GALANTO, ANNE JOY M.

BSSW 2B

TIMELINE AND ANALYSIS

ON THE EVOLUTION
PATTERN OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY IN
THE PHILIPPINES
 Pre-Spanish Period

Even 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. 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
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.

The Galleon Trade have accounted in the Philippine colonial economy. Trade was given
more focus by the Spaniard colonial authorities due to the prospects of big profits. 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.
 American Period and Post-Commonwealth era

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. 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.

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.

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 third state was 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, the Fourth State
was 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, and on his Seventh State of the Nation Address last 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

The National Grains Authority was created in order to provide 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

The Philippine National Oil Company was created to promote industrial and economic
development through effective and efficient use of energy sources.

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.
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.

In 1980

He created the National Committee on Geological Sciences to advise government and

private entities on matters concerning development in geological sciences.

In 1982

Reorganizing 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. 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. 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.

In 1986
 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.

AQUINO’S ERA

In 1986

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.

In 1988

She 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.

ESTRADA’S ERA

In 1999

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. Aside from these, in his first State
of the Nation Address, President Estrada launched a full-scale program based on cost-effective
irrigation technologies. He also announced that Dole-outs are out, which meant basic health care,
basic nutrition, and useful education for those who want, but cannot afford it. Lastly, he said that
they would speed up the program to establish one science high school in every province. It was
in his second State of the Nation Address that President Estrada announced the passage of the
Clean Air Act, and the decision to pursue the 15-year modernization program of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines. His last State of the Nation Address pushed for the advancement of
industries and schools into the Internet age, as well as the announcement of the passage of the e-
Commerce Act.

MACAPAGAL-ARROYO’S ERA

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

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. 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.
ANALYSIS :

The need to develop a country’s science and technology has generaly been recognized as
one of the imperatives of socio-economic progress.

The timeline is not only for focusing on the chronology of events but to see those
achievements (if they have) on how they ruled our country.

Furthermore, this timeline seeks to interpret and analyze the effects of their deeds on the
country’s geography, colonial trades, social and economic policies, educational degree, and the
cultural factors in shaping the evolution of our country.