DOST
NSDB revamped as the National Science and
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY (DOST) is executive
department of the Philippine government
responsible for the coordination of science and
technology-related projects in the Philippines
and to formulate policies and projects in the field
of science and technology in support of national
development.
THE DOST IN BRIEF
Originally established as the National Science
and Development Board (NSDB) on 13 June
1958, it was reconstituted as the National
Science and Technology Authority (NSTA) on 17
March 1981 with the vision of "A competent and
competitive science and technology community
with a social conscience."
With the agency's elevation to full cabinet
stature by virtue of Executive Order 128 signed
on 30 January 1987, the functions and
responsibilities of DOST expanded
correspondingly to include the following:
 Pursue the declared state policy of
supporting local scientific and
technological effort
 Develop local capability to achieve
technological self-reliance
 Encourage greater private sector
participation in research and
development
The Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) is the premiere science and technology
body in the country charged with the twin
mandate of providing central direction,
leadership and coordination of all scientific and
technological activities, and of formulating
policies, programs and projects to support
national development.
The Department through the years...
1958 -
Congress passes a law establishing the National
Science Development Board (NSDB) upon the
recommendation of Dr. Frank Co Tui, who was
tasked to survey the state of Philippine S&T
during the Garcia administration;
1982 -
Technology Authority (NSTA) and accorded
broader policy-making and program
implementing functions;
1987 -
NSTA elevated to Cabinet level and becomes
the DOST in response to increasing demands
for S&T intervention in national development.
HISTORY OF DOST
This development has a resemblance to the birth
of one of the research and development
institutes of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) – the Advanced Science
and Technology Institute (ASTI). It was in 1987
when President Corazon C. Aquino renamed the
then National Science and Technology Authority
(NSTA) to Department of Science and
Technology (DOST). As an offshoot of such
sequential events, the DOST-ASTI was created
as a research and development institute of the
Department by virtue of Executive Order No.
128.
Since its establishment on 30 January 1987,
DOST-ASTI has gained prominence because of
its contributions in ICT, Microelectronics and
R&D as the country bids for national
development and global competitiveness.
Since the 1990s, the DOST – ASTI has
undertaken numerous projects in network
technologies and high-performance computing,
including pioneering efforts in open source
software, IPv6, VoIP and establishing
exchanges that were ahead of the industry.
ROLE FUNCTION OF DOST
1. Formulate and adopt a comprehensive
National Science and Technology Plan, and
monitor and coordinate its funding and
implementation;
2. Promote, assist and, where appropriate,
undertake scientific and technological research
and development in areas identified as vital to
the country's development;
3. Promote the development of indigenous
technology and the adaptation and innovation of
suitable imported technology, and in this regard,
undertake technology development up to
commercial stage;
4. Undertake design and engineering works to
complement research and development
functions;
LEGACY OF MARCOS REGIME
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr.
• In the field of diplomacy, Marcos
initiated the formation of ASEAN in 1966
• Marcos administration also has a
contribution in social justice

5. Promote, assist and, where appropriate, • Marcos declared martial law in 1972
undertake the transfer of the results of scientific
and technological research and development to • His first SONA
their end-users;
• Bared Plans for the Country’s Economic
6. Promote, assist and, where appropriate, Development
undertake the technological services needed by
-roads
agriculture, industry, transport, and the general
public; -bridges

7. Develop and maintain an information system -dams

and databank on science and technology;
-power plants
8. Develop and implement programs for
strengthening scientific and technological -hospitals
capabilities through manpower training,
infrastructure and institution-building; -institutions

9. Promote public consciousness in science and • This includes:

technology; and
-Maharlika Highway connecting Luzon to
10. Undertake policy research, technology Visayas to Mindanao
assessment, feasibility and technical studies.
-NLEX
AGENDA OF DOST
-SLEX

-Circumferential roads 1-10

-Philippine Hear Center

-National Kidney and Transplant Institute

-Lung Center of the Philippines

-Don mariano Marcos Memorial State University

-Bicol University

-Cagayan State University

-San Juanico Bridge

-Mactan- Mandaue Bridge

-Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant

-Pantabangan Hydro Electric Power Plant

-Bliss housing projects
• The Marcos administration also
promoted Filipino culture and put up sites
showcasing the rich Filipino heritage
• This includes:
-Philippine International Convention Center
Cultural Center of the Philippines
-Folk Arts Theater
-Film Center of the Philippines
-National Arts Center in Makiling
-Nayong Pilipino
People’s Park in the Sky
• Free concerts were held at parks for the
public to enjoy classical music
• This includes:
-Concert at the Park
-Paco Park Presents
-Puerto Real Evenings
• President Marcos’ Presidential Decree
27, which called for the “emancipation of tenants
from the bondage of the soil”
• The National Manpower and Youth
Council was founded in 1976 and is now the
TESDA (Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority)
THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF
THE REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES -ARTICLE XIV
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Section 10. Science and technology are
essential for national development and progress.
The State shall give priority to research and
development, invention, innovation, and their
utilization; and to science and technology
education, training, and services. It shall support
indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant
scientific and technological capabilities, and their
application to the country’s productive systems
and national life.
Section 11. The Congress may provide for
incentives, including tax deductions, to
encourage private participation in programs of
basic and applied scientific research.
Scholarships, grants-in-aid, or other forms of
incentives shall be provided to deserving
science students, researchers, scientists,
inventors, technologists, and specially gifted
citizens.
Section 12. The State shall regulate the transfer
and promote the adaptation of technology from
all sources for the national benefit. It shall
encourage the widest participation of private
groups, local governments, and community-
based organizations in the generation and
utilization of science and technology.
Section 13. The State shall protect and secure
the exclusive rights of scientists, inventors,
artists, and other gifted citizens to their
intellectual property and creations, particularly
when beneficial to the people, for such period as
may be provided by law.
Four Filipino scientists
who have made outstanding contributions in
marine botany, biological scinces, horticulture
and marine biology were conferred the Order of
National Scientist Tuesday in simple rites at
Malacanang Palace.
President Benigno Aquino III gave the
recognition to Angel Alcala, PhD. (for Biological
Sciences); Ramon Barba, PhD.(Horticulture);
Gavino C. Trono, PhD (Marine Botany); and
Edgardo D. Gomez, PhD (Marine Biology) after
they were endorsed by the National Academy of
Science and Technology (NAST).
The head of the NAST, biotechnology pioneer
Dr. William Padolina, along with Science and
Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, witnessed
the conferment.
Also witnessing the rites were the scientists’
spouses: Mrs, Lety Trono, Mrs. Naomi Alcala,
Dr. Corazon veron Cruz-Barba, and
Ambassador Phoebe Gomez.
Alcala: marine protected zones
Alcala was honored specifically for his seminal
and original research on the systematic,
ecology, and diversity of Philippine amphibians
and reptiles, and, marine biodiversity, reef fishes
and conservation (marine-protected areas).
His studies on and advocacy of marine no-take
zones led to a national policy and program that
established no-take marine protective areas
which has resulted in more than a thousand of
such marine no-take zones in the country and
has become a model of coastal resource
management and conservation adopted by
many countries.
No-take marine reserves allow the build-up of
marine biodiversity, including fishery species as
well as the export of adult fish to areas (outside
of MPAs) used as fishing areas, thereby
enhancing fish yields of fishers.
Barba: micropropagation of key crops
Barba received the Presidential Medallion for his
distinguished achievements in the field of plant
physiology, focusing on induction of flowering of
mango and on micropropagation of important
crop species that have earned him national and
international accolades.
His pioneering work on the induction of flowering
and fruiting of mango resulted in the change
from seasonal supply of fresh fruits to all year
round availability of abundant fresh mangoes.
The regularity of mango production is the key
ingredient in the development of mango exports
which gave rise to an entirely new industry of
processed mango products.
He developed the plant growth enhancer,
FLUSH, which accelerates the growth cycle of
the trees and advance their flowering and fruiting
stages, to assure continuous fruit bearing of
mango trees.
Gomez: pioneer in global conservation work
Gomez was honored for his outstanding
contributions to science particularly his
researches on marine ecosystems which
became the bases for management of and the
conservation programs for the country’s marine
resources.
Most notable among his researches have been
on coral reef ecology and conservation,
reestablishment of giant clam stocks, and
marine science capacity enhancement.
His pioneering research works on invertebrate
zoology, coral reef science and assessment, and
invertebrate aquaculture, where he steered the
world’s first national-scale assessment of
damage to coral reefs, which brought
widespread concern over the status coral reefs.
This led to worldwide conservation initiatives,
such as the Global reefs and Risk Analysis,
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, and the
International Coral Reef Action, among others.
Trono: tropical marine phycology
Trono received the Presidential Medallion for his
outstanding contributions in tropical marine
phycology with focus on seaweed biodiversity,
biology, ecology, and culture.
He is credited with having done extensive
studies on the culture of Eucheuma
denticulatum, Kappaphycus alvarezii, Gracilaria
spp., Caulerpa lentillifera, and Halymenia
durvillei, seaweed that benefited thousands
among the coastal populations.

He was the first to report the occurrence of “ice-

ice” disease which has caused tremendous loss
of biomass in seaweed farms.

The Order of National Scientist is the highest

honor given by the President to a Filipino man or
woman of science in the Philippines who has
made significant contributions in one of the
different fields of science and technology.