CHAPTER

Science and Technology and Nation Building

3
LESSON 2: THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AGENDA

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to:
ü discuss the role of Science and Technology in Philippine nation building;
ü evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in terms of
their contributions to nation building; and
ü identify actual science and technology policies of the government and appraise
their impact on the development of the Filipino nation

DISCUSSION
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 (DOST) 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. DOST 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 DOST undertakes policy research, technology
assessment, feasibility and technical studies and maintains a national information system and
databank on science and technology.

Brief historical background of Science and Technology in The Philippines

It started before the Philippines gained its independence from the American colonizers.

Pre-Spanish Time
• Embedded in the way of life of the people.
• Scientific knowledge is observed in the way plant their crops, taking care of animals, and
food production.
• Science is observed in the way they interpreted the movement of heavenly bodies.
• They use science in preparing the soil for agricultural purposes and discovered the medicinal
uses of plants.
• Building houses, irrigations, and in developing tools.
• Developed tools for planting, hunting, cooking, and fishing
• Fighting enemies during war or tribal conflicts, transportation (both land and waterways).
• Musical instruments
• Sophisticated designs of gold and silver, jewelry ceramics, and metal tools.
• Trading with China, Indonesia, Japan, and other nearby countries.

Colonization of Spaniards
• The Spaniards established schools for boys and girls and introduced the concept of subjects
and disciplines and was the beginning of FORMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY in the
Philippines known as SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. Topics includes
 understanding concepts related to human body, plants, animals and heavenly bodies.
Also it focused on using and developing house tools used in everyday life.
• Adopted western technology.
• Filipinos developed ways to replicate the technology brought by the Spaniards using
indigenous materials.
• Medicine and advanced science were introduced in formal colleges and universities
established by the catholic orders.
• Galleon Trade brought additional technology and development in the Philippines. It
allowed ideas, cops, tools, cultural practices, technology and western practices to reach
the country.
• Filipinos who studied abroad contributed to the advancement of medicine, engineering,
arts, music, and literature.

Colonization of American
• Established the public education system
• Improved the engineering works and health conditions of the people.
• Established a modern research university (University of the Philippines)
• Created more public hospitals
• Mineral resources were explored and exploited.
• Transportation and communication systems were improved.
• Reorganized the learning of science and introduced it in public and private schools.

Influences in the development of Science and Technology in the Philippines

INTERNAL INFLUENCES
ü SURVIVAL
ü CULTURE
ü ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
Development
of Science and
EXTERNAL INFLUENCES
Technology in
ü FOREIGN COLONIZERS the Philippines
ü TRADES WITH FREIGN
COUNTRIES
ü INTERNATIONAL
ECONOMIC DEMANDS

Government Policies on Science and Technology

The Philippine government introduced and implemented several programs, projects, and
policies to boost the area of science and technology. The goal is to prepare the whole country
and its people to meet the demands of a technologically driven world and capacitate the
people to live in a world driven by Science.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), has sought the expertise of the
National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP) to consult various sectors in the society to
study how the Philippines can prepare itself in meeting the ASEAN 2015 Goals. The NCRP is a
collegial body of highly-trained and productive scientists and researchers. It addresses the
demand for knowledge, skills and innovations in the sciences and humanities, in order to
effectively and efficiently contributes to nation-building and improvement of the quality of life of
the Filipino people by 2025 (http://www.nrcp.dost.gov.ph). Moreover, the NRCP is expected to
recommend policies and programs that will improve the competitiveness of the Philippines in the
ASEAN region.
THE NRCP MANDATES (ACT 4120)
1. Promotion and support of fundamental or basic research for the continuing improvement
of the research capability of individual or group scientists;
2. Foster linkages with local and international scientific organizations for enhanced
cooperation in the development and sharing of scientific information;
3. Provide advice on problems and issues of national interest;
4. Promotion of scientific and technological culture to all sectors of society.

THE NRCP clustered policies

1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and Governance.
• Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to the curriculum
• Emphasizing teaching in the mother tongue
• Developing school infrastructure and providing for ICT broadband
• Local food security
2. Physics, Engineering and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and Mathematics.
• Emphasizing degrees, licenses, and employment opportunities
• Outright grants for peer monitoring
• Review of R.A 9184
• Harnessing Science and Technology as an independent mover of development
3. Medical, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Ensuring compliance of drug- manufacturing firms with ASEAN harmonized standards
by full implementation of the Food and Drug Administration
• Creating an Education council dedicated to standardization of pharmaceutical
services and care.
• Empowering food and drug agencies to conduct evidence- based research as pool
of information.
• Allocating two percent of the GDP to research
• Legislation a law supporting human genome projects
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and Forestry
• Protecting and conserving biodiversity by full implementation of existing laws
• Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN countries
• Promoting indigenous knowledge system and indigenous people’s conservation
• Formulation of common food and safety standards.

Other existing programs supported by the Philippine Government through the DOST
• Providing funds for basic research and patents related to science and technology.
• Providing scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies of students in the field
of science and technology.
• Establishing more branches of the Philippine Science High School System.
• Creating Science and Technology Parks.
• Balik Scientist Program.
• Developing Scientific Parks in the academic campuses.
• Establishment of the National Science Complex and National Engineering Complex
within the University of the Philippines campus Diliman.

The Philippine- American Academy of Science and Engineering Capacity- Building Programs
• Establishment of national centers of excellence.
• Manpower and institutional development programs (ESEP- Engineering and Science
Education Program)
• Establishment of regional centers
• Establishment of science and technology business centers.
• Strengthen science education at an early stage through the Philippine Science High
School system.
 In the field of Education, several science- related programs and projects were created to
develop the scientific literacy of the country. Special science classes were organized and special
science elementary schools were established in different regions. Science and Mathematics in
basic education were continuously improved. The current K to12 education program included
Science, Technology, and Engineering, and Mathematics STEM as one of its major tracks in the
senior high school program to encourage more students to enroll in science related fields in
college.

OTHER AREAS AND FIELDS FOR RESEARCH AND PROJECTS

1. Use of Alternative and safe energy
2. Harnessing mineral resources
3. Finding cure for various diseases and Illnesses
4. Climate change and global warming
5. Increasing food production
6. Preservation of natural resources
7. Coping with natural disasters and calamities
8. Infrastructure development

Development of Science and Technology Policies in the Philippines

NATIONAL GOALS

INTERNATIONAL
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TREATY

ü Policies
ü Programs
ü Projects LEGAL FRAMEWORK

SOCIAL NEEDS,
ISSUES, and
PROBLEMS

FAMOUS FILIPINOS IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE

ANGEL C. ALCALA: Alcala was named a National Scientist of the

Philippines in 2014 for his research into Philippine amphibians and
reptiles, as well as the conservation of marine-protected areas
(https://www.nast.ph/index.php/).

RAMON CABANOS BARBA: Barba was named a National Scientist

of the Philippines in 2014 for inventing a way to induce flowering in
mango trees regardless of season, boosting the local mango
industry ((https://www.nast.ph/index.php/).
 TETCHI CRUZ-CAPELLAN: CEO of Philippine renewable energy
provider SunAsia Energy Inc. and founder of the Philippine Solar
Power Alliance, hopes to grow the solar power industry in the
Philippines. She first became acquainted with solar power as the
country director of a rural electrification project funded by the
USAID (https://info.umkc.edu/unews/).

EDGARDO D. GOMEZ: Gomez led the world’s first national-scale

assessment of damage to coral reefs, work which led to him being
conferred the title of National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014
(https://rappler.com/nation/national-scientist).

ALFREDO MAHAR LAGMAY: He received the 2015 Plinius Medal

from the European Geosciences Union for his research into natural
hazards and disasters in the Philippines, in particular volcanic
hazards, earthquakes, typhoons, landslides and floods. He is also
executive director of the Department of Science and Technology
Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH)
(https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/).

AISA MIJENO: Professor of engineering at De La Salle University-

Lipa. Together with her brother Ralph, she co-founded Sustainable
Alternative Lighting (SALt), a social enterprise that is developing an
LED lamp that runs on just table salt and water
(http://www.questadventure.ph/wp-content).

REINA REYES: Reyes has been called “The Filipina who proved
Einstein right” after her work confirming Albert Einstein’s Theory of
Relativity on a cosmic scale in 2010 during her Ph.D. studies in the
United States. Reyes currently works as an independent data
scientist consulting for private companies
(http://www.science.ph).

GAVINO CAJULAO TRONO JR.: He was conferred the honor of

National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014 for his research into
tropical marine phycology with a focus on seaweed biodiversity
(((https://www.nast.ph/index.php/).

OTHER NOTABLE FILIPINO SCIENTSTS

Josefino Cacas Comiso: He observed the characteristics of Antarctica by

using satellite imaging. His research has revealed the extraordinary rate at
which Arctic ice is affected by global warming, at approximately three times
the intensity of the global average (https://prabook.com/web/josefino.)

Jose Bejar Cruz Jr.: Known internationally in the field of electrical engineering:
was elected as officer of the famous Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering.

Lourdes Jansuy Cruz: She researched on sea snail venom and was
proclaimed as National Scientist in 2006 by President of the Republic of the
Philippines (http://www.msi.upd.edu.ph/faculty/lourdes-j-cruz-ph).
 Fabian Millar Dayrit: He researched on herbal medicines specifically on
phytochemical components of “lagundi” as part of the National Integrated
Research Program on Medicinal Plants (https://prabook.com/web/fabian).

Rafael Dineros Guerrero III: He spearheading the commercialization of the

artificial sex reversal technology for tilapia which is considered a “milestone”
in world aquaculture (http://www.nrcp.dost.gov.ph).

Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr.: He invented the meconium drugs testing and also
looked at fetal exposure to environmental pesticides and its long-term effect
on neurobehavioral development (https://today.wayne.edu/medicine/).

Lilian Formalejo Patena: She is the Head of Plant Cell and Tissue Culture
Laboratory, Institute of Plant Breeding, Crop Biotechnology Division Crop
Science Cluster, College of Agriculture, UPLB. She researched on plant
biotechnology (https://quizlet.com/354599834/famous-filipinos-in-science).

Mari- Jo Panganiban Ruiz: She is an outstanding educator and graph theorist.

With graph theory as her chosen area of research, she is a published author
both locally and internationally (http://ateneo.edu/news/).

Factors that Influence the Development of Filipino Scientists

INDIVIDUAL
INTEREST IN
SCIENCE
SCHOOL SCIENCE SCIENCE
LABORATORIES

FAMILY
(TEACHERS AND
LEARNING REAL LIFE
ENVIRONMENT) CONTEXT

NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT

FILIPINO SCIENTISTS