LESSON 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND
NATION BUILDING
Why is Science and Technology important in Nation
Building?
- Science and technology are essential in nation
building. Scientific knowledge and technological
advancements are needed to address problems
and concerns such as climate change, natural
disasters, and epidemics. Also, they are needed to
increase industrial productivity leading to
economic development.
Science and Technology in the Philippines
- In the Philippines, the importance of science and
technology is recognized.
1987 Philippine Constitution
- Science and technology are given priority to
“foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate
social progress, and promote total human
liberation and development”
- In section 10, Article XIV, it is stated that “Science
and Technology are essential for national
development and progress”
Philippine Government Science and Technology
Agenda
Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022
- The government mandates an “increase use of
scientific and technological breakthroughs”
- The government intends to do this by “promoting
and accelerating technology adaption” and
“stimulating innovation”
Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
- Main government agency for science and
technology.
- created to “provide central direction, leadership
and coordination of scientific and technological
efforts to ensure that the results therefrom are
geared and utilized in areas of maximum
economic and social benefits for the people.”
- DOST is composed of;
• three (3) sectoral planning councils
• seven (7) research and development
institutes
• two (2) collegial bodies
• six (6) service institutes
• several regional and provincial offices.
- Some of the agencies under DOST are the
Advance Science and Technology Institute,
Science Education Institute and National
Research Council of the Philippine.
Programs, Projects and Activities Of DOST
1. Stimulation and Innovation
2. Promotion and acceleration of Technological
adoption
3. Development of critical mass of globally
competitive human resources on Science and
Technology
4. Increased productivity and efficiency of micro,
small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs)
5. Ensured resiliency to disaster risks and climate
change
6. Reduced inequality in science and technology
capacities and opportunities
7. Achieve effective science and technology
governance
Major Development Programs and Personalities in
Science and Technology in the Ph
Balik Scientist Program
- Aims to encourage Filipino Scientist or Scientist of
Filipino descent to return to the Philippines and
conduct research or scientific undertakings.
RA 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act
- was signed into law in 2018. The law will provide
incentives and assistance to returning Filipino
experts, scientist inventors, and engineers.
- The program is important in maintaining a critical
number of Filipino experts, scientist, investors,
and engineers that will serve the country.
- One of those Balik Scientists is Dr. Josefino C.
Comiso, a Senior Scientist in USA's National
Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA.
- As a Balik Scientist, his goal is to: "improve ability
of the country to utilize advance technology in
addressing problems on natural resource
management, especially as related to climate and
environmental changes".
Order of National Scientist
- Presidential Decree No. 1003- A, s.1976,
established the National Academy of Science and
Technology. Part of this decree is the
establishment of the “Order of National Scientist”
- “Order of National Scientist” is the highest honor
that is being bestowed by the President of the
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 Republic of the Philippines to a Filipino man or
woman of science in the Philippines who has
made significant contributions in one of the
different fields of science and technology.
- As of 2018, there are 41 National Scientist. Two
of them are Ramon Barba who invented the
flower induction and Angel Alcala discovered the
Marine Biology.
Small &Medium Enterprise Technology Upgrading
Program (SETUP)
- This program is part of the “nationwide strategy
to encourage MSMEs to adopt technological
innovations to improve existing products,
services and operations; increase productivity
and competitiveness; and more importantly to
enable MSMEs to develop new products and
establish or sustain in market niches.”
- According to DOST, in 2018, the companies
supported by SETUP produced: 42,853 jobs, P
8.344 billion cumulative gross sales, and 41 %
productivity increase.
Grants-In-Aid Program
- Through this program, the government funds
scientific and technological undertaking to
promote development in the country.
- It also promotes technology transfer, innovation,
human resources development and productivity
improvement.
Forest Product Research and Development Institute
- Conducts researches on wood products, rubber,
paper, pulp and other forest products.
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
- This institute conducts researches on the safe use
of nuclear energy for medical, agricultural,
environmental and industrial purposes.
Project Noah (Nation Operational Assessment of
Hazards)
- is a government-funded project that is currently
administered by the University of the Philippines.
- Aims to cultivate a culture of preparedness to
decrease risks of casualties during natural
disasters. The team behind the project conducts
advanced researches and assessments on natural
disasters in order to generate knowledge and
create tools that can be useful for disaster
prevention and mitigation.
PCARI Project
- The Philippine-California Advanced Research
Institutes (PCARI) Project aims to develop our
Science and Technology manpower through
scholarships, trainings and research collaborations
with top universities and institutions in California,
USA.
- The priority areas are information infrastructure
development (IID) and health innovation and
translational medicine (HITM).
Philippine Space Program
- The government is funding the National Space
Development Program which aims to set the
foundation for the establishment of a Philippine
Space Agency.
Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite
Program
- was established by the government in 2014, in
partnership with Japan's Hokkaido University and
Tohoku University.
- The program has since produced three fully
functional microsatellites;
• Diwata-1
• Diwata-2
• Maya-1
 The development of the country's space program
is important for national security, agricultural
development, environmental management,
climate change mitigation, among others. The
program seeks to develop technologies such as
unmanned aerial vehicles, microsatellites and
communication satellites.
 Agila 2, a Philippine satellite
Science and Education in the Philippines
- Science education is important in order to develop
students' scientific skills, attitudes, and values.
This will empower them to solve problems,
become more critical, see the world differently,
and become productive contributors to nation
building.
1. DOST Scholarship Programs
- Many Filipino scientists, inventors, innovators,
engineers and professionals benefited from
DOST's scholarship programs.
- The program is mandated under Republic Act
7687, or the Science and Technology Act of 1994.
2. Philippine Science High School (PSHS)
- DOST provides free secondary education to young
Filipinos who have high aptitude for science and
technology through the Philippine Science High
School (PSHS).
- Currently, there are 16 campuses, one per region,
except for ARMM. Many graduates of PSHS
eventually become scientists, inventors,
professionals and educators.
3. Regional Science High School Union
- The Department of Education manages Regional
Science High Schools that have curriculum focused
on science and mathematics.
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 DOST Programs
- DOST established several programs to improve
science education in the country.
1. Project HOTS
- The Project Hands-on Teaching and Learning of
Science through Inquiry develops the capacity of
schools and teachers to teach science through
mobile school laboratories, inquiry-based science
curriculum, hands-on training and technology use
trials.
2. VISSER
- Versatile Instrumentation System for Science
Education and Research project aims to modernize
school laboratories through the development and
integration of new instruments and technologies.
3. STARBOOKS
- Starbooks is a digital library containing science
materials which can be accessed by educational
institutions off-line.
4. InnoBox Project
- The InnoBox project aims to search for
outstanding and most innovative teaching
methods and learning materials for science

Selected Indigenous Science and Technologies

- In the Philippines, indigenous science and
technologies must be known, recognized and
understood given their rich cultural diversity. With
more than 100 indigenous groups, each has a
unique but interconnected indigenous science and
technologies.
- Many herbal medicines have indigenous origins.
Many indigenous practices in resources
management have been documented like the
muyong system in Ifugao and the lapat system in
Apayao.

Conclusion/ Summary
 Science and Technology is important in
Philippine nation building.

 It helps the nation address problems

such as those related to natural
disasters, food security, climate change,
peace, health, among others.

 It also helps the country achieve its

development goals.

 It is important that the government

continues to support science and
technology through policies and
programs that benefit the different
sectors of the society.

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