Tabing, Raianne Keith V.

Ged 109: Science, Technology, and Society

Research

PRE – SPANISH ERA

o 48000 BC, modern man from Asian mainland came over land on across narrow
channels to live in Batangas and Palawan
o Inventions:
o Stone flake tools and weapons
o Developed method of sawing and polishing stones around 40000 BC
o 3000 BC, they produced adzes ornaments of seashells and pottery
o For the next 2000 years, pottery flourished until they imported Chinese porcelain
o Soon learned to produce copper, bronze, iron, gold metal tools and ornaments

o Iron age lasted from 3rd century BC – 11th century AD

o Filipinos were engaged in extraction, smelting, and refining iron ores, until import
of cast iron form Sarawak, then China
o Inventions:
o Weave cotton
o Make glass ornaments
o Cultivate lowland rice and dike fields of terraced fields
o Utilizing spring water in mountain regions
o Built boats for trading
o Caracoa – plank-built warship, for interisland trade raids

o Filipinos were already engaged in activities and practices related to science

forming first wave technology
o There were curative values of some plants on how to extract medicine from
herbs
o Had an alphabet, writing system, method of counting weights and measure
o Counted years by period of the moon and from one harvest to another

SPANISH COLONIAL ERA

o Late 16th century, development of schools and hospitals
o 1780, the Real Sociedad Economica de los Amigos Del Pais de Filipinas
(Governador Jose Basco y Vargas) encouraged research in agriculture and
industry
o Cultivation of indigo, cotton, cinnamon and silk industry was promoted
 o 1789, Manila opened to Asian shipping
o An era of increase in export of rice, hemp, tobacco, sugar, and indigo, and import
of manufacturing goods
o 19th century
o 1863, colonial authorities issued a royal decree to reform the existing educ
system
o Leon Ma. Guerrero – one of the 1 st graduates granted a licentiate degree
(equivalent to Masters, BS Pharmacy)
o Father of Philippine Pharmacy due to works on Medicinal Plants of the
Philippines
o No schools for engineering but offered nautical 4-yr course for pilot of merchant
marine including subjects of:
o Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigo, physics, hydrography, meteorology,
navigation, pilotage

o Late 19th century, world trade and commerce expanded leading to rapid dev’t of
Manila as cosmopolitan center
o Modern amenities introduced:
o Steam tramways
o Waterworks
o Newspaper
o Electric light
o Banking system
o Jesuits promoted meteorological studies
o Founded Manila observatory at Ateneo Municipal de Manila, 1865
o 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

AMERICAN PERIOD
o Angel Alcala – national scientist noted for his work in marine and aquatic biology.
o Science and technology in the Philippines advanced rapidly during the American
regime
o 21 January 1901, the Philippine Commission, which acted as the executive and
legislative body for the Philippines until 1907, promulgated Act No. 74 creating a
Department of Public Instruction in the Philippines
o July 1, 1901: Philippine Commission established the Bureau of Government
Laboratories which was placed under the Department of Interior
o Bureau replaced the Laboratorio Municipal
o It had a biological laboratory, a chemical laboratory, a serum laboratory for the
production of vaccine virus, serums and prophylactics, a library
 o Pioneering research was done at the Bureau of Science on such diseases as
leprosy, tuberculosis, cholera, dengue fever, malaria, and beri-beri

o October 26, 1905: Bureau of Government Laboratories was replaced by the

Bureau of Science

o It had a biological laboratory, a chemical laboratory, a serum laboratory for the

production of vaccine virus, serums and prophylactics, a library
o The University of the Philippines was created on 18 June 1908 by Act of the
Philippine Legislature
o 1921, the Rockefeller Foundation provided for six fellowships for qualified
Filipinos in universities in the United States and Europe, two each in the fields of
public health (preventive medicine), public health laboratory work and teacher
training in nursing education
o December 8, 1933: National Research Council of the Philippines was
established. The Bureau of Science became the primary research center of the
Philippines until World War II.

COMMONWEALTH PERIOD
o 1935, the Philippine Commonwealth was inaugurated and ushered in a period of
transition to political independence
o The Constitution acknowledged the importance of promoting scientific
development for the economic development of the country by incorporating a
provision (Article XIII, Section 4)
o “The State shall promote scientific research and invention, Arts and Letters shall
be under its patronage...”
o The Government abolished Grade VII as the terminal grade in the elementary
curriculum
o also instituted the "double-single session" plan thus reducing the time allotment
or dropping certain subjects in the elementary school
o National Economic Council = to prepare an economic program and advise the
government on economic and financial questions.
o Several government corporations were reorganized and new ones were created
to perform such varied functions as the exploitation and development of natural
resources (e.g., the National Power Corporation); the development and
promotion of local industries (such as the National Development Company
(NOC) and its subsidiaries, the National Abaca and Other Fibers Corporation);
promotion of agricultural production and marketing; and the like
o The NOC was especially mandated to undertake the development of successful
researches of government science agencies (such as the Bureaus of Science,
Animal Industry, and Plant Industry) for commercial production.
 o Bureau of Mines = to provide assistance to businessmen undertaking mining
exploration and development.
o also increased appropriations for the Bureaus of Science, Plant and Animal
Industry, and thereby encouraged more scientific research for industrial
purposes.
o In spite of everything, the Commonwealth gov’t was unsuccessful
o primarily because foreign trade and tariff policies remained under the control of
the American government

SINCE INDEPENDENCE
o State support for education continues to be concentrated at the elementary
school level; private colleges and universities provide education for the majority
of the collegiate population
o The number of state universities and colleges has been increasing since 1946
o However, many were ill-equipped and ill-prepared to provide quality higher
education, especially sciences and engineering
o The UP system remains most developed and unparalleled
o UP receives over half of national budget for state universities and colleges
o On the whole, there has been little innovation in the education and training of
scientists and engineers since independence in 1946
o This is in part due to the conservative nature of self-regulation by the
professional associations
o In 1947, the Bureau of Science was reorganized into an Institute of Science (and
Institute of Nutrition)
o 1952, the Science Foundation of the Philippines (SFP) were created and placed
(along with the Institute of Science) under the Office of the President
o In 1952, the Commission on Volcanology was also created and placed under the
National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP). Its function was primarily
basic research on volcanology.
o Due to low gov’t support on science and research, Congress enacted the
Science Act of 1958 = created the National Science Development Board (NSDB)
to formulate policies for the development of science and coordinate the work of
science agencies.
o also created the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and the National
Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) and placed these, along with the
NRCP, under the NSDB.
o Several existing agencies were also attached to NSDB for policy coordination
o In 1982, NSDB was further reorganized into a National Science and Technology
Authority (NSTA)
o The expanding number of science agencies has given rise to a demand for high
caliber scientists and engineers to undertake research and staff universities and
colleges
 o March 1983, Executive Order No. 889 was issued by the President which
provided for the establishment of a national network of centers of excellence in
basic sciences
o Result is creation of 6 institutes: The National Institutes of Physics, Geological
Sciences, Natural Sciences Research, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematical
Sciences

S&T in the 60s to 90s

Section 9(1) of the 1973

Philippine
Constitution
Section 9(1) of the 1973
Philippine
Constitution
Section 9(1) of the 1973
Philippine
Constitution
Section 9(1) of the 1973
Philippine
Constitution
Section 9(1) of the 1973
Philippine
Constitution
o Section 9 of 1973 PH Constitution: “advancement of science and technology
shall have priority in the national development”
o April 6, 1968, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed a 35-hectare land in Bicutan,
Taguig as site of Philippine Science Community
o 1969, gov’t provided funds for private universities to conduct research and create
courses for s&t
o 1970s, focus on science and technology was given to applied research; main
objective = generate products and processes to have greater benefit to society
o Research institutes were established under NSDB = Philippine Coconut
Research Institute and Philippines Textile Research Institute
o Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, explored uses of atomic energy for
economic dev’t
o Pres. Marcos assisted 107 institutions in undertaking nuclear energy work by
sending scientists abroad to study nuclear s&t
o 1972, Presidential Decree No. 4, National Grains Authority was created = tasked
to improve rice and corn industry
o Philippine Council for Agri Research = to support progressive dev’t of agri,
forestry, fisheries in the country
o Marcos admin established Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical
Service Administration (PAGASA) under Dept. of Nat’l Defense for environmental
protection and scientific knowledge to ensure safety of people
o 1980s, s&t was still focused on applied research
o 1982, NSDB was further recognized into National Science and Technology
Authority (NSTA)
o 4 councils: Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and
Development (PCARRD); Philippine Council for Industry and Energy
Research Development (PCIERD); Philippine Council for Health
Research and Development (PCHRD) and the National Research
Council of the Philippines (NRCP)
o March 1983, Executive Order No. 889 = establishment of a national network of
centers of excellence in basic sciences
 o 1986, under the Aquino administration = National Science and Technology
o Authority was replaced by the Department of Science and
Technology, giving science and technology a representation in the cabinet
o The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is the premiere science and
technology body in the country charged with the twin mandate of providing
central direction, leadership and coordination of all scientific and technological
activities, and of formulating policies, programs and projects to support
national development
o 1998, there was an estimated 3,000 competent scientists and engineers in
the Philippines
o The government provided 3,500scholarships for students who were taking up
professions related to S&T
o Still under the Ramos administration, DOST established the “Science
and Technology Agenda for National Development (STAND)”
o It identified seven export products, 11 domestic needs, three other supporting
industries, and the coconut industry as priority investment areas
o 7 identified products = computer software; fashion accessories, gifts, toys, and
houseware; marine products; metal fabrications; furniture; dried fruits
o Domestic needs = food, housing, health, clothing, transpo, communication,
disaster mitigation, defense, environment, manpower dev’t, energy
o 3 addt’l support industries = packaging, chemicals, metals
o Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, numerous laws and projects were
implemented which concerns both the environment and science to
push technology as a tool to increase the country’s economic level
o Filipinnovation = coined term used in helping Philippines to be an innovation hub
in Asia
o Philippines ranked 73rd out of 128 economies in terms of Science and
Technology and Innovation (STI) index

HOPES IN THE PHILIPPINE S&T

o April 2016, PH launched into space its first micro-satellite called Diwata-1
o designed, developed and assembled by Filipino researchers and engineers
under the guidance of Japanese experts. The Diwata (deity in English) satellite
provides real-time, high-resolution and multi-color infrared images for various
applications, including meteorological imaging, crop and ocean productivity
measurement and high-resolution imaging of natural and man-made features
o Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH), which uses the Lidar
(light detection and ranging) technology
o Project NOAH initiated in June 2012 to help manage risks associated with natural
hazards and disasters
o Project developed hydromet sensors and high-resolution geo-hazard maps,
which were generated by light detection and ranging technology for flood
modeling
 o Noah helps the
government in providing
timely warning with a lead
o time of at least six hours in
the wake of impending floods
o Noah helps the government in providing timely warning with a lead time of at
least six hours in the wake of impending floods
o The country is now training the Cambodians on this technology, as part of the
partnerships among ASEAN countries, just like in the case of Japan
which assisted the country’s scientists and engineers in building its first
micro-satellite
o Another hope lies in the so-called Intelligent Operation Center
Platform. Established through a collaboration between the local government of
Davao City and IBM Philippines Inc., the center resulted in the creation of a
dashboard that allows authorized government agencies, such as police, fire and
anti-terrorism taskforce, to use analytics software for monitoring events and
operations in real time

CURRENT INITIATIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES S&T

o Nicer Program = capacitates Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the regions
to make significant improvement in regional research by integrating its
development needs with the existing R&D capabilities and resources
o Provides institutional grants for HEIs in the regions for R&D capacity building to
improve their S&T infrastructure
o NICER caters to the specific needs of the Regions, which include upgrading,
development, and acquisition of R&D equipment to undertake collaborative R&D
activities

o RDLEAD Program = complements the establishment of R&D Centers thru the

NICER Program. RDLead provides the mechanism to bring in experts and highly
skilled professionals with strong leadership, management and innovative policy-
 making proficiencies to be in charge of strengthening the research capabilities of
the HEIs, National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Research Development
Institutions (RDIs) in the regions

o CRADLE Program = Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage

Philippine Economy (CRADLE)
o It aims to improve the country’s innovation ecosystem by facilitating the smooth
transition of new technologies from universities and research and development
institutes (RDI) to industries - from lab to market.
o The framework of CRADLE is a trihelix partnership between the government, the
industry and the academe wherein the government finances the collaboration of
the private company and the partner university or RDI