ang layunin ng bansa na maging susunod na tiger economy ng Asya, giniit ni Gatchalian na kinakailangang tugunan ang kakulangan sa strategic human capital investments na nakatutok sa Mathematics at Science.