THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT S&T AGENDA

Introduction

The need to develop a country's science and technology has generally been recognized as one of the
imperatives of socioeconomic progress in the contemporary world. This has become a widespread
concern of governments especially since the post-World War II years. Among Third World countries,
an important dimension of this concern is the problem of dependence in science and technology as
this is closely tied up with the integrity of their political sovereignty and economic self-reliance.

Science and Technology in the Philippines

•The Department of Science and Technology in the Philippines is a government agency tasked with
overseeing and managing national technology development and acquisition, undertaking
technological and scientific research and promoting public consciousness of science and technology.

•DST is responsible for formulating and adopting a comprehensive National Science and Technology
Plan for the Philippines, and to subsequently monitor and coordinate its funding and
implementation.

•The DST undertakes policy research, technology assessment, feasibility and technical studies and
maintains a national information system and databank on science and technology.

HISTORY

Before the colonization by the Spaniards in the Philippine islands, the natives of the archipelago
already had practices linked to science and technology. Filipinos were already aware of the
medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of extracting medicine from herbs.
The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-Spanish era
Filipinos.

SCIENTIST AS ADVOCATES

Scientists and technologists are essential in a developing world. They are one of the key players in a
country's quest for industrialization. They are the lifeblood of research, innovation and have
important roles in the industry and the manufacturing sector. Together with their roles in nation-
building, scientists, too, have a responsibility to advocate for the betterment of S&T in their
countries.

For the Philippines, in order to halt the vicious cycle of technological backwardness and poverty, it is
important that scientists and technologists themselves be aware of the sad plight of S&T in the
country and to advocate for its improvement.

PHILIPPINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA

Innovation Culture
What recent success we have with the saltwater lamp, the salamander tricycle and the Diwata 1
microsatellite is a good start but only indicates that we have a long way to go before we create an
innovation culture. Innovation can only happen with enough scientists and technologists to develop
an “innovation ecosystem.”

saltwater lamp

salamander tricycle

Diwata 1 microsatellite

ASEAN Integration requires competitive technology

Science and technology help us understand nature and the world, and enables us to lead full lives
through new and innovative means. It therefore requires that we as Filipinos, expand our science
and technology base to enable us to compete in an integrated ASEAN.

Two major approaches

1. Stronger Research and Development in the regions, not just Manila

Expand research and development initiatives by providing more grant support for R and D through
the DOSTs sectoral planning councils such as PCIERD, PCAARD and ASTI in cooperation with
universities in the regions. The science initiative must be distributed to the regions especially those
where food production needs to be improved, industry needs to grow and where innovation needs
to be developed. This is critical in light of climate change and expensive electricity and the need to
disperse industry and economic activities.

2. Strategic projects in five areas:

Renewable energy- We need new technologies to enable high electricity yields in limited space with
less dependence on natural resources to enable us to meet our COP 21 commitments, while
lowering the price of electricity.

S and T for industry development- We need stronger participation of our scientists and engineers if
we want to revitalize our basic industries such as the steel industry.

Faster and cheaper internet – We have Asia’s slowest internet, yet our archipelago needs it bridge
gaps and build networks.

Increased food production- Given limited lands, technology is needed to expand yields while
increasing quality of output and being less dependent on foreign inputs like fertilizers.

Climate change adaptation- We need cutting edge technology to enable our farmers to adapt to
changing climates and the need to do away with technologies that destroy the capacity for good
healthful yields.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN S&T IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Doppler Radars
- Through radio waves, these determine the rate at which rain or hail is travelling toward or away
from the radar. In total, 13 doppler radars are all over the country.

Doctors to the Barrios program

- A program by the Department of Health to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas of the
Philippines. In 2021, the University of the Philippines Medical Society in America (UPMASA) stressed
that 6 out of 10 Filipinos died without seeing a doctor.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s term

- Multi-awarded director Dr. Estrella Alabastro claimed this period as the “Golden Age of Science and
Technology in the Philippines.”

Filipinnovation
- The term coined by Arroyo to spearhead the progress of Philippine innovation in both local and
global scales by means of enhancing human capital, industry, and public policy.

Diwata-2
- It is the second microsatellite launched into space by the Philippines that is tasked to determine
the amount of disaster-related damage, monitor natural and cultural heritage places, and track
vegetation changes.

Philippine Space Authority (PhilSA)

- Through RA 11363, it was assigned to help the nation develop, implement, and evaluate national
and international space policies.

RA 7687 or the Science and Technology Scholarship Act

- An act that allows the provision of financial assistance to deserving Science and Mathematics
related students in order for them to pursue a tertiary degree.

RA 11035 or the Balik Scientist Program

- An act that aims to encourage foreign-based Science and Technology experts to share their
valuable competence for the betterment of the nation.

Other laws enacted laws to progress Philippine S & T are as follows:

● RA 7459 or the Philippine Inventors and Invention Incentives Act

● RA 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of The Philippines
● RA 8439 or the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and Technology
Personnel in the Government
● RA 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act
● RA 8792 or the Electronic Commerce Act
● RA 9367 or the Biofuels Act
MAJOR PERSONALITIES IN S & T IN THE PHILIPPINES
Fe del Mundo
- A Filipina pediatrician.
- Made breakthroughs in immunization and in the treatment of jaundice. She was able to
invent a jaundice relieving device.
- Among her inventions is the bamboo incubator. This substitute device is inexpensive and
easy to reproduce, making it ideal for use in rural communities and areas with limited to no
access to advanced facilities.
- She worked for government hospitals until she decided that she wanted to establish her
own pediatric hospital. She founded the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines, which is the
Children's Medical Center located in Quezon City, inaugurated in 1957.
- First Asian woman admitted to Harvard.
- First woman to be named National Scientist of the Philippines in 1980.

Felix D. Maramba
- A Filipino scientist recognized for his contributions to the development of one of the world’s
most profitable biogas systems.
- He created a coconut oil-fueled power generator. With Maramba’s idea of creating a power
generator using coconut oil as the source of energy, he has made an incredible breakthrough in
science and technology in the Philippines by providing energy from a readily available resource.
Maramba's invention has made a significant impact on the lives of many people.
- Maramba became the president of the Philippine Association of Flour Millers, Inc.
- He was the author of two books: "Biogas and Waste Recycling, The Philippine Experience"
and "Farm Management in the Philippines".

Diosdado “Dado” Banatao

- A Filipino inventor and technology innovator.
- He worked with different Tech companies where he designed his first single-chip, the 16-bit
microprocessor-based calculator in 1984.
- He founded his own tech company, which he named Mostron, a company that manufactures
motherboards.
- In Mostron, he developed the first single-chip graphical user interface accelerator that made
computers work a lot faster, for which he became known. His invention has allowed computer
users to use graphics for commands instead of the usual typed commands on older computers.
It has allowed data processing to be a little faster while using very little space.
- Dado, through his Dado Banatao Educational Foundation, awards five educational
scholarships each year to bright Filipino students with promising futures in engineering and
technology.
- He is the chairman of the Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev) which is a nonprofit
organization that accelerates science and technology for national development through a range
of initiatives, programs, and partnerships.
Rolando dela Cruz
- An award-winning Filipino scientist and inventor.
- In 2000, he developed a patented formula, in the form of a cream that allows the removal
of deep growth moles or warts. His formula was extracted from the Filipino cashew tree, which
is common in the Philippines and is known by the name "kasoy".
- He received multiple awards for his discovery, which led him to receive DOST’s Tuklas Award
for Most Outstanding Invention in 1998.
- It is proven that the cream he formulated, which is now known as DeBCC cream or the
DeWart and DeMole creams, can effectively remove deeply grown basal cell carcinoma, which
is the most common type of skin cancer. It provides painless treatment, contrary to the prior
discovered method of wart removal, which causes pain since it uses heat during the procedure.
- Rolando dela Cruz was a barber. Being a barber is what brought him to notice skin diseases,
since most of his clients suffer from fungal infections and other skin diseases.

Gregorio Zara
- A Filipino engineer and physicist, who made major contributions to the advancement of
engineering and inventions in the Philippines.
- His innovations in his field of specialization have contributed to the popular understanding
and utilization of science in the country.
- He has a total of 30 devices and equipment patented to his name. The most popular among
those is the TV-telephone system. In the middle of the 1950s, long before the start of the digital
age, Zara developed the first videophone, or two-way television-telephone.
- His other contributions include the wooden microscope, the semi-automatic propeller-
making machine, an aircraft propeller that is entirely made of wood, and the earth induction
compass, used by pilots for direction. These scientific inventions made him internationally
known, which led him to win numerous awards and accolades during his career as an engineer,
inventor, government servant, and educator.
SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Philippines is trying its best to improve the state of science education in the country. The reason
for the establishments of science schools to encourage students to pursue their career in science
and technology and to nurture their gifted potentials in science.

The Concept of Science Education

Science education focuses on teaching, learning, and understanding science to non-scientists, such
as us, students, or with the adults within the general public.

● Teaching science involves developing ways on how to effectively teach science. This

means exploring pedagogical theories and models in helping teachers teach scientific

concepts and processes effectively.

● Learning science includes both pedagogy and the most interesting aspect, which is helping

students understand and love science.

● Understanding science implies developing and applying science-process skills and using

science literacy in understanding the natural world and activities in everyday life.

Science education in BASIC and TERTIARY education

BASIC EDUCATION

Science education helps students learn important concepts and facts that are related to everyday

life including important skills such as: process skills, critical thinking skills, and life skills that

are needed in coping up with daily life activities (Chaille & Britain, 2002).

Science education will develop a strong foundation for studying science and for considering science-
related careers in the future.

TERTIARY EDUCATION

Deals with developing students’ understanding and appreciation of science ideas and scientific

works. This is done through offering basic science courses in the General Education curriculum.

The state also provides scholarships to encourage more students to pursue science courses.
SCIENCE SCHOOLS in the PHILIPPINES

Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS)

• government program for gifted students in the country.

• under DOST, offering free scholarship for the secondary course with special emphasis to

science subjects.

• with end view of preparing its students for a science career (RA No. 3661)

Scientific, Technological and Environmental Literacy

Scientific literacy is the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required
for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity.

Scientific literacy means that a person can ask, find, or determine answers to questions derived from
curiosity about everyday experiences. Scientific literacy entails being able to read with
understanding articles about science in the popular press and that a person can identify scientific
issues underlying national and local decisions and express positions that are scientifically and
technologically informed.

Technology Literacy is the ability to safely, responsibly, creatively, and effectively use appropriate
technology

Environmental literacy is the understanding, skills and motivation to make responsible decisions that
considers his or her relationships.

The Problem in Science Education

● Ratio of students to the teacher and classroom

● Laboratory rooms
● Lack of Science Education facilities
● Lack of qualified teachers
● Building of laboratory rooms
● Teaching materials
● Limited scholarships
SELECTED INDIGENOUS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGIES
Indigenous People

These are the distinct social cultural groups that share collective and ancestral ties to the
lands and natural resources where they live, occupy or from which they have been
displaced.

Indigenous Science

It refers to the body of traditional and environmental, and cultural knowledge unique to a
group of people which has served to sustain people through generations of living within a
distinct bioregion.

Indigenous science comes from indigenous knowledge perfected by people through life
experiences. Indigenous knowledge connotes traditional and non-scientific knowledge
because it includes superstitious beliefs and practices which come from human imagination.
These products may also become the foundation of people’s creativity, originality, and
inventiveness.

Some examples of indigenous science include:

•
Knowledge in observing animal behavior to predict weather and
season
• traditional health practices
• use of herbal medicines
• preserving food
• preservation and selection of good seeds for planting
• building irrigation system
Indigenous Technology

It refers to the technological knowledge, skills, and resources, transmitted or handed

down from the past indigenous people to the present one to meet their needs and
wants by the means of investigating, designing, developing, and evaluating products,
processes, and systems.

Indigenous technologies are processes or products which are the results of studying
indigenous science.

A few more examples of Philippine indigenous technologies are:

Yoyo – This is a toy made up of an axle connected to two disks and a string looped around the
axle. This was used by ancient Filipinos to fight against intruders and Spaniards. This toy was
a product of the creative mind of Pedro Flores, but it was the Americans who mass-produced
the product.

Medical Incubator – This equipment was invented by Dr. Fe del Mundo. The incubator was
made from two laundry baskets which were placed one inside the other and was provided
with hot water to regulate the body temperature of newborn babies.

Erythromycin – The antibiotic was discovered by Dr. Abelardo Aguilar in 11949. Erythromycin
is produced by the bacterium Streptomyces erythreus in the soil from Iloilo.

Patis or fish sauce – Ruperta David (Aling Tentay) invented patis in the 1940s when she noticed
that some of the salted fish that she stored in the jar turned into fragments then turned to liquid. This
led to the establishment of Tentay Food and Sauces Inc. in 1949.

Banana Catsup – Maria Orosa y Ylagan focused on creating a different flavor of catsup. This
led her to the invention of banana catsup. She was also the brain behind other food products
like calamansi nip and soya- lac.