SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
PRE-COLONIAL
PERIOD
2
- Information on this period was
based on archaeological findings by
early traders.
- The country used to have a
“barangay”, a geographically
scattered, self-sufficient
autonomous communities which
were more of a social unit.
• Homo sapiens were the
early settlers of the country
about 50,000 years ago.
• They came from Mainland
Asia and reached and lived
in Palawan and Batangas
with the used of land
bridges.
• They formed communities in other parts of the
country including Sulu, Negros, Samar and
regions in Luzon.
• They learned to make simple tools by sawing,
drilling and polishing stones
• They produced ornaments out of shells and
pottery of various designs which were later
replaced by imported Chinese porcelains.
• They gradually learned to manufacture tools made
of copper, gold, bronze and iron.
• Filipinos used caracoa, a warship, for coastal trade.
• Butuan and Mindoro inhabitants started
trade with Vietnam and China. It was
supported by Chinese porcelains
manufactured during Sung, Yuan and Ming
Dynasties.
• Some of the products traded were colored
glass,cotton, beads, pearl, iron needle,
cloth, tin, iron pots and beeswax
• Mindanao and Sulu traded with Borneo,
Malacca and other parts of Malay peninsula
• Coastal areas such as Manila, Mindoro, Cebu, Sulu and
Southern Mindanao
• Had more sophisticated technology compared to
other areas
• Exposed to foreign trade and cultural influences.
• Agriculture was being practiced throughout the country.
- Growing crops
- Raising farm animals
- producing wine, vinegar and bee products
• Mining gold
• People lived in Nipa or
bamboo houses but wore
colorful clothes, self-made
jewelry and teeth
ornamented with gold
• Own writing and measuring
systems
FILIPINOS IN REMOTE AREAS
• Mountain settlements
• Hunter gatherers
• Believers of superstitions.
• Did not develop written
literary tradition.
• Trade with lowland and
coastal locals for their
gathered forest product.
SPANISH REGIME
SPANISH REGIME
• Period of birth of modern science and
technology in the Philippines.
• Religious orders had great influence
during this period.
• Reduccion system – a strategy used by Spaniards to grouped
far, scattered barangays into fewer but larger and more
compact towns. It was used in response to shortage of Spanish
missionaries.
• Datus and their hereditary successors served as heads of
Cabeza de barangay, the lowest level of local government.
• Centralized political control
- tribute tax was collected.
- Polo Y Servicio was imposed.
• Compulsory sale of local products to the government.
REDUCCION SYSTEM

POLO Y SERVICIO
• Educational system was established with help of
religious order.
• Technological development and scientific
researches were promoted.
• Primary education was mainly religious in nature.
• Different religious orders established schools
offering higher education. (Jesuits and
Dominicans)
• Higher education was initially offered for
priesthood and clerical positions.
• In 19th century, B.A degrees in science
subject and technical/vocational were
offered and established.
• Filipino students were able to go to Europe
for professional advanced studies like Jose
Rizal (Medicine) and Antonio Luna
(Pharmacy)
• Some Spanish missionaries
wrote about Philippine
plants and its medicinal
values. One of the most
notable writings was the
Manual de Medicinas
Caseras by Father
Fernando de Sta. Maria in
1763.
• Schools of medicine and pharmacy were
opened in 1871 in UST. One of its BS Pharmacy
graduates was Leon Ma. Guerrero who is also
known as the “Father of Philippine Pharmacy”.
• In 1887, Laboratorio Municipal de Ciudad de
Manila was established to perform biochemical
analysis for public health purposes and
specimen examination. Some infectious disease
such as tuberculosis, leprosy etc were studied
during this period.
• Philippine exportation of agricultural products started to
increase when Manila was opened in 1789 to Asian
shipping.
• In 1829, agricultural production accelerated when foreign
capital were allowed to operate in the country.
• Manila school of Agriculture was established in 1887 and
opened in 1889 to provide education to farmers and
promote agricultural development.
• Spaniards depended on profits from the Galleon
trade or Manila-Acapulco trade.
• Direct involvement in the galleon trade was limited
to Spaniards.
• Manila emerged as entrepot of the orient.
• Chinese traders profited by acting as packers,
retailers and middlemen.
• Domestic economy was affected by the Galleon
trade which caused a negligence in local products.
• Operation of foreign capital paved the way for
local industries to flourish in manila. These
included weaving, hat making, embroidery etc.
• Modern facilities were introduced in manila like the
steam tramways, electric lights, newspaper,
waterworks system and banking system.
• Economic development was unevenly distributed
in the country.
AMERICAN REGIME
• AMERICAN REGIME marked
the rapid advancement of
Science and Technology in the
Philippines.
• Secularized public education
was introduced.
• Department of Public Instruction
was established to produce
schools offering free primary
education with English as the
medium of instruction.
• Philippine Normal School serves
as training ground for Filipino
teachers.
• Advance training abroad of qualified Filipinos for the
replacement of foreign faculty
• An act to financially support high school students to take
teaching, engineering, medical and law courses in the
US was passed and in exchange of their public service
to be rendered.
• Secondary schools were opened in 1902, followed by the
establishment of other professional and technical institution
which later became part of UP.
The demand for professional development increases. Due to
this , UP was not able to handle the increasing demand. This
made private education an alternative to professional
education in Filipinos.
• Was enacted in 1917 to recognize increasing number of
private schools educational and not commercial
institutions.
• These institution will be supported by superintendent,
assistant superintendent and two supervisors.
• The Office of Private Education was established to
manage the improvement of educational machinery.
• The Bureau of
Government Laboratories
was created in 1901, was
reorganized and renamed
as the Bureau of Science.
• This served as the
primary research
institution of the
Government until WWII.
The following were organized and had contributed to the
development of the scientific researches:
• Bureau of Health
• Bureau of Mines
• Bureau of Forestry
• Bureau of Agriculture
• Weather Bureau
• Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey
• Bureau of Plant industry
• Bureau of Animal industry.
• The National Research Council of
the Philippines Islands (NRCP)
was established in 1933. this was
responsible for the promotion of
scientific research in the country.

American Regime ended with Philippines’ economy having

remained agriculturally defined. United States-Philippines
trade relations continued even after the country regained its
independence in 1946.
 The inauguration of the Philippine
Commonwealth in 1935 marked the
beginning of the country’s
transformation to a politically
independent nation.
• During this period, there was an increase in
number of school children.
• Grade VII as the terminal grade was abolished.
• Office of Private education was re-established
after it stopped in 1932.
• The government established the National
Economic Council to address the country’s
economic and financial questions.
• Bureau of Mines was also created as part of the
government’s goal of encouraging and assisting Filipino
businessmen delving into mining exploration.
• The goal of the commonwealth government of economic
self-reliance was not attained. This was due to foreign
trade policies controlled by the American and the
occupation of Japanese Troops in 1941. The Japanese
occupation led to the destruction of various institution built
for country’s science and technology.
• After the country regained its independence in 1946, the
support for Research and Development through education
was continued.
• Several state and private universities were established and
reorganized. These were supervised by the Department of
Education and Culture.
• This led to the increase in number of college graduates but a
small proportion of them were into agriculture, science and
engineering. This was due to the perceived low employment
opportunities, longer periods of study and non-affordability.
 The increase in number of learning institutions in the country
entailed the birth of various science agencies. Some of these
were the following:
• Institute of Science (1947) from the reorganization of the
Bureau of Science
• Institute of Nutrition (1947)
• Science Foundation of the Philippines
• Commission on Volcanology
 Institute of Science and Technology (former Institute of
Science) was born with a role of improving industrial
activities and encouraging technological development.
• Congress enacted the Science Act of 1958.
SCIENCE ACT OF 1958 (R.A 2067)
• Created the NATIONAL SCIENCE
DEVELOPMENT BOARD(NSDB) which is
responsible for making science developmental
policies and for coordinating the activities of
science institution.
 EXISTING AGENCIES UNDER NSDB
• Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC)
• Science Foundation of the Philippines (SFP)
• Philippine Science High School (PSHS)
• Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research
(PCARR)
AGENCIES ADDED:
• Philippine Inventors Commission (1964)
• Philippine Coconut Research Institute (1964)
• Philippine Textile Research Institute(1967)
• Forest Research and Industries Development Commission (1969)
• In 1892, NSDB was further reorganized becoming the
National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA) with
four R & D councils (PCARRD,PCIERD,PCHRD,NRCP).
• SIX NEW INSTITUTES WERE OPENED.
• National Institute of Physics
• National Institute of Geological Sciences
• National Institute of Natural Sciences Research
• National Institute of Chemistry
• National Institute of Biology
• National Institute of Mathematical Sciences
• A Scientific Career System was introduced by the Civil Service
Commission to encourage young individuals to pursue science
careers and more qualified scientists to work in the
government.
• On January 1987, by virtue of Executive Order 128, NSTA
was elevated to full Cabinet level. This converted NSTA to
DOST (Department of Science and Technology) to meet the
increasing demands for intervention of Science and
Technology in national development.
NSDB NSTA DOST
REFERENCE: Ilagan Y, Balinado L, Digma J. et’al. Science, Technology and
Society, Panday-Lahi Publishing Inc.

Prepared by:
Ms. Ann Kimberly S. Mendoza
EDPSYCOMM-GENED 42