Research Activity:

1. Past Philippine Presidents and their major projects/programs on science and technology.

Ferdinand Marcos - During Ferdinand Marcos’ presidency, the importance given to science grew.
In the amended 1973 Philippine Constitution, Article XV, Section 9 (1), he declared that the
“advancement of science and technology shall have priority in the national development.” In his
two terms of presidency and during Martial Law, he enacted many laws promoting science and
technology. In 1982, he reorganized the National Science Development Board and its agencies
into a National Science and Technology Authority to provide central direction and coordination
of scientific and technological research and development. (Executive Order No. 784, s. 1982) He
granted salary increases to the people with teaching positions in the Philippine Science High
School due to their necessity in the advancement of national science. (Executive Order No. 810,
s. 1982). He enacted a law on the completion of the National Agriculture and Life Sciences
Research Complex at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. (Executive Order No. 840,
s. 1982)

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. Under the Medium Term Philippine
Development Plan for the years 1987-1992, science and technology’s role in economic recovery
and sustained economic growth was highlighted. During Corazon Aquino’s State of the Nation
Address in 1990, she said that science and technology development shall be one of the top three
priorities of the government towards an economic recovery. On August 8, 1988, Corazon Aquino
created the 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. The Congress did not put much
priority in handling bills related to science and technology. The Senate Committee on Science
and Technology was one of the committees that handles the least amount of bills for deliberation.

Fidel V. Ramos believes that science and technology was one of the means wherein the
Philippines could attain the status of new industrialized country (NIC). During his term, he was
able to establish programs that were significant to the field of S&T. 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.
 In President Joseph Estrada’s term, two major legislations that he signed were Philippine
Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749) which was designed to protect and preserve the
environment and ensure the sustainable development of its natural resources, and Electronic
Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792) which outlaws computer hacking and provides
opportunities for new businesses emerging from the Internet-driven New Economy. Aside from
these, in his first State of the Nation Address, President Estrada launched a full-scale program
based on cost-effective irrigation technologies. He also announced that Dole-outs are out, which
meant basic health care, basic nutrition, and useful education for those who want, but cannot
afford it. Lastly, he said that they would speed up the program to establish one science high
school in every province. It was in his second State of the Nation Address that President Estrada
announced the passage of the Clean Air Act, and the decision to pursue the 15-year
modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 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.

In the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, the science and technology sector of the
Philippines was dubbed as the “golden age” of science and technology by then secretary Estrella
Albastro . Numerous laws and projects that concerns both the environment and science to push
technology as a tool to increase the country’s economic level. This is to help increase the
productivity from Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) and help benefit the poor people.
Moreover, the term “Filipinnovation” was the coined term used in helping the Philippines to be
an innovation hub in Asia. 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. This helps schools produce get more involve in
this sector. Private sectors were also encouraged to participate in developing the schools through
organizing events and sponsorships. Future Filipino scientists and innovators can be produced
through this system

In 2014, 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. Trono’s contribution helped a lot of
families in the coastal populations through the extensives studies he made on seaweed species.
On the other hand, Alcala served as the pioneer scientist and advocate of coral reefs aside from
his contribution in the fields of systematics, secology and herpetology. Barba’s contribution
changes the seasonal supply of fresh fruits to an all year round availability of mangoes through
his studies on the induction of flowering of mango and micropropagation of important crop
species. Lastly, Gomez steered the national-scale assessment of damage coral reefs which led a
national conservation.

Source: https://www.hisour.com/philippines-science-history-37197/
2. Identify several issues in the Philippines. What science-and technology-related policies
could be developed and implemented to solve these issues?

If I would to site issues related to science and technology in the Philippines, then
it would take me a long time writing it all down. But I really to be specific on the lack of
safe drinking water especially on areas which are seem to be unreachable by the national
government. I have seen areas in mountainous places where they have to travel and walk
miles down just to get some safe drinking water. Even in some provinces, there are lots of
water sources but are not sure if they are potable and safe to drink. Water filtration
systems should be distributed in the provinces. It should be implemented by the
government to ensure the health and well-being of the Filipinos living in rural areas,
where the supply of safe drinking water is scarce. They should dig deep wells with
filtering capabilities for the citizens. The Department of Science and Technology is
currently developing a cost-effective water filtration system using ceramic and clay in the
process. I hope it will be carried out to the needy citizens upon its release and
development.

3. What are the laws related to science and technology in the Philippines from the year
2000? And how are these laws implemented?

REPUBLIC ACT No. 2067: "Science Act of 1958"

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10535: "The Philippine Standard Time (PhST) Act of 2013"

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10055: "Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009"

R.A. No. 10612: Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013

Republic Act No. 8439 Magna Carta for Scientists Engineers Researchers and other S T
Personnel in the Government

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8747: “An Act Requiring Disclosure Of Year 2000 Statements And
Readiness Of Computer Based Systems, Products, And Services, Providing Funds Therefore And
For Other Purposes.”