The Philippine Government
Science and Technology Agenda
Group 3
Group 4
INTRODUCTION
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 in the Philippines
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.
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.
Undertakes policy research, technology assessment, feasibility and technical studies and maintains a national
information system and databank on science and technology.
PRE-SPANISH PERIOD
Before the colonization by the Spaniards in the Philippine islands, the natives of the archipelago already had
practices linked to science and technology. Filipinos were already aware of the medicinal and therapeutic
properties of plants and the methods of extracting medicine from herbs. The Banaue Rice Terraces are among
the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-Spanish era Filipinos
SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD
The colonization of the Philippines contributed to growth of science and technology in the archipelago. The
Spanish introduced formal education and founded scientific institution. During the early years of Spanish
rule in the Philippines.
Parish schools were established where religion, reading, writing, arithmetic and music was taught. Sanitation
and more advanced methods of agriculture was taught to the natives.
AMERICAN PERIOD and
POST-COMMONWELATH ERA
Bureau of Government Laboratories
The progress of science and technology in the
Philippines continued under American rule of the
islands.
On July 1, 1901 The Philippine Commission
established the Bureau of Government Laboratories
which was placed under the Department of Interior.
The Bureau replaced the Laboratorio Municipal,
which was established under the Spanish colonial
era.
AMERICAN PERIOD and
POST-COMMONWELATH ERA
Bureau of Science
The Bureau dealt with the study of tropical
diseases and laboratory projects.
On October 26, 1905, the Bureau of Government
Laboratories was replaced by the Bureau of
Science and on December 8, 1933, the National
Research Council of the Philippines was establish.
The Bureau of Science became the primary
research center of the Philippines until World War
II.
MARCOS ERA and MARTIAL LAW
During Ferdinand Marcos' presidency, the importance given to science grew. In the amended 1973 Philippine
Constitution, Article XV, Section 9 , he declared that the "advancement of science and technology shall have
priority in the national development." In his two terms of presidency and during Martial Law, he enacted
many laws promoting science and technology.
SCIENTIST AS
ADVOCATE
SCIENTIST as ADVOCATE
Scientists and technologists are essential in a developing world. They are one of the key players in a
country's quest for industrialization. They are the lifeblood of research, innovation and have important roles
in the industry and the manufacturing sector. Together with their roles in nation-building, scientists, too, have
a responsibility to advocate for the betterment of S&T in their countries.
For the Philippines, in order to halt the vicious cycle of technological backwardness and poverty, it is
important that scientists and technologists themselves be aware of the sad plight of S&T in the country and
to advocate for its improvement.
INNOVATION CULTURE
What recent success we have with the saltwater lamp, the salamander tricycle and the Diwata 1
microsatellite is a good start but only indicates that we have a long way to go before we create an innovation
culture. Innovation can only happen with enough scientists and technologists to develop an “innovation
ecosystem.”
SALTWATER LAMP SALAMANDER TRICYCLE DIWATA 1
ASEAN INTEGRATION REQUIRES
COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGY
Science and technology help us understand nature and the world, and enables us to lead full lives trough new
and innovative means. It therefore requires that we as Filipinos, expand our science and technology base to
enable us to compete in an integrated ASEAN.
TWO MAJOR APPROACHES
1. Stronger Research and Development in the regions, not just Manila
Expand research and development initiatives by providing more grant support for R and D through the
DOSTs sectoral planning councils such as PCIERD, PCAARD and ASTI in cooperation with universities in
the regions.
The science initiative must be distributed to the regions especially those where food production needs to be
improved, industry needs to grow and where innovation needs to be developed. This is critical in light of
climate change and expensive electricity and the need to disperse industry and economic activities.
TWO MAJOR APPROACHES
2. Strategic projects in five areas:
Renewable energy- we need new technologies to enable high electricity yields in limited space with less
dependence on natural resources to enable us to meet our COP 21 commitments, while lowering the price of
electricity.
S and T for industry development- we need stronger participation of our scientists and engineers if we
want to revitalize our basic industries such as the steel industry.
Faster and cheaper internet – we have Asia’s slowest internet, yet our archipelago needs it bridge gaps and
build networks.
TWO MAJOR APPROACHES
2. Strategic projects in five areas:
Increased food production- given limited lands, technology is needed to expand yields while increasing
quality of output and being less dependent on foreign inputs like fertilizers.
Climate change adaptation- We need cutting edge technology to enable our farmers to adapt to changing
climates and the need to do away with technologies that destroy the capacity for good healthful yields.
TWO MAJOR APPROACHES
Enabling mechanisms and specifics
1. More Research grants through the DOST and its sectoral planning councils and institutes
2. Strengthen the Balik Scientist Program and retention program for current young scientists- our young scientists must
be engaged through actual research projects. Many of our scientists and
3. engineers are OFWs who support our candidacy. We need their help to uplift our country’s technology and we hope
they come back.
4. S and T cooperation within ASEAN- especially on the space program and climate change adaptation.
5. Cooperation between industry and the science community by involving them in the sectoral planning councils.
DOSTs programs for SMEs (Such as SET-UP) needs to be replicated further.
