The mindfulness of the Filipinos in Science is said to be a hybrid of ideas from Spain
and America. These countries played major roles in the formation of Science in the
Philippines. To strengthen its establishment, the government crafted programs,
policies and projects that focused on Science and Technology.
In 1986, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) was established by virtue
of Executive Order 128.
- aims to provide central direction, leadership and coordination of S & T efforts and
formulation of programs and policies for the society.
OFFICES THAT ARE WORKING UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE
A. Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI)
- established to act as the implementing arm of DOST and mainly works for the
commercialization of the technologies
B. Science Education Institute (SEI)
- undertakes and formulates plans for the development of S&T education and
training in the country
C. Science and Technology Information Institute (STII)
- serves as the information arm of the Department through the development and
maintenance of S&T databank and information networks
Despite financial difficulties, DOST still provides some programs that are to aid the
scientists and researchers who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and ideas
to society. Some of these programs are:
a. financial aid for basic research and patents related to Science and Technology
b. availability of scholarships
c. partnerships between academe and industry
d. Balik Scientist Award
e. establishment of National Science Complex (NSC) and national Engineering
Complex (NEC) and UP Diliman.
AREAS FOR RESEARCH AND PROJECTS
- Harnessing mineral resources
- Finding cure for illnesses
- Climate change and global warming
- Increasing food production
- Infrastructure development
- Disaster risk and management
- Preservation of natural resources
- Use of alternative resources and energy
SCIENTISTS and THEIR GREAT INVENTIONS
1. Ramon C. Barba
- National Scientist
- Outstanding Filipino Horticulturist
- Invention of flower induction of mango trees
2. Rafael D. Guerrero III
- Father of Tilapia Sex Reversal
3. Enrique M. Ostrea, Jr.
- Method for detecting maternally transferred drug metabolites in newborn
infants.
4. Fe del Mundo
- Incubator
- First Asian to have entered the prestigious Harvard University’s School of
Medicine
- Alumna of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine
5. Gregorio Y. Zara
- Videophone
- Renowned Filipino engineer and physicist
- A native of Lipa batangas
- Enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United
States
- Graduated with a degree of BS Mechanical Engineering in 1926
6. Agapito Flores
- Fluorescent Lamp = most widely used source of lighting in the world
- Got its name from Flores
- Not invented in a particular year = product of 79 years of development of
the lighting method that began with the invention of the electric light bulb
by Thomas Edison
7. Angel Alcala
- Artificial Coral Reefs = used for fisheries in Southeast Asia
8. Eduardo San Juan
- Moon Buggy
- Project leader for NASA in the buggy development
- Underfunded and underappreciated engineering success
- Moon buggy allowed greater exploration of the Moon, yet Eduardo San
Juan’s contribution has been relegated largely to status as a footnote
Martin Luther King Jr. (MLKJ) once said,
“We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”
Philippines was colonized by several countries before freedom was achieved by our
ancestors. It was through this challenge that we were shaped and became diverse. We
embraced various religions, traditions and culture.
It is written in our history. We are made by this history.
