Topic 3: Science and Technology and Nation Building

Learning Objectives
At the end of this topic, students will be able to:

• Explain the role of Science and Technology in Philippine nation building;

• List noteworthy inventions, with their inventors, and give their major contributions in
shaping the Filipino nation;
• Identify science and technology policies of the government;

Role of S & T in
Nation Building

Good job! Let’s learn more as you go through this lesson.

Presentation of Contents

Brief Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines

Pre – Colonial Period

Even before the Spain colonized the country, some indigenous science and technology has already
existed with regards to agriculture like farming, animal – raising, and the utilization of plants and
herbs as medicines. The use of technology is evident in the in handicrafts, pottery, weaving, and
tools used by ancient Filipinos in their everyday life.
Innovation and ingenuity were unmistakable by the way native Filipinos built the rice terraces by
hand. They also developed tools for planting, hunting, cooking, fishing, and also for fighting
enemies during tribal conflicts. They used indigenous technology in building houses, irrigations
and transportation, both on land and on waterways.

The ancient practices in science and technology by our ancestors are now considered as indigenous
science or folk science.

Colonial Period

Spanish colonization paved way to modern means of construction. Roads, bridges, churches, and
other large infrastructures were built with more sophistication using some engineering skills and
tools brought by the Spaniards. In addition, Spanish colonizers developed health and education
system in the country.

The American colonial rule modernized almost all aspects of life in the country. They established
the Bureau of Science to initiate the development in the field of science and technology.

Post – Colonial Period

After achieving independence from the colonial masters, the Philippines, under different
administrations, continued to pursue programs in science and technology. Each leadership had its
own S&T agenda. However, it is important to note that some Philippine presidents introduced
more developments in the field than others, which you will find out soon as you course through
this topic.
Filipino Presidents and their Contributions in the Development of Science and Technology
in the Philippines

Philippine Presidents and the Status of S&T during their administration

Pres. Carlos P. Garcia (1957 - 1961)

-lack of support of experimental work

-marginal budget for scientific research

-low salaries of scientists employed by the government

-established the National Science Development Board

Pres. Ferdinand Marcos (1965 - 1986)

-directed the Department of Education to revitalize the science

courses in public high schools

- channelled additional funds to support projects in applied sciences and science

education

- he proclaimed 35 hectares in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal as the site of the Philippine

Science Community

- scholarships for graduate and undergraduate science scholars, and workshops on

fisheries and oceanography

- added the Philippine Coconut Research Institute to the NSDB to modernize the
coconut industry.

- support for the promotion of scientific research and invention with Presidential
Decree No. 49, s. 1972

- he enacted a law under Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, s. 1976 to establish the
National Academy of Science and Technology
- 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)

- he established the Mindanao and Visayas campuses of the Philippine Science High
School to encourage careers in science and technology

-established other research institutes like PAGASA, National Grains Authority,

Philippine Council for Agricultural Research, Philippine National Oil Company
among others

Pres. Corazon Aquino (1986 - 1992)

- National Science and Technology Authority was replaced by the Department of

Science and Technology

- science and technology's role in economic recovery and sustained

economic growth was highlighted

- created the Presidential Task Force for Science and Technology

which came up with the first Science and Technology Master Plan or STMP

- Executive Order No.128 abolished R.A. No. 3859, also known as the “Philippine
Inventors Incentive Act.”

- gave assistance to Filipino inventors through giving financial aid, patent

application assistance, legal assistance, and to help inventors market their products
domestically and abroad

- R.A. 6655 or the Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988 opened doors to
free education up to the secondary level

- “Science for the Masses Program” which aimed at scientific and technological
literacy among Filipinos
Pres. Fidel V. Ramos (1992 - 1998)

-significant increase in personnel specializing in the science and technology field

-addition of Philippine Science High Schools in Visayas and

Mindanao

- government provided 3,500 scholarships for students who were

taking up professions related to S&T

- Schools were becoming more modernized and updated with the addition of high-
tech equipment for student

- Priority for S&T personnel increased when Magna Carta for Science and
Technology Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439) was established

- award was published in order to give incentives and rewards for people who have
been influential in the field of S&T (Inventors and Inventions Incentives Act or
Republic Act No. 7459)

- programs such as National Program for Gifted Filipino Children in Science and
Technology

-enactment of a law creating a nationwide system of high schools specializing in

the field of science and engineering (Science and Technology Scholarship Law of
1994)

- enacted the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 8293)

Pres. Joseph Estrada (1998 - 2001)

launched a full-scale program based on cost-effective irrigation

technologies

- establishment of one science high school in every province

- advancement of industries and schools into the Internet age,

-passage of the e-Commerce Act

 Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001 - 2010)

- the science and technology sector of the Philippines was dubbed as

the "golden age“ during her term

- Numerous laws and projects that concerns both the environment

and science to push technology as a tool to increase the country's
economic level

- the term "Filipinnovation" was the coined term used in helping the Philippines to
be an innovation hub in Asia

- Science Technology and Innovations (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

- imposes Republic Act 10601 which improves the Agriculture and Fisheries Sector
through Mechanization (AFMech)

(Images from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_Philippines)

Filipino Scientists and their Inventions

Here is a list of some Filipino scientists and inventors, together with their contributions in shaping
the science and technology of the Filipino nation.

Dr. Arturo Alcaraz

Dr. Arturo Alcaraz is a volcanologist specializing in geothermal energy

development. In 1967, Arturo Alcaraz and team powered an electric
light bulb using steam-powered electricity. This was the first geothermal power
generated in the Philippines.
 Julian Banzon (1908 - 1988)

Filipino chemist, Julian Banzon researched methods of producing

alternative fuels. Julian Banzon experimented with the production of ethyl esters
fuels from sugarcane and coconut.

Pedro Escuro (1923 - )

Filipino scientist, Pedro Escuro is best known for his isolation of

nine rice varieties, thus was renowned by developing rice breeding
in the country. The Pedro Escuro rice varieties are: Milpal 4,
HBD-2, Azmil 26 and C-22 and C-18, C4-63, C4-137, C-168 and
C-12.

Dr. Francisco Fronda (1896 - 1986)

Dr. Francisco Fronda is known as the Father of poultry science in

the Philippines. Francisco Fronda has improved methods of
production for the poultry and livestock industry.

Felix Maramba

Felix Maramba built a coconut oil-fueled power generator. He

also is the developer of one of the world's most profitable biogas
systems.

Luz Oliveros Belardo (1906 - 1999)

Filipino chemist, Luz Oliveros Belardo researched the

phytochemical properties of plants in the Philippines for natural
products, essential oils, and the medicinal qualities.
 Emerita De Guzman

Filipino scientist Emerita De Guzman researched the propagation

of pure macapuno trees. Her research led to the faster propagation
of pure macapuno trees and increased macapuno nut production
from 3-5 macapuno nuts to 14-19 nuts (1980). She also invented
tissue culture techniques for the rapid propagation of abaca and banana plants.

Dr. Fe Del Mundo (1911 - 2011)

Filipino doctor, Fe Del Mundo is credited with studies that lead to

the invention of an improved incubator and a jaundice relieving
device.

Gregorio Zara (1902 - 1978)

Famous Filipino Scientist, Gregorio Zara invented, made

improvements to, or discovered the following: invented the two-
way television telephone or videophone (1955) patented as a "photo phone signal
separator network"; discovered the physical law of electrical kinetic resistance
called the Zara effect (around 1930); invented an airplane engine that ran on plain
alcohol as fuel (1952).
(Google image result for Famous Filipino Scientists or Inventors)

For more information, please go to the links provided below, then watch and read the following:

Watch: 1. Juan’s Top 5 Filipino Inventions at https://youtu.be/RU21nUiKaoc

Read: 1. The Philippine Men and Women of Science.

http://spheres.dost.gov.ph/manuscript/PMWS27.pdf
1. Philippine Great Inventions
 Application

Let’s have some practice, shall we?

Activity 2: Back Through Time

A. This activity is meant for you to revisit our country’s rich historical background on its
journey to scientific and technological progress. Complete the table below.

a. Early Filipino/ Pre – colonial period

b. Spanish Colonization
c. American Regime
d. Japanese Colonization
e. Post – colonial period

Science Implications
Contribution
culture and of S&T and
State of S&T of the period
practices/ science
Period during the in the
Society’s culture of
period development
norms during each period
of S&T
the period to the present
Note: Please read the article below for additional information

Activity 3: New Generation Science Genius

Choose one Filipino scientist and their respective invention/discovery and briefly describe the
invention and their major contributions in the development of our nation.

Feedback
1. List
some

policies/programs of the government that steers the nation’s Science and Technology
forward. Describe these policies briefly, and give their Pros, as well as their Cons. Support
your claims by citing examples of their positive/negative impact to our nation’s
development.

Policy/ Program Pros (with Positive Cons (with Negative

Impacts) Impacts)

1.
2.

3.

4.