GNED 06: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

IV. THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AGENDA
● Science and technology in the Philippines
describe scientific and technological progress
made by the Philippines and analyses related
policy issues. The main agency responsible for
managing science and technology (S&T) is the
Department of Science and Technology
(DOST).

● There are also sectoral councils for Forestry,

Agriculture and Aquaculture, the Metal
Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and
Nutrition, Health, Meteorology, Volcanology
and Seismology.

● Science and technology play an integral part

in human development and the society because
it can put an end to ignorance, increase
perception of a fact or a situation, and awaken
the ability to use all resources and creativity to
improve the quality of life and sustainable
environment.
● Significant breakthroughs can only be
achieved through a strong science foundation.
Various significant changes that happened in
society are brought about by science and its
technology.
● The HNRDA is organized into 5 sectors:
NIBRA, HRDA, AANR, IEET and DRRCCA.
These sectors, spearheaded by a particular
agency, provide programs and priority areas to
achieve successful harmonized national
research and development areas. Hence, it
provides a strong foundation from the science
sector to support and
1. NATIONAL INTEGRATED BASIC
RESEARCH AGENDA
● To express support in the Philippine
Development Plan, National Security Plan, and
the Science for Change Program led by DOST,
the National Integrated Basic Research
Agenda (NIBRA) focus on basic principles of
research. It has six (6) programs, namely:
a. Water Security - TUBIG Program (Tubig ay
Buhayin at Ingatan)
b. Food and Nutrition Security - SAPAT
Program (Saganang Pagkain Para sa Lahat)
c. Health Sufficiency - LIKAS Program (Likas
Yaman sa Kalusugan)

contribute to the AmBisyon Natin 2040. d. Clean Energy - ALERT Program

(Alternative Energy Research Trends)

e. Sustainable Community- SAKLAW

Program (Saklolo sa Lawa)

f. Inclusive Nation-building- ATIN program
(Ang Tinig Natin)
2. HEALTH RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
● The collaborating agencies for health
research and development agenda are the
Philippine Council for Health Research and
Development (PCHRD) under the DOST and
the National Unified Health Research Agenda
(NUHRA).
● NUHRA serves the following purposes: it is
the national roadmap for health research in
the Philippines
● It provides focus and direction for health
research and development efforts
● It guides policy makers, funding and donor
agencies and researchers
● It provides evidence-based solutions to
pressing health problems
● It serves as basis for maximizing resource
utilization and minimizing duplication of
research efforts.
3. AGRICULTURE AQUATIC AND
NATURAL RESOURCES
● The research priorities for agriculture,
aquatic and natural resources include crops,
livestock, aquaculture, forestry, natural
resources and environment, technology
transfer, socio economics, and policy research.
● AANR sector supports the use of advanced
and emerging technologies such as
biotechnology, genomics, bioinformatics,
nanotechnology, nuclear technology, space
technology, electronics and automation, and
ICT as R&D tools to find S&T solutions to
AANR problems or develop new products with
significant potential impact to the sector.
● The sector supports organic agriculture,
halal food production, food safety and
traceability initiatives, and the development of
genetically modified organisms as long as it is
compliant with biosafety rules and regulations.
● This sector empowers our farmers, first and
foremost. Our farmers are one of the most
neglected heroes of our country.
● Sulu, Mindanao (Zamboanga, and Davao),
Negros, Samar, and Luzon (Batangas, Laguna,
Rizal, Bulacan and the Cagayan region).
4. INDUSTRY, ENERGY, AND
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
● The Philippine Council for Industry,
Energy, and Emerging Technology Research
and Development (PCIEERD-DOST) is
responsible for the implementation of research
priorities of this agenda. The research priorities
focus on food and nutrition security,
countryside development, competitive industry,
delivery of social services, intelligent transport
solutions, renewable energy and energy storage
solutions, and human security.
● Industry competitiveness will focus on
micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSMEs) and much effort will be provided
toward countryside development. Many R&D
projects will leverage existing resources and
focus on waste utilization, value-addition of
traditional products and efficient manufacturing
processes.
● It is noteworthy that four new fields of
research are to be included as priority areas for
2017-2022. These are deemed to be emerging
industries and critical to national development.
 Space Technology Applications
 Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
  Human Security and Defense Research
 Creative Industries
5. DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
● The research priorities for this agenda were
evaluated and finalized by a group of people
from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology
and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA).
● Its research priorities are directed toward
observation and monitoring networks,
technology development and application for
monitoring, modeling and simulation for
improvement of monitoring and
forecasting; hazards vulnerability and risk
assessment; warning and communication of
information; technology development and
application for climate change mitigation and
adaptation; and technology development and
application for disaster risk management.
● So whenever there are natural calamities, this
sector ensures the preparedness and safety of
the people affected.
● They implement climate change mitigation
and adaptation strategies such as management
and conservation of protected areas and key
biodiversity areas in the country.
● The messages you received from NDRRMC
on your mobile phones are part of their project
to easily spread information to warn people of
possible calamities.
Agencies Responsible for the Implementation of
the Harmonized R&D Agenda 2017-2022:
Government Policies Pertaining to Science
and Technology:
● Some policies or guidelines were created
by the government about science and
technology to contribute to nation building
(Congress of the Philippines, 2009). They
are:
1. REPUBLIC ACT 10055
● known as the Philippine Technology
Transfer Act of 2009 which aims to provide a
framework and support system for the
ownership, management, use and
commercialization of intellectual property
resulting from research and development
funded by the government.
2. REPUBLIC ACT 2067
● known as Science Act of 1958 which focuses
on the integration, coordination, and
intensification of scientific and technological
research and development and fostering
inventions, to provide funds and for other
purposes.
MAJOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
● DOST is the prime mover in formulating
policies and rules in the Science and
Technology discipline that helps in uplifting
the country’s economic status.
 ● One of its major programs called the Balik
Scientist Program was launched to motivate
well-trained overseas Filipino experts in their
own fields, to come home and to the
Philippines and share their expertise for the
acceleration of the scientific agro-industrial and
economic development of the country.
● This program was developed in 1975 to
become an instrument in reinforcing the
government’s scientific and technological
human resources.
● The Balik Scientists have played a significant
role generating solutions to national problems.
● Today, this program is still one of the
strategic programs of DOST with the objective
of achieving a higher level of competitiveness
for the success and progress of the economy.
The Program’s Goals
● Reverse the effect of the brain drain
● Accelerate flow of technologies
● Promote knowledge of sharing
● Strengthen science and technology capabilities
● PCAARRD has funded a program that has
produced the irradiated carrageenan fertilizer.
● This collaboration between nuclear scientists
and agriculturists has led to the recognition that
this product boosts the resiliency of rice plants,
increasing the yield by 65 percent.
● The cara-vita organic fertilizer has been
tried in the fields of Pulilan, Bulacan; Victoria
and Los Baños in Laguna; Cabanatuan, Nueva
Ecija, and Iloilo. This was distributed to
farmers for free in 2016. This 50-million worth
program will benefit at least 30,000 hectares
of our rice lands.
The effect of irradiated carrageenan
● More rice production
● Flood Information Network (FloodNET)
● Sturdier stems and stronger roots
Project
● More tillers
● Resistance to typhoons
● Landslide Sensors Development Project
● Another feather was added to the cap of
DOST R&D when they completed the Electric
Train Project in 2015. This was created to
enhance the efficiency of public mass
transport systems. The ERT was adopted by
the Department of Transportations and
Communications (Philippine Daily Inquirer,
2015).
● Through collaboration of three agencies such
as PAGASA, PHIVOLCS and Advanced
Science and Technology Institute (ASTI),
DOST also developed a more accurate and
responsive disaster prevention and mitigation
system which was named project NOAH
(Nationwide Operational Assessment of
Hazard).
● It is the primary disaster risk reduction and
management program of the Philippines. In
partnership with the UP National Institute of
Geological Sciences and the UP College of
Engineering.
● The project began in 2012 and was almost
completed in 2015, so the technology and
output of the project will be turned over to
PAGASA (Official gazette.gov.ph).
This project has the following components:
● Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge
Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM)
● Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for
Mitigation – Light Detection and Ranging
(DREAM-LIDAR)
● Project Distribution of Hydro meteorological
Devices in hard-hit areas in the Philippines
(Hyrdomet)
● Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through
LIDAR Technology
Local Development of Doppler Radar Systems
(LaDDeRS)

● Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP)

● To identify hazard-prone areas in the

country, DOST launched its P1-billion
comprehensive mapping project in 2012.

● Named as DREAM or Disaster Risk and

Exposure Assessment for Mitigation Program,
or the three-dimensional (3D) mapping
program, it uses the LIDAR system to
effectively and accurately measure critical
flood elevation and depth.

● DREAM is considered one of the most

extensive mapping systems in Southeast Asia
developed by Filipino Scientists.