Science and Technology in the Philippines

Science and Technology in the Philippines describes 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 sectorial councils for Forestry,
Agriculture and Aquaculture, the Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and Nutrition,
Health, Meteorology, Volcanology and Seismology.

HISTORY
(Pre-Colonial Period) - Filipinos were already aware of the medicinal and
therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of extracting medicine from herbs.
They already had an alphabet, number system, a weighing and measuring system
and a calendar. Filipinos were already engaged in farming, shipbuilding, mining and
weaving.
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription shows the use of mathematics in
precolonial Philippine societies. A standard system of weights and measures is
demonstrated by the use of precise measurement for gold, and familiarity with
rudimentary astronomy is shown by fixing the precise day within the month in relation to
the phases of the phases in the moon.
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. Later the Spanish established colleges and universities in the
archipelago including the University of Santo Tomas.
The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the Spanish era,
especially in the later years. The Spanish also contributed to the field of engineering in
the islands by constructing government buildings, churches, roads, bridges and
forts. Biology is given focus.
Contributors to science in the archipelago during the 19th century were botanists, Fr. Ignacio Mercado., Dr.
Trinidad Pardo de Tavera and Dr. Leon Ma Guerrero, chemist Anaclento del Rosario, and medicine scholars Dr.
Manuel Guerrero, Dr, Jose Montes and Dr. Elrodario Mercado. (Adding! Sort of info.)
Agriculture and industrial development on the other hand were relatively
neglected.
The opening of the Suez Canal saw the influx of European visitors to the Spanish colony and some Filipinos
were able to study in Europe who were probably influenced by the rapid development of scientific ideals brought by
the Age of Enlightenment. (Adding this, a quite helpful notes)
 (American Period and Post-Commonwealth Era) - The progress of science and
technology in the Philippines continued under American rule.
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. 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 established. The Bureau of Science became the primary research
center of the Philippines until World War II.
Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food
processing, medicine and pharmacy. Not much focus was given on the development of
industrial technology due to free trade policy with the United States which nurtured an
economy geared towards agriculture and trade.
In 1946, the Bureau of Science was replaced by the Institute of Science.
(In a report by the US Economic Survey to the Philippines in 1950, there is a lack of basic information
which were necessities to the country's industries, lack of support of experimental work and minimal
budget for scientific research and low salaries of scientists employed by the government. In 1958, during
the regime of President Carlos P. Garcia, the Philippine Congress passed the Science Act of 1958 which
established the National Science Development Board.)
Angel Alcala is a national scientist noted for his work in marine and aquatic biology during American period.

(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 (1), 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.
In his Second State of the Nation Address on January 23, 1967, he declared that
science was necessary for the development programs, and thus, directed the
Department of Education to revitalize the science courses in public high schools. The
Department of Education, with the National Science Development Board (NSDB), is
organizing a project to provide selected high schools with science teaching equipment
over a four-year period.
In his Third State of the Nation Address on January 22, 1968, he recognized that
technology was the leading factor in economic development, and channeled additional
funds to support projects in applied sciences and science education.
In his Fourth State of the Nation Address on January 27, 1969, he gave a big
part of the war damage fund to private universities to encourage them to create courses
in science and technology and to research. He stated that he planned a project to have
medical interns do a tour of duty in provincial hospitals to arouse their social conscious
and reduce the "brain drain." On April 6, 1968, he proclaimed 35 hectares in Bicutan,
Taguig, Rizal as the site of the Philippine Science Community. The government also
conducted seminars for public and private high school and college science teachers,
training programs and scholarships for graduate and undergraduate science scholars,
and workshops on fisheries and oceanography.
In his Fifth State of the Nation Address on January 26, 1970, he emphasized that
the upgrading of science curricula and teaching equipment is crucial to the science
development program. He added the Philippine Coconut Research Institute to the
NSDB to modernize the coconut industry. The NSDB also established the Philippine
Textile Research Institute. The Philippine Atomic Energy Commission of the NSDB
explored the uses of atomic energy for economic development. Marcos assisted 107
institutions in undertaking nuclear energy work by sending scientists to study nuclear
science and technology abroad, and providing basic training to 482 scientists, doctors,
engineers, and technicians.
In his Seventh State of the Nation Address on January 24, 1972, he spoke about
his major development projects in reforming sectors of education. Such projects
included research and development schools, technical institutes, science education
centers, and agricultural colleges and vocational high schools.
In 1972, he created the National Grains Authority to provide for the development
of the rice and corn industry to fully harness it for the economy of the country.
(Presidential Decree No. 4, s. 1972). He established the Philippine Council for
Agricultural Research to support the progressive development of agriculture, forestry,
and fisheries for the nation. It was attached to the Department of Agriculture and Natural
Resources for administrative purposes. He provided further support for the promotion of
scientific research and invention with Presidential Decree No. 49, s. 1972. This decree
contains details on the protection of intellectual property for the creator or publisher of
the work. He established the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA) under the Department of National Defense to
provide environmental protection and to utilize scientific knowledge to ensure the safety
of the people. (Presidential Decree No. 78, s. 1972)
In 1973, he created the Philippine National Oil Company to promote industrial
and economic development through effective and efficient use of energy sources.
(Presidential Decree No. 334, s. 1973).
In 1976, he enacted a law under Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, s. 1976 to
establish the National Academy of Science and Technology, which is composed of
scientists with "innovative achievement in the basic and applied sciences," to serve as a
reservoir of scientific and technological expertise for the country.
-more info about Marcos works during his terms
In 1978, he created a Task Force on the formulation of a national action program on
science and technology to assess policies and programs of science and technology. (Executive
Order No. 512, s. 1978). In his Fourteenth State of the Nation Address on July 23, 1979, he said
that the government invested funds and time in organizations for scientific research, such as the
NSDB, the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research and Resources, the Plant Breeding
Institute, the International Rice Research Institute, the Bureau of Plant Industry, and the Bureau
of Forest Products. While these projects have had breakthroughs, the market machinery did not
adapt and invest in this technology due to the high-risk front-end costs.
In 1979, he constituted the Health Sciences Center created by R.A. No. 5163 as an
autonomous member within the University of the Philippines System to improve the internal
organization and unity of leadership within its units. (Executive Order No. 519, s. 1979).
In 1980, he created the National Committee on Geological Sciences to advise
government and private entities on matters concerning development in geological sciences.
(Executive Order No. 625, s. 1980).
In 1982, he reorganized the National Science Development Board and its agencies into
a National Science and Technology Authority to provide central direction and coordination of
scientific and technological research and development. (Executive Order No. 784, s. 1982) He
granted salary increases to the people with teaching positions in the Philippine Science High
School due to their necessity in the advancement of national science. (Executive Order No. 810,
s. 1982). He enacted a law on the completion of the National Agriculture and Life Sciences
Research Complex at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. (Executive Order No. 840,
s. 1982).
In 1986, he established the Mindanao and Visayas campuses of the Philippine Science
High School to encourage careers in science and technology and to be more accessible to the
talented students in the Mindanao and Visayas areas. (Executive Order No. 1090, s. 1986).

(Fifth Republic) - In 1986, during Corazon Aquino's presidency, the National

Science and Technology Authority was replaced by the Department of Science and
Technology, giving science and technology a representation in the cabinet. Under the
Medium Term Philippine Development Plan for the years 1987-1992, science and
technology's role in economic recovery and sustained economic growth was
highlighted. During Corazon Aquino's State of the Nation Address in 1990, she said that
science and technology development shall be one of the top three priorities of the
government towards an economic recovery.
On August 8, 1988, Corazon Aquino created the Presidential Task Force for
Science and Technology which came up with the first Science and Technology Master
Plan or STMP. The goal of STMP was for the Philippines to achieve newly industrialized
country status by the year 2000.The Congress did not put much priority in handling bills related to science
and technology. The Senate Committee on Science and Technology was one of the committees that handles the
least amount of bills for deliberation.
During her term, President Corazon Aquino encouraged scientists and inventors to bring the Philippines to
its former position as second to only Japan in the field of science and technology. One of the goals of her
administration was to achieve the status as being an industrialized country by 2000. She urged that the private
research sector form a stronger bond between public research to help jump-start the progress in the area of
Philippine Research and Development.
Ironically, it was during President Corazon Aquino's term and the reorganization
of Philippine bureaucracy that Executive Order No.128 abolished R.A. No. 3859, also
known as the “Philippine Inventors Incentive Act.” This Philippine Inventors Commission
was under the Science Development board. It gave assistance to Filipino inventors
through giving financial aid, patent application assistance, legal assistance, and to help
inventors market their products domestically and abroad. Despite the abolishment of the
Philippine Inventors Commission, her administration gave rise to new avenues for the
government to aid the progress of Science and Technology in the country.
R.A. 6655 or the Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988 opened doors to
free education up to the secondary level, implemented in the education system together
with this was the “Science for the Masses Program” which aimed at scientific and
technological literacy among Filipinos. The Aquino administration recognized the
importance of science and technology in the development of the Philippines into a newly
industrialized country. Funding for the science and technology sector was tripled from
464 million in 1986 to 1.7 billion in 1992. The Science and Technology Master Plan was
formulated which aimed at the modernization of the production sector, upgrading
research activities, and development of infrastructure for science and technological
purposes. A Research and Development Plan was also formulated to examine and
determine which areas of research needed attention and must be given priority. The
criteria for identifying the program to be pursued were, development of local materials,
probability of success, potential of product in the export market, and its strategic nature.
The grants for the research and development programs was included in the Omnibus
Investment Law.
(Fidel V. Ramos’ Term) - There were noticeable improvements regarding science
and technology as stated in President Fidel Ramos' State of the Nation Address. In his
third SONA, there was a significant increase in personnel specializing in the science
and technology field. At 1998, the Philippines was estimated to have around 3,000
competent scientists and engineers. Adding to the increase of scientists would be the result of the two
newly built Philippine Science High Schools in Visayas and Mindanao which promotes further development of young
kids through advance S&T curriculum. The government provided 3,500 scholarships for students who were taking up
professions related to S&T. Schools were becoming more modernized and updated with the addition of high-tech
equipment for student improvement and teachers were getting training programs to benefit themselves and their
students. Health care services were promoted through local programs such as "Doctors to the Barrio Program." The
health care programs were innovative and effective as shown by the change in life expectancy from 67.5 years in
1992 to 69.1 years in 1995.
Priority for S&T personnel increased when Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel (Republic
Act No. 8439) was established. The award was published in order to give incentives and rewards for people who
have been influential in the field of S&T. In the sixth SONA, education was one of the primary story-lines wherein
programs such as National Program for Gifted Filipino Children in Science and Technology and enactment of a law
creating a nationwide system of high schools specializing in the field of science and engineering.
Fidel V. Ramos believes that science and technology was one of the means
wherein the Philippines could attain the status of new industrialized country (NIC).
During his term, he was able to establish programs that were significant to the field of
S&T. In 1993, Science and Technology Agenda for National Development (STAND)
was established. Among its priorities were: (1) exporting winners identified by the DTI;
(2) domestic needs identified by the President's Council for Countryside Development;
(3) support industries and (4) coconut industry development. Congress, during his term,
was able to enact laws that were significant for the field. Among were: (1) Magna Carta
for Science and Technology Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439); (2) Science and
Technology Scholarship Law of 1994 (Republic Act No. 7687) and (3) Inventors and
Inventions Incentives Act (Republic Act No. 7459). The Intellectual Property Code of the
Philippines (Republic Act No. 8293) was enacted during Ramos' term. The law
provides industrial property rights, copyrights and related rights, and technology transfer
arrangements.
(President Joseph Estrada's term) - In his term, two major legislations that he
signed were Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749) which was
designed to protect and preserve the environment and ensure the sustainable
development of its natural resources, and Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic
Act No. 8792) which outlaws computer hacking and provides opportunities for new
businesses emerging from the Internet-driven New Economy.
 (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) - In her administration, the science and technology
sector of the Philippines was dubbed as the "golden age" of science and technology by
then secretary Estrella Albastro. Numerous laws and projects that concerns both the
environment and science to push technology as a tool to increase the country's
economic level. This is to help increase the productivity from Science, Technology and
Innovations (STI) and help benefit the poor people. Moreover, the term "Filipinnovation"
was the coined term used in helping the Philippines to be an innovation hub in Asia.
The STI was developed further by strengthening the schools and education
system such as the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), which focuses in science,
technology and mathematics in their curriculum. This helps schools produce get more
involve in this sector. Private sectors were also encouraged to participate in developing
the schools through organizing events and sponsorships. Future Filipino scientists and
innovators can be produced through this system.
Helping the environment was one of the focus in developing technology in the
Philippines. One of the more known laws to be passed by her administration was the
R.A. 9367 or the "Biofuels" act. This act promotes the development and usage of
biofuels throughout the country. This potentially enables a cheaper alternative to
gasoline as a medium in producing energy. Also, this benefits the environment since it
boasts a cleaner emission compared to regular fuel. Yet, setbacks such as lack of raw materials is
holding the full implementation of the laws since importing the necessary materials are imported more. On one hand,
drought-free rice was also highly encouraged to be used during her term. This enables farmers to produce rice
despite the environmental hazards that slows or stops the production.

(President Benigno C. Aquino) – In an effort to improve the efficiency of both land

and water, the government imposes Republic Act 10601 which improves the Agriculture
and Fisheries Sector through Mechanization (AFMech). RA 10601 covers research,
development, and extension (RDE), promotion, distribution, supply, assembling,
manufacturing, regulation, use, operation, maintenance and project implementation of
agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment.
The Harmonized Agenda for Science and Technology was presented to
President Aquino in 2014 and it included two crucial issues, inclusive growth and
disaster risk reduction.
In 2014, President Aquino conferred four new National Scientist for their contribution in the Scientific
field, Academicians Gavino C. Trono, Angel C. Alcala, Ramon C. Barba, and Edgardo D. Gomez was honored in their
respective fields. Trono's contribution helped a lot of families in the coastal populations through the extensives
studies he made on seaweed species. On the other hand, Alcala served as the pioneer scientist and advocate of
coral reefs aside from his contribution in the fields of systematics, secology and herpetology. Barba's contribution
changes the seasonal supply of fresh fruits to an all year round availability of mangoes through his studies on the
induction of flowering of mango and micropropagation of important crop species. Lastly, Gomez steered the national-
scale assessment of damage coral reefs which led a national conservation.

ENGINEERING (Additional Information)

Engineering is the field of science that applies both science and math to solve problems. It concerns
the use of technology in practical ways that can advance the human condition. Some of the fields of
engineering include mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, structural
engineering, and industrial engineering.
In the Philippines, many organizations and research institutes for engineering were established,
such as the National Engineering Center and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers.
The National Engineering Center (NEC) was first established on January 27, 1978 as the research
arm of the University of the Philippines College of Engineering. It absorbed the UP Industrial
Research Service Center, the National Hydraulic Research Center, the Training Center for Applied
Geodesy and Photogrammetry, the Transport Training Center, and the Building Research Service.
The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) was the result of the merging of two separate civil
engineer organizations, the Philippine Society of Civil Engineers (PSCE) and the Philippine
Association of Civil Engineers (PACE), on December 11, 1973. It was given accreditation by the
Professional Regulation Commission on August 13, 1975 as the only official recognized organization
of civil engineers in the Philippines. It was established to advance the knowledge and research and
to maintain high ethical standards of civil engineering.
The University of the Philippines also established the National Center for Transportation Studies
(NCTS) to contribute to scholarly research and training in the field of transportation. They advocate
sustainable transport, integrated transport system, road safety, and institutional development. They
release advisories and feature studies by both undergraduate and graduate students on
transportation. For example, the NCTS website links to downloads of Emer T. Quezon's research
into the effects of flyover construction on traffic flow in Nagtahan and R. Magsaysay Boulevard
intersection in 1994, as well as the research of Franklyn T. Amistad and Jose Regin F. Regidor, Dr.
Eng. researched into ways to improve traffic management and congestion in Vigan without
sacrificing its legacy as a World Heritage Site.
Ricardo G. Sigua is a professor who contributed to engineering research in the Philippines. Sigua, a
professor at the Institute of Civil Engineering in the University of the Philippines, Diliman, wrote a
book called The Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering due to the scarcity of textbooks on the traffic
engineering relevant to the Philippine context. His book covers topics such as traffic management
and regulations, traffic flow, traffic studies, intersection design and control, geometric design of
highways, road safety, traffic accident analysis, travel demand forecasting, the origin-destination
table (OD Matrix), and the intelligent transportation system.
Electronic products accounted for 40% of the Philippines' export revenue in April 2013, according to
the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry in the Philippines, Inc., which groups 250 Filipino and
foreign companies, including Intel. The share of high-tech products among exports declined between
2008 and 2013 from US$26.9 billion to US$19.7 billion.

INDIGENEOUS Science and technology

(Indigenous Knowledge System) - Indigenous knowledge is embedded in the daily
life experiences of young children as they grow up. They live and grow in a society
where the members of the community prominently practice indigenous knowledge. Their
parents and other folks served as their first teachers and their methods of teaching are
very effective in transmitting cultural knowledge in their minds. The lessons they learned
are intimately interwoven with their culture and the environment. These lessons
comprised of good values and life stories of people on their daily life struggles. Their
views about nature and their reflections on their experiences in daily life are evident in
their stories, poems and songs.
1. Indigenous science uses science process skills such as observing, comparing, classifying, measuring, problem solving,
inferring, communicating, and predicting.
2. Indigenous science is guided by culture and community values such as the following:
*The land is a source of life. It is a precious gift from the creator.
*The Earth is revered as “Mother Earth”. It is the origin of their identity as people.
*All living and nonliving things are interconnected and interdependent with each other.
*Human beings are stewards or trustee of the land other natural resources. They have a responsibility to preserve it.
*Nature is a friend to human beings – it needs respect and proper care.
3. Indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge practiced and valued by people and communities such as
ethno-biology, ethno-medicine, indigenous farming methods, and folk astronomy.
 Science education
(reference: pictures send at the gc)

Government laws, policies, plans

and projects
(reference: pictures send at the gc)

Famous Filipinos scientist

Mango flowering by Ramon Barba, mangoes only flower during a specific

period in the year. For quite some time, Filipinos relied on smudging –the use of smoke
from burning materials — to keep up with the demand for mangoes. Barba believed
that smudging was tedious and expensive. Furthermore, the process also emits
pollutants into the atmosphere. He proposed an alternative: the use of a chemical spray
called Etherel (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid). His idea was met with derision and
rejected for experiments, until one day, his friends Mr. and Mrs. Jose Quimson allowed
him to conduct a trial using 400 mango trees. Even though Barba held the patent to the
process, he charged no royalties for it. With the chemical being cheap and readily
accessible, this allowed many mango farmers to benefit from his idea, leading to the
boom in the mango industry that we enjoy today.
Outstanding Filipino Scientist who are recognized here and abroad.