the natives are already had practices linked to science and technology.

They were already aware of the

medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of extracting medicine from herbs. They
already had an alphabet, number system, a weighing and measuring system and a calendar. Filipinos
were already engaged in farming, shipbuilding, mining and weaving. The Banaue Rice Terraces are
among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-Spanish era Filipinos.

Spanish Colonial Period

The colonization of the Philippines contributed to growth of science and technology in the archipelago.
The Spanish introduced formal education and founded scientific institution. During the early years of
Spanish rule in the Philippines. Parish schools were established where religion, reading, writing,
arithmetic and music was taught. Sanitation and more advanced methods of agriculture was taught to
the natives. Later the Spanish established colleges and universities in the archipelago including the
University of Santo Tomas.

The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the Spanish era, especially in the later
years. The Spanish also contributed to the field of engineering in the islands by constructing government
buildings, churches, roads, bridges and forts. Biology is given focus.some Filipinos were able to study in
Europe who were probably influenced by the rapid development of scientific ideals brought by the Age
of Enlightenment.The progress of science and technology in the Philippines continued under American
rule of the islands.On July 1, 1901 The Philippine Commission established the Bureau of Government
Laboratories which was placed under the Department of Interior. The Bureau replaced the Laboratorio
Municipal, which was established under the Spanish colonial era. The Bureau dealt with the study of
tropical diseases and laboratory projects. On October 26, 1905, the Bureau of Government Laboratories
was replaced by the Bureau of Science and on December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the
Philippines was established. The Bureau of Science became the primary research center of the
Philippines until World War II.Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food
processing, forestry, medicine and pharmacy. Not much focus was given on the development of
industrial technology due to free trade policy with the United States which nurtured an economy geared
towards agriculture and trade.In 1946 the Bureau of Science was replaced by the Institute of Science. In
a report by the US Economic Survey to the Philippines in 1950, there is a lack of basic information which
were necessities to the country’s industries, lack of support of experimental work and minimal budget
for scientific research and low salaries of scientists employed by the government. In 1958, during the
regime of President Carlos P. Garcia, the Philippine Congress passed the Science Act of 1958 which
established the National Science Development Board.

In his Second State of the Nation Address on January 23, 1967, he declared that science was necessary
for the development programs, and thus, directed the Department of Education to revitalize the science
courses in public high schools. The Department of Education, with the National Science Development
Board (NSDB), is organizing a project to provide selected high schools with science teaching equipment
over a four-year period.upgrading of science curricula and teaching equipment is crucial to the science
development program. He added the Philippine Coconut Research Institute to the NSDB to modernize
the coconut industry. The NSDB also established the Philippine Textile Research Institute. The Philippine
Atomic Energy Commission of the NSDB explored the uses of atomic energy for economic development.
Marcos assisted 107 institutions in undertaking nuclear energy work by sending scientists to study
nuclear science and technology abroad, and providing basic training to 482 scientists, doctors,
engineers, and technicians.Such projects included research and development schools, technical
institutes, science education centers, and agricultural colleges and vocational high schools.In 1972, he
created the National Grains Authority to provide for the development of the rice and corn industry to
fully harness it for the economy of the country. (Presidential Decree No. 4, s. 1972) He established the
Philippine Council for Agricultural Research to support the progressive development of agriculture,
forestry, and fisheries for the nation. It was attached to the Department of Agriculture and Natural
Resources for administrative purposes. He provided further support for the promotion of scientific
research and invention with Presidential Decree No. 49, s. 1972. This decree contains details on the
protection of intellectual property for the creator or publisher of the work. He established the Philippine
Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) under the Department of
National Defense to provide environmental protection and to utilize scientific knowledge to ensure the
safety of the people. (Presidential Decree No. 78, s. 1972)In 1973, he created the Philippine National Oil
Company to promote industrial and economic development through effective and efficient use of
energy sources. (Presidential Decree No. 334, s. 1973).to establish the National Academy of Science and
Technology, which is composed of scientists with “innovative achievement in the basic and applied
sciences,” to serve as a reservoir of scientific and technological expertise for the country.created a Task
Force on the formulation of a national action program on science and technology to assess policies and
programs of science and technology., he constituted the Health Sciences Center created by R.A. No.
5163 as an autonomous member within the University of the Philippines System to improve the internal
organization and unity of leadership within its units.he created the National Committee on Geological
Sciences to advise government and private entities on matters concerning development in geological
sciences. (Executive Order No. 625, s. 1980).Fifth Republic

In 1986, during Corazon Aquino’s presidency, the National Science and Technology Authority was
replaced by the Department of Science and Technology, giving science and technology a representation
in the cabinet.Presidential Task Force for Science and Technology which came up with the first Science
and Technology Master Plan or STMP. The goal of STMP was for the Philippines to achieve newly
industrialized country status by the year 2000.implemented in the education system together with this
was the “Science for the Masses Program” which aimed at scientific and technological literacy among
Filipinos.In 1993, Science and Technology Agenda for National Development (STAND) was established.
Among its priorities were: (1) exporting winners identified by the DTI; (2) domestic needs identified by
the President’s Council for Countryside Development; (3) support industries and (4) coconut industry
development. Congress, during his term, was able to enact laws that were significant for the field.
Among were: (1) Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439); (2) Science
and Technology Scholarship Law of 1994 (Republic Act No. 7687) and (3) Inventors and Inventions
Incentives Act (Republic Act No. 7459). The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (Republic Act
No. 8293) was enacted during Ramos’ term. The law provides industrial property rights, copyrights and
related rights, and technology transfer arrangements.emerging from the Internet-driven New
Economy.His last State of the Nation Address pushed for the advancement of industries and schools into
the Internet age, as well as the announcement of the passage of the e-Commerce Act.the science and
technology sector of the Philippines was dubbed as the “golden age” of science and technology by then
secretary Estrella Albastro .The STI was developed further by strengthening the schools and education
system such as the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), which focuses in science, technology and
mathematics in their curriculum..President Aquino conferred four new National Scientist for their
contribution in the Scientific field, Academicians Gavino C. Trono, Angel C. Alcala, Ramon C. Barba, and
Edgardo D. Gomez was honored in their respective fields