STS Instructional Modules - Week 4

You might also like

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 11

25

SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY
& SOCIETY
Department of Environmental Science
College of Science
Tarlac State University

Instructional Modules
(Midterm Coverage)
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)
26

Course Science, Technology, and Society


Developers This instructional material has been developed by:

The Faculty of the Department of Environmental Science


College of Science, Tarlac State University
Lucinda Campus

Engr. Bertrand Aldous L. Santillan


Department Chairperson
balsantillan@tsu.edu.ph

Dr. Rita E. Pulmano


repulmano@tsu.edu.ph

Dr. Alma M. Corpuz


amcorpuz@tsu.edu.ph

Prof. Victor M. Serrano


vmserrano@tsu.edu.ph

Mr. Wesley C. Gagarin


wsgagarin@tsu.edu.ph

Ms. Geraldine R. Gamoso


grgamoso@tsu.edu.ph

Should you wish to contact the department, please call during work hours:
606-8178 loc. 178 Tuesday to Friday 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Purpose and This instructional material has been developed for the purpose of higher learning of
Disclaimer Science, Technology, and Society (Agham, Teknolohiya, at Lipunan), one of the eight (8)
core courses in the General Education of the Higher Education Curriculum stipulated in the
Commission of Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 20, s. 2013.

All the contents of this material are for educational purposes only. Authors/owners of
articles, notes, and/or images included in this material with or without their permission are
properly cited in honor of intellectual property and copy rights. Parts which are originally
written or made by the department faculty should be properly cited in case they will appear
in other materials.

This instructional material is intended for Tarlac State University students.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)


27
WEEK 4

Title Science and technology and nation-building (Part II)

Topic Letter C (General Concepts and STS Historical Development)

Duration 3 hours

Overview You have learned in the previous topic that science and technology (S&T) play an
important role in nation-building. This time, you will focus your attention on the S&T of our
dear country, the Republic of the Philippines. In this topic, you will find that our 1987
Philippine Constitution has a provision for S&T, that we have a government agency and
related agencies in-charge of and supporting the S&T, that we have a national research
and development agenda in S&T to achieve our national development plan, and that we
have our own local human resources in S&T.

Objectives At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1. Cite provisions of the Constitution to the science and technology in the country.
2. Describe the roles of the Department of Science and Technology and its different
attached institutes and related agencies.
3. Explain how science and technology enables the attainment of the Philippine
Development Plan through a harmonized research and development agenda.
4. Name some Filipino national scientists and inventors.

Activity  READINGS

THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES


In Filipino and English languages

Provisions to Science and Technology 1

ARTIKULO XIV ARTICLE XIV

EDUKASYON, AGHAM AT Education, Science and Technology,


TEKNOLOHIYA, MGA SINING, KULTURA, Arts, Culture, and Sports
AT SPORTS

Agham at Teknolohiya Science and Technology

SEKSYON 10. Napakahalaga ng agham at SECTION 10. Science and technology


teknolohiya sa pambansang pag-unlad at are essential for national development
pagsulong. Dapat mag-ukol ng priority ang and progress. The State shall give
Estado sa pananaliksik at pagbubuo, priority to research and development,
imbensyon, inobasyon, at sa invention, innovation, and their
pagpapasagamit ng mga ito; at sa utilization; and to science and
edukasyon, pagsasanay at mga lingkurang technology education, training, and
pang-agham at panteknolohiya. Dapat services. It shall support indigenous,
suportahan nito ang mga kakayahang appropriate, and self-reliant scientific
siyentipiko at teknolohikal na katutubo, and technological capabilities, and their
angkop at umaasa sa sariling kakayahan at application to the country’s productive
ang kanilang kabagayan sa mga sistemang systems and national life.
pamproduksyon at pambansang
kapamuhayang pambansa.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)


28

SEKSYON 11. Maaaring magtadhana ang SECTION 11. The Congress may
Kongreso para sa mga insentibo, kasama provide for incentives, including tax
ang mga kabawasan sa buwis, upang deductions, to encourage private
maganyak ang paglahok na pribado sa mga participation in programs of basic and
programa ng batayan at gamiting applied scientific research.
pananaliksik na siyentipiko. Dapat Scholarships, grants-in-aid, or other
magkaloob ng mga scholarship, kaloob-na- forms of incentives shall be provided to
tulong, o iba pang mga anyo ng mga deserving science students,
insentibo sa mga karapatdapat na researchers, scientists, inventors,
estudyante sa agham, mga mananaliksik, technologists, and specially gifted
mga scientist, mga imbentor, mga citizens.
technologist, at mga mamamayang may
natatanging likas na talino.

SEKSYON 12. Dapat regulahin ng Estado SECTION 12. The State shall regulate
ang paglilipat at itaguyod ang pag-aangkop the transfer and promote the adaptation
ng teknolohiya mula sa lahat ng batis para of technology from all sources for the
sa pambansang pakapkinabangan. Dapat national benefit. It shall encourage the
pasiglahin nito ang pinakamalawak na widest participation of private groups,
paglahok ng mga pribadong pangkat, mga local governments, and community-
pamahalaang lokal, at mga organisasyong based organizations in the generation
salig-pamayanan sapglikha, at and utilization of science and
pagsasagamit ng agham at teknolohiya. technology.

SEKSYON 13. Dapat pangalagaan at SECTION 13. The State shall protect
seguruhin ng Estado ang mga eksklusibong and secure the exclusive rights of
karapatan ng mga scientist, mga imbentor scientists, inventors, artists, and other
mga artist at iba pang mga mamamayang gifted citizens to their intellectual
may likas na talino sa kanilang ari at mga property and creations, particularly
likhang intelektwal, lalo na kung kapaki- when beneficial to the people, for such
pakinabang sa sambayanan para sa period as may be provided by law.
panahong maaaring itakda ng batas.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

The Department of Science and Technology is the primary science and technology agency
of the Philippines. DOST is responsible for providing central direction, leadership, and
coordination of all scientific and technological activities, formulating activities, programs,
and projects to support national development.

Originally, it was named National Science Development Board (NSDB) created on June
13, 1958 under the presidency of Carlos P. Garcia. Later, it was reorganized as the
National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA) on March 17, 1982 under the
presidency of Ferdinand E. Marcos. Eventually, it was elevated to cabinet level upon
Executive Order No. 128 by then President Corazon C. Aquino on January 30, 1987 and
was renamed the Department of Science and Technology.

DOST is composed of councils and agencies with specific scope and responsibilities2:
• sectoral planning council
• research and development institutes
• S&T service institutes
• collegial bodies
• regional offices
• provincial S&T centers

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)


29
Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research
and Development (PCIEERD)
The central agency in the formulation of policies, plans, and programs as
well as in the implementation of strategies in the industry, energy, and
emerging technology sectors.

Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)


The central agency that formulates policies, plans, programs, project, and
strategies for health S&T development, allocates government and external
funds for R&D, monitors R&D projects, and generates external funds.

Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research


and Development (PCAARRD)
The central agency that formulates policies, plans, and programs for R&D in
agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources, coordinates and monitors R&D
efforts, allocates government and external funds for R&D, and generates
resources to support its programs.

Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI)


Undertakes research and development activities aimed at strengthening
and modernizing Information and Communications Technology and
microelectronics and dedicates itself to delivering technology solutions in
support of a productive and resilient Filipino society.

Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI)


Develops nutritious, safe, and affordable food products and transfers this
technology to entrepreneur for their commercial production and
distribution.

Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI)


Conducts research and development on wood and non-wood forest
products, transfer technologies, and provide technical services and
trainings.

Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI)


Undertakes technical services such as standardization, analysis, and
calibration, transfers research results directly to end-users or via linkages
with other government agencies, conducts training, and provides technical
advisory and consultancy to industry and end-users.

Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC)


Provides metals and engineering industry with professional management
and technical expertise, training of engineers and technicians, information
exchange, trade accreditation services, quality control and testing of metal
products, R&D, and business economics advisory services.

Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)


Undertakes R&D activities in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, institutes
regulations on the said uses, and carries out enforcement of said regulations
to protect the health and safety of radiation workers and the general public.

Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI)


Conducts R&D for the textile industry sector, undertakes transfer of
completed researches to end-users or via linkage units of other government
agencies, undertakes technical services, and provides training programs.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services


Administration (PAGASA)
Provides flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and
advisories, meteorological, astronomical, climatological, and other
specialized information and services for the protection of life and property
and in support of economic productivity and sustainable development.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)


30

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)


Mitigate disasters that may arise from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
tsunami, and other related geotectonic phenomena.

Philippine Science High School System


Provides scholarship to students with high aptitude in science and
mathematics, prepares its students for careers in Science and Technology,
and contributes to nation-building by helping the country attain a critical
mass of professionals and leaders in S&T.

Science Education Institute (SEI)


Accelerates the development of S&T human resources of the country by
administering undergraduate and graduate scholarships and advanced
specialized trainings, promotes S&T culture, and develop innovative science
education innovative programs.

Science and Technology Information Institute (STII)


Establishes a science and technology databank and library, disseminate
science and technology information, and undertakes training on science
and technology information.

Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI)


Promotes the commercialization of technologies and market the services of
other operating units of the DOST.

National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)


Recognizes outstanding achievements in science and technology, provides
meaningful incentives to those engaged in scientific and technological
researches, and advises the President and the Cabinet on matters related
to science and technology.

National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP)


Promotes frontier and problem-oriented researches in the sciences and
humanities that provide solutions to pressing and anticipated national
issues and seeks an enabling environment where members can
continuously generate new knowledge and exemplary researches as well as
mentor future members.

AmBisyon Natin 2040: The Vision, Our Ambition3

On October 11, 2016, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 5, s. 2016
approving and adopting the 25- year long-term vision entitled AmBisyon Natin 2040 as a
guide for development planning. According to EO 5, the Philippine Development Plan
2017-2022 (PDP 2017- 2022) and the succeeding PDPs until 2040 shall be anchored
on AmBisyon Natin 2040. In its preamble, EO 5 recognizes the need for a “bold vision and
effective development planning” based on a “forward-looking approach that goes beyond
a single administration”. It also emphasized the centrality of people in development
planning and their aspirations as requisite for the design of government interventions to
achieve development outcomes.

AmBisyon Natin 2040 is the result of a long-term visioning process that began under the
previous administration in 2015. More than 300 citizens participated in focus group
discussions (FGDs) and close to 10,000 responded to the national survey designed to
gather information about the kind of life Filipinos want for themselves and their children
and what they hope the country would be like in 2040. Technical studies were
commissioned to identify strategic options for realizing the vision articulated by citizens.
The exercise benefitted from the guidance of an advisory committee composed of select
representatives from government, academe, civil society, and the private sector.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)


31
AmBisyon Natin 2040 represents the collective long-term vision and aspirations of the
Filipino people for themselves and for the country in the next 25 years. It is a vision, not
a plan. A vision presents a picture of the future, a set of personal life goals as well as
ideals for the country; a plan, on the other hand, consists of a set of strategies to achieve
the goals. Plans are contingent on various factors and circumstances, just as routes to a
given destination can vary depending on weather or road conditions. A vision, like a goal
or a destination, remains fixed, at least for the given time horizon. AmBisyon Natin 2040
provides the anchor for the country’s development plans until 2040.

Middle-class aspirations

The Filipinos’ vision for the Philippines in 2040 is a prosperous, predominantly middle-
class society where there is equality of opportunities and poverty has been eradicated. It
will be a society where people live long and healthy lives with a higher life expectancy at
birth of 80 years. Longevity will be enhanced by the ability of individuals and communities
to withstand natural as well as man-made shocks and disasters. With smarter and more
innovative people, the country in 2040 is also envisioned to be a major player in the global
knowledge economy, producing innovative products and processes that are used to make
high-quality goods and services at competitive prices. The Philippines will be a high trust,
more caring, and peaceful society where human security is assured, and government
enjoys the people’s trust because it is clean, efficient, and service-oriented. High trust will
also prevail between the private sector and the government, as well as between and
among peoples. Overall, a high trust society will facilitate official and business
transactions, and smooth interpersonal relations.

On the kind of life that they want for themselves, Filipinos want a life that is strongly
rooted, comfortable, and secure: matatag, maginhawa, at panatag. The terms “strongly-
rooted, comfortable, and secure” used to describe the life envisioned by Filipinos by 2040
reveal middle-class aspirations. They include home ownership, a steady source of income
to support family and self, college education for the children, a motor vehicle, stable
finances to cover daily needs and contingencies, savings for retirement, and time for
vacation and travel. There is also a strong family orientation that underlies the
preferences as reflected in the choice of living and working in the same locality, the desire
for adequate spaces that allow for activities with family and friends, and the desire for
access to convenient and affordable transportation for occasional visits to family and
friends, among other reasons. The same value is reflected in the importance attached to
education. Nearly every Filipino family considers college education a requisite to a decent
job and so aspires to have the children complete a college degree.

Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-20224

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 is the first medium-term plan
anchored on the AmBisyon Natin 2040, consistent with Executive Order No. 5, s.
2016. The priorities are guided by the Duterte Administration’s 0 to 10-point Socio-
economic Agenda, the regional consultations conducted by the various planning
committees, and the social development summits that culminated in the 2022
Agenda: Malasakit at Pagbabago. The goal of the PDP 2017-2022 is to enable Filipinos
to attain a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay. It acknowledges the
accomplishments of the previous administrations, adopts the good practices, and
carefully considers the lessons gleaned from these experiences.

Targets

1. The Philippines will be an upper middle-income country by 2022. In the medium


term, GDP growth is expected to strengthen further to 7-8 percent, in real terms.
This means that the economy will expand by about 50 percent by 2022 from its

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)


32
base in 2016. Per capita income will increase from USD 3,550 in 2015 to at least
USD 5,000 in 2022.

2. Growth will be more inclusive as manifested by a lower poverty incidence in the


rural areas, from 30 percent in 2015 to 20 percent in 2022. Overall poverty rate
will decline from 21.6 percent to 14.0 percent in 2022 – equivalent to lifting
about 6 million Filipinos out of poverty. The proportion of subsistence poor
individuals will fall from 8.1 percent to 5.0 percent. Food inflation will also be
closely monitored, to serve as an early warning indicator on the welfare of the
poor. It should not go beyond the bounds set for overall inflation, which is at 2 to
4 percent.

3. The Philippines will have a high level of human development by 2022. This will be
supported by improvements in education and health outcomes and the significant
increase in incomes.

4. The unemployment rate will decline from the current 5.5 percent to 3-5 percent
in 2022. Assuming a slight increase in labor force participation rate to 64.1
percent, this implies that 950,000 to 1.1 million new jobs will be generated per
year. Youth unemployment rate will decline to about 8 percent from the current
11 percent. In areas outside NCR (AONCR), emphasis will be on improving the
quality of employment. The underemployment rate in AONCR will be reduced to
16-18 percent by 2022.

5. There will be greater trust in government and in society. The indicators for this
will need to be developed and then measured by the Philippine Statistics Authority
for 2017 and 2022.

6. Individuals and communities will be more resilient. It should be noted that the
Philippines ranks fourth in terms of number of natural calamities faced in 1995-
2015. This is on top of risks from human-induced hazards like ideologically
motivated conflict, criminality, house fires, etc. Building up resilience involves
reducing exposure to hazards, mitigating the impact of the risks, and accelerating
recovery if and when the risk materializes. An index will be developed, considering
the interplay of these three components; data will be collected to estimate the
baseline (2018) value and the value in 2022.

7. Filipinos will have greater drive for innovation. As measured by the Global
Innovation Index, the Philippines will rank among the top one-third by 2022 from
being in the top 60 percentile (74 out of 128 economies) in 2016. More
individuals will be encouraged to obtain knowledge or acquire skills and expertise.
There will be more of the youth and adults (aged 15 and up) who will be engaged
in employment, education, or training.

Discussion Our 1987 Philippine Constitution necessitates the assurance of implementing efforts in
utilizing S&T as a tool for advancing the welfare of our nation and improving our condition,
the Filipinos. The Philippine government agencies, specifically the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), together with its attached institutes and related agencies, play
significant roles in sustaining and promoting S&T for the progress of our nation.

AmBisyon Natin 2040 represents our collective vision as Filipinos over the next 25 years,
articulating that by 2040, we will be a progressive middle-class nation. We will live long,
healthy lives, and will be smart and innovative. Our country will be a high-trust society
where families thrive in vibrant, culturally diverse, yet resilient communities in terms of
calamities and disasters.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)


33
The Philippine Development Plan (PDP), the present government’s strategic plan to start-
up achieving the AmBisyon Natin 2040, is anchored on three values:

Malasakit. Regain people’s trust in public institutions and cultivate trust among
fellow Flipinos.

Pagbabago. Inequality-reducing transformation through increasing opportunities


for growth of output and income.

Kaunlaran. Increasing potential growth through sustaining and accelerating


economic growth.

To align S&T to the national vision (AmBisyon Natin 2040) and government plans (PDP),
the DOST formulated a Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA).5

Framework of the Harmonized National R&D Agenda (www.dost.gov.ph)

The HNRDA is divided into five (5) sectors, each having identified priority areas and
programs.

1. National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA)


In-charge: National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP)

2. Health
In-charge: Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)

3. Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR)


In-charge: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources
Research and Development (PCAARRD)

4. Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology


In-charge: Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology
Research and Development (PCIEERD).

5. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR CCA)


In-charge: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA)

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)


34
On the other hand, our country honors an individual who has earned distinction in
independent research or has made significant innovative achievements in S&T.
Presidential Decree (PD) 1003 during the time of President Ferdinand E. Marcos created
a National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) to select National Scientists, while
Executive Order (EO) 236 during the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo created
the Order of the National Scientist. To date, as of 2020, we have 42 members in the Order
of the National Scientist.6

Name Year Conferred Field of Specialization


1. Juan S. Salcedo, Jr., M.D. (+) 1978 Nutrition and Public Health
2. Alfredo C. Santos, Dr.phil. (+) 1978 Physical Chemistry
3. Gregorio Y. Zara, D.Sc. (+) 1978 Engineering and Inventions
4. Fe Del Mundo, M.D. (+) 1980 Pediatrics
5. Eduardo A. Quisumbing, Ph.D. (+) 1980 Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Morphology
6. Geminiano T. de Ocampo, Ph.D. (+) 1982 Ophthalmology
7. Casimiro V. del Rosario, Ph.D (+) 1982 Physics, Astronomy, and Meteorology
8. Gregorio T. Velasquez, Ph.D. (+) 1982 Phycology
9. Francisco M. Fronda, Ph.D. (+) 1983 Animal Husbandry
10. Francisco O. Santos, Ph.D. (++) 1983 Human Nutrition and Agricultural Chemistry
11. Carmen C. Velasquez, Ph.D. (+) 1983 Parasitology
12. Teodoro A. Agoncillo, Litt.D. (++) 1985 Philippine History
13. Encarnacion A. Alzona, Ph.D. (+) 1985 Philippine History
14. Hilario D. G. Lara, M.D., Dr. P.H. (+) 1985 Public Health
15. Julian A. Banzon, Ph.D. (+) 1986 Chemistry
16. Dioscoro L. Umali, Ph.D. (+) 1986 Agriculture and Rural Development
17. Luz Oliveros-Belardo, Ph.D. (+) 1987 Phytochemistry
18. Jose Encarnacion Jr., Ph.D. (+) 1987 Economics
19. Alfredo V. Lagmay, Ph.D. (+) 1988 Experimental Psychology
20. Paolo C. Campos, M.D. (+) 1989 Nuclear Medicine
21. Pedro B. Escuro, Ph.D. (+) 1994 Genetics and Plant Breeding
22. Clara Y. Lim-Sylianco, Ph.D. (+) 1994 Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry
23. Dolores A. Ramirez, Ph.D. 1998 Biochemical Genetics and Cytogenetics
24. Jose R. Velasco, Ph.D. (+) 1998 Plant Physiology
25. Gelia T. Castillo, Ph.D. (+) 1999 Rural Sociology
26. Bienvenido O. Juliano, Ph.D. (+) 2000 Organic Chemistry
27. Clare R. Baltazar, Ph.D. 2001 Systematic Entomology
28. Benito S. Vergara, Ph.D. (+) 2001 Plant Physiology
29. Onofre D. Corpuz, Ph.D. (+) 2004 Political Economics and Government
30. Ricardo M. Lantican, Ph.D. 2005 Plant Breeding
31. Lourdes J. Cruz, Ph.D. 2006 Marine Biology
32. Teodulo M. Topacio, Ph.D. (+) 2008 Veterinary Medicine
33. Mercedes B. Concepcion, Ph.D. 2010 Demography
34. Ernesto O. Domingo, M.D. 2010 Infectious Diseases
35. Perla D. Santos-Ocampo (+) 2010 Pediatrics
36. Raul V. Fabella, Ph.D. 2011 Economics
37. Bienvenido F. Nebres, S.J., Ph.D. 2011 Mathematics
38. Angel C. Alcala, Ph.D. 2014 Biological Sciences
39. Ramon C. Barba, Ph.D. 2014 Horticulture
40. Gavino C. Trono, Ph.D. 2014 Marine Biology
41. Edgardo D. Gomez, Ph.D. 2014 Marine Biology
42. Emil Q. Javier, Ph.D. 2019 Plant Breeding and Genetics
Legend: (+) deceased; (++) posthumous conferment

Synthesis The importance of S&T in nation-building is enshrined in our Philippine Constitution. The
DOST has served, and is still serving, to catalyze the country’s S&T capabilities. Its
Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) have identified
priority areas to set direction in the country’s S&T towards achieving the forward-looking
AmBisyon Natin 2040, a vision of every Filipino in the next 25 years. We are honoring our
scientists who have achieved distinction in their fields in order to encourage fellow
Filipinos to also achieve in S&T.

Yet even though the S&T programs in our country are well-established, we still lag behind
from most countries in the world. For instance, we ranked 55th out of 82 (or at the bottom
33%) countries surveyed in 2018 in terms of technological readiness, which includes
internet access, digital infrastructure, and innovations, such as international patents,
R&D spending, and research infrastructure. But this is already a big leap compared to our
rank 60th in 2013.7 This means that we still have a big room for improvement, as there

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)


35
are still perennial problems in S&T that we need to solve. On top of the list is the so-called
“brain-drain”, wherein our Filipino scientists are leaving the country to serve other
countries due to the offer of higher salaries, better compensation, and better
environment. Another is the poor mathematical and scientific literacy of Filipino high
school students, as reported in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)
by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2018.8 Indeed,
we have a long, long way to go to advance our local S&T capabilities. The important thing
is, we are making our steps forward, even though little, but forward.

Evaluation (To be given by your professor.)

Enrichment Watch and reflect on “Prometheus Bound” by Agham Nasyunal in YouTube. It is a 30-min
documentary video that tackles the science and technology issues in the Philippines.

References 1. Article XIV of the Philippine Constitution


https://www.tagaloglang.com/article-xiv-philippine-constitution/

2. Department of Science and Technology website


http://www.dost.gov.ph/agency-links.html

3. Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 Chapters. Part I: Introduction, Chapter 1: The Long
View. http://pdp.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-06-06-2017.pdf

4. Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 Chapters. Part I: Introduction, Chapter 4: Philippine


Development Plan 2017-2022 Overall Framework. http://pdp.neda.gov.ph/wp-
content/uploads/2017/01/04-06-07-2017.pdf

5. DOST Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda.


http://www.dost.gov.ph/phocadownload/
Downloads/Journals/Approved%20Harmonized%20National%20RD%20Agenda%20%2020
17-2022.pdf

6. List of National Scientist. National Academy of Science and Technology.


https://members.nast.ph/index.php

7. The Economist Intelligence Unit. Preparing for disruption: Technological Readiness Ranking.
http://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/Technological_readiness_report.pdf

8. Reysio-Cruz, M. (2019, December 5). Worst PH ranking in math, science, reading prompts
DepEd review. Inquirer.net. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1198208/ worst-
ph-ranking-in-math-science-reading-prompts-deped-review#ixzz6TxYii0Sz

9. National Economic and Development Authority (2016). About AmBisyon Natin 2040.
Retrieved from: http://2040.neda.gov.ph/about-ambisyon-natin-2040/

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)

You might also like