Dela Torre, Wynona Mae G.

Mar 02, 2023

BS PetEng 1B1 GE-STS
STS Prof. Lea M. Camangeg

Critique Paper 2: (Vigorously Advancing Science, Technology, and Innovation by the

National Economic and Development Authority)

Synopsis
The title of the article is Vigorously Advancing Science, Technology, and Innovation.
This article was from the official website of National Economic and Development
Authority. The entire chapter discussed the challenges faced by our country with
regards to our science and technology as well as the strategies that must be done to
address these challenges and the outcomes that must be achieved to increase the
country’s potential growth.
Challenges faced by the Philippines. Science, Technology, and Innovation in the
Philippines is considered weak due to the following reasons. First is weak STI culture.
A lot of Filipinos do not know the importance of science and technology on their daily
lives. Second is low government spending on STI. The allocated budget for R&D from
our GDP is only 0.14% which fall short from the recommended 1% benchmark of
UNESCO. Third is inadequate S&T human resources engaged in STI R&D. The
Philippines has only 270 researchers for every one million Filipinos, which did not meet
the standard of 380 per million population of UNESCO. Fourth is the difficulty in
increasing employment opportunities and retaining S&T human capital. Many skilled,
locally-trained scientists and engineers migrate and seek employment overseas
because of the surplus of STEM graduates here in the Philippines and better salary
abroad. Fifth is the absence of a vibrant intellectual property culture. Reports show
that many universities in the Philippines do not have the expertise to market their
patent portfolios for commercial use. Sixth is the weak linkages among players in the
STI ecosystem. HIEs rarely collaborate with firms because of resentment, suspicion,
distrust, and perceives them as outside their core missions. Seventh is the restrictive
regulations that hamper the implementation of R&D programs and projects. Lastly, is
the insufficient supply of STI infrastructures that contributes to the lack of absorptive
capacity in research institutions.
To deal with these issues, the government has targets to achieve to accelerate our
country’s STI. These targets focus on agriculture, industry, and services sectors as
well as investments in technology-based start-ups, enterprises and spin-offs. For them
to achieve these targets, a strategic framework to leverage Science, Technology, and
Innovation 2017-2022 was created. This framework includes 4 subsectors. The first
one the, Subsector Outcome 1 focuses on the utilization in the agriculture, industry,
and services sectors. The Subsector Outcome 2, on the other hand, is concerned with
investments in STI-based start-ups, enterprises and spin-offs. Enhanced creative
capacity for knowledge and technology generation, acquisition and adoption are the
points of Subsector Outcome 3. Lastly, Sub-sector Outcome 4 aims to open
collaboration among actors in the STI ecosystem. As a last action to take, Legislative
Agenda to Leverage Science, Technology, and Innovation, 2017-2022 was
established to strengthen these strategies.
Critical Point
My critical point in the article is the weak culture of STI in the Philippines. For me, this
is the main reason why we are lagging behind other countries in terms of science and
technology. Filipinos tend to miss the importance of technology thus, we do not much
pay attention in the utilization and improvement of it. Now if that is our culture, our
government is also a part of it. Because we do not give much importance to it, that will
also be the same with our government thus, allocating small funds for STI. Since
government gives a little fund to STI, it will be a huge hindrance to the development of
our science and technology. For example, our internet connection here is so slow and
costly. Internet connection is so important nowadays as the world is becoming more
digital. In terms of Internet connection speed, the Philippines is among the countries
with the slowest. In the 1st quarter of 2015, the average connection speed of South
Korea, which ranks No. 1 in the world, was 23.6 Mbps, while the Philippines had an
average connection speed of only 2.8 Mbps, 8 times lower than that of South Korea.
With regards to cost, Table 4 shows that Philippine Internet users spend $20.35 per
Mbps, compared to the worldwide average of $5.21 per Mbps (Salac and Kim, 2016).
It is time for PH to seriously recognize and resolutely deal with its scientific and
technological shortcomings as there is no turning back from globalization. In order for
PH face up to competition in other countries, the government needs to sharply ramp
up investment spending in science, technology and R&D (Clarete et al., 2014). In
simpler words, government should give more priority to our STI because it will have a
big contribution on our economy.
Relevance to Society
The visions and plans of the government that were stated in the article are
beneficial to us because we are the ones who will benefit from it. If our STI improves,
our economy will also improve thus, will give a better life to every Filipino. As the goal
of Ambisyon Natin 2040 that it will provide us a Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na
Buhay.

References:
Salac, R. A., & Kim, Y. S. (2016). A study on the internet connectivity in the Philippines.
Asia Pacific Journal of Business Review, 1(1), 67-88.
Ramon L. Clarete & Ernesto M. Pernia & Ammielou Gaduena & Adrian Mendoza,
2014. "The Role of Science, Technology and Research in Economic Development,"
UP School of Economics Discussion Papers 201407, University of the Philippines
School of Economics.