Part 1

Science and
Technology in the
Philippines
Historical
Perspective
• Philippine science and technology has a long
history. It started before colonized the country
where some indigenous technology already
existed with regards to wet rice and dry
agriculture.
• The use of technology was also evident in the
handicrafts, pottery, weaving, metal ware and
boats used by ancient Filipinos.
• The natives were already aware of the medicinal
and therapeutic properties of plants and the
methods of extracting medicine from herbs.
• They had an alphabet, a system of writing, a
method of counting, weights and measure.
• The had no calendar but counted the years by
the period of the moon and from one harvest to
another.
• Filipinos were already engaged in farming,
shipbuilding, mining and weaving. The Banaue
Rice Terraced is a sophisticated product of
engineering by pre-Spanish Filipinos.
Spanish
Colonial
Period
• The colonization of the Philippines contributed to
the growth of science and technology in the
archipelago.
• The Spaniards introduced formal education and
founded scientific institutions.
• Parish schools were established where religion,
reading, writing, arithmetic and music was taught.
• Spaniards established colleges and universities in
the archipelago including University of Sto. Tomas
• The study of medicine in the Philippines was given
priority. In 1871, the school of medicine and
pharmacy was opened at the University of Santo
Tomas.
• It also contributed to the field of engineering in the
islands by constricting government buildings,
churches, roads, bridges, and forts.
• The Jesuits promoted meteorological studies and
founded the Manila Observatory at the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila in 1865.
American Period
and Post
Commonwealth Era
• On July 1, 1901, the Philippine Commission
established the Bureau of Government
Laboratories which was placed under the
department of Interior.
• On October 26, 1905, the Bureau of Government
Laboratories was replaced by the Bureau of
Science. The Bureau dealt with study of tropical
diseases.
• On December 8, 1933, the National Research
Council of the Philippines was recognized. The
Burau 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.
• In 1946 the Bureau of Science was replaced by
the institute of Science. 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
Marcos
and
Era
Martial Law
• Science was given importance during the Marcos
Regime. In the amended 1973 Philippine
Constitution, Article XV, Section 9 (1), he declared
that the “advancement of science and technology
shall have priority in national “ Development”.
• 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.
• In 1968 technology was recognized as the leading
factor in economic development and thus additional
funds were channeled to support projects in applied
sciences and science education.
• The National Science Development Board
established the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission
to explore the uses of atomic energy for economic
development.
• Marcos assisted 107 institutions in undertaking
nuclear energy work by scientists, engineers, doctors
and technicians to study nuclear science and
technology abroad.
• The Philippine Council for agriculture Research
was also established to support the progressive
development of agriculture, forestry, and
fisheries for the country.
• Presidential Decree No. 49, s. 1972 and this is
the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services ( PAGASA) under the
Department of National Defense.
• The Philippine National Oil Company was also
created to promote industrial and economic
development through effective and efficient use
of energy source ( P.D. No. 334, s. 1973).
• In 1976, the National Academy of Science and
Technology was established and was 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.
• In 1979, the government funded scientific
research conducted by National Science
Development Board ( NSDB), the Philippine
Council for Agricultural Research and resources,
the Plant Breeding Institute, the International Rice
Research Institute, the Bureau of Plant Industry,
and the Bureau of Forest Products.
• The National committee on Geological Sciences
was created in 1980 to advise government and
private entities on matters pertaining to geological
sciences ( Executive Order No. 625, s. 1980).
• By virtue of Executive Order No. 784, s. 1982, the
National Science Development and its support
agencies was reorganized and was named
National Science and Technology Authority ( NSTA)
to provide central direction and coordination of
scientific and technological research and
development.
• The Mindanao and Visayas campuses of the
Philippine Science High School were established in
1986 . Executive Order No. 1090, s. 1986
Fifth
Republic
• The national Science and Technology Authority
was replaced by the Department of Science and
Technology, giving the department a
representation in the cabinet.
• Science and technology was one of the three
priorities of the government towards an economic
recovery.
• The first Science and Technology Master Plan or
STMP was formulated on August 8, 1988. Its goal
was the Philippines to achieve newly
industrialized country status for the year 2000.
• R.A. 6655 or the Free public Secondary
Education Act of 1988 opened free education at
the secondary level.
• Together with this was implemented the “Science
for Masses Program” which aimed at scientific
and technological literacy among Filipinos.
President
Fidel V. Ramos’ Term
• In 1988, the Philippines was estimated to have
around 3,000 competent scientists and
engineers.
• During the Ramos administration, the
Department of Science and Technology Agenda
for Development ( STAND) which embodies the
country’s task development plan for 1993-1998.
• Among the laws enacted by Congress during
President Ramos’ term were the (1) Magna Carta
for Science and Technology Personnel ( R.A.
8439); (2) Science and Technology Scholarship
Law of 1004 ( R.A. No. 7687) , (3) Inventors and
Inventions Incentives Act ( Republic Act. No.
7459).
• The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (
Republic Act No. 8293) was also enacted which
provides industrial rights, copyrights and related
rights, and technology transfer arrangements.
President
Joseph Estrada’s Term
• 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
• Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 ( Republic Act
No. 8792) which outlaws computer hacking and
provides opportunities for new business
emerging from the Internet-driven New Economy.
Science and Technology During
President Gloria M.
Arroyo’s Term
• The science and technology sector of the
Philippines was dubbed as the “golden age” of
science and technology.
• The term “ Filipinovation” was the coined term
used in helping the Philippines to be an
innovation hub in Asia.
• The Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)
was developed further by strengthening the
schools and education system such as the
Philippine Science High School ( PSHS), which
focuses on science, technology and mathematics
in their curriculum.
• Known laws to be passed by her administration
was the R.A. 9367 or the “Biofuels” Act. This act
promoted the development and usage of biofuels
throughout the country. This potentially enables a
cheaper alternative to gasoline as a medium in
producing energy.
President
Benigno C. Aquino
• Republic Act 10601 which improved the
Agriculture and Fisheries Sector through
Mechanization ( AFMech)
• RA 10601 also covers research, development,
and extension ( RDE), promotion, distribution,
supply, assembling, manufacturing, regulation,
use, operation, maintenance and project
implementation of agriculture and fisheries
machinery and equipment.
• Organic Agriculture Act o 2010 ( R.A. 10068),
developments regarding the research and
technology of Philippine agriculture
• Republic Act No. 19844, otherwise known as
DICT act of 2015, the Department of Information
and Communications Technology will take charge
of planning, developing, and promoting the
national ICT development agenda.
Science and Technology
President
Rodrigo R. Duterte
Administration
Science and technology in the
country scored another
milestone with the signing of the
Balik Scientist law by President
Rodrigo Roa A. Duterte on 15
June 2018. Republic Act No.
11035, also known as an “Act
Institutionalizing the Balik
Scientist Program,” would give
more incentives to returning
Filipino experts, scientists,
inventors, and engineers who
would share their expertise in the
country.
The enacted law would strengthen the
implementation of the Department of
Science and Technology’s (DOST) Balik
Scientist Program which was first
established in 1975 through Presidential
Decree No. 819 but was only
implemented in 1986. Since its
implementation, several scientists have
come back to the country on short- and
long-term basis to mentor science and
engineering students and faculty along
their line of expertise through research
and development, teaching, and other
activities. This sharing of expertise
significantly contributed to the
acceleration of the scientific, agro-
industrial and economic development of
the country.
• Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) was
born out of the Philippine Space Act
11363, passed by the nation's Senate
and signed by President Rodrigo
Duterte in mid-August 2019
• The Space Law and PhilSA are the
result of the combined efforts of the
secretary - equivalent to a minister - of
the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), Advanced Science
and Technology Institute (ASTI)
• PhilSA takes advantage of the 25
infrastructures, technologies and more
than a thousand technicians already
working in the space field. Among the
main ones is PEDRO, the Philippine
Earth Data Observation and Resource
Center, a set of receiving stations
located in the cities of Manila and
Dávao. Equipped with satellite tracking
antennas, they receive, process and
distribute data and images for
application in disaster risk
management, environmental
monitoring and land and sea
surveillance
• PhilSA is born with the Space Law, approved
by the National Senate and signed by
President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2019
after winning the legislative and municipal
elections.
• The Philippines has put two government Earth
observation microsatellites into orbit, the so-
called Diwata-1 and Diwata-2
• A space agency dedicated to reaping the
benefits of outer space has been a dream of
successive Philippine governments for several
decades. It has been President Rodrigo
Duterte who has taken the necessary steps to
establish a "coherent and unified strategy" to
achieve the development and use of space in
order to "keep up with other Southeast Asian
nations in terms of space science and
technology", says the Philippine Space Act.