MODULE 4

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN NATION BUILDING

INTRODUCTION
This section situates science, technology and society in the context of Philippine
nation building. It traced the historical development of science and technology on from
pre-colonial times up to present administration. These discussions are geared towards
engaging students in a critical analysis of Science and technology as a tool for nation
building.

INTENDED LEARNING OUCOMES

At the end of this module, the students should be able to:
1. Explain how early Filipinos applied scientific principles in their daily living
2. Evaluate government policies on science and technology in terms of each
contribution to the nation building
3. Discuss the role of science and technology in nation-building

The development of Science and technology in the Philippines has already come a
long way. The Philippines has improved in terms of its preparedness for technological
change in the next few years. Many significant inventions and discoveries have been
accomplished by or attributed to Filipinos.
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.

Pre-Spanish Period
Prior to colonization by the Spaniards in the Philippine islands, the natives
already had 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 called baybayin,an indigenous Indic script that
has been widely used in traditional Tagalog domains. They also have number system,
a weighing and measuring system and a calendar. Filipinos were already engaged in
farming, shipbuilding, mining and weaving.

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 The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the
sophisticated products of engineering by pre-Spanish
era Filipinos. It shows the innovative and ingenious
way of the natives to survive. It is commonly thought
that the terraces were built with minimal equipment,
largely by hand. The terraces are occasionally called
the "Eighth Wonder of the World".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaue_Rice_Terraces

Spanish Colonial Period

The Spanish colonization contributed to growth
of science and technology in the Philippines.
They also provided modern means of
construction to the field of engineering by
constructing government buildings, churches,
roads, bridges and forts. They introduced
formal education and founded scientific
institution.
Source:https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/St-Augustine-Church-in-Paoay

Parish schools were established where religion, reading, writing, arithmetic and
music was taught. The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the
Spanish era. Colleges and universities were established including the University of
Santo Tomas.
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. The opening of the Suez Canal provides an opportunity for the Filipino to study
in Europe. But health and education systems were only enjoyed by principalia class.

American Period
July 1, 1901 the Philippine Commission established the Bureau of Government
Laboratories under the Department of Interior. 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. The Bureau of
Science became the primary research center of the Philippines until World War II. Its
focus is on agriculture, food processing, medicine and pharmacy.

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 On December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the Philippines was
established. It is considered as the oldest scientific organization that promotes country’s
scientific development. Up to present the agency support researches through financial
grants to research projects, the holding of seminar and conferences, support for human
development. Currently, a measly sum is shared for allocation to grants for research to
bring about sustainability, diversity, and continuity for humans within their immediate
ecosystems.
In 1946, the Bureau of Science was replaced by the Institute of Science. The lack of
support of experimental work and minimal budget for scientific research and low
salaries of scientist leads to establishment of the National Science Development Board.
It was supported by Science Act of 1958 during the regime of President Carlos P.
Garcia.

President Ferdinand Marcos

During Ferdinand Marcos' presidency, many agencies in Science and

Technology was established. He declared that the "advancement of science and
technology is the key for national development."  The Department of Education, with the
National Science Development Board (NSDB), organized Philippine Science High
School System to provide scientifically and research-oriented student. It focuses in
science, technology and mathematics in their curriculum.
He wanted to reduce “brain drain” by providing medical interns do a tour of duty
in provincial hospitals to arouse their social conscious for the love of the country.
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 1970, He established 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 (PAEC) 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. It leads to the creation of Bataan Nuclear Power plant that
was never operated because of the anomalies and geographic location.

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 In 1972, he created the National Grains Authority (NGA) to provide for the
development of the rice and corn industry to fully harness it for the economy of the
country. He established the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research (PCAR) to
support the progressive development of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries for the
nation.

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.
In 1973, he created the Philippine National Oil Company 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.
In July 23, 1979, 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.

In 1979, he constituted the Health Sciences Center 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, he reorganized the National Science Development Board and its
agencies into a National Science and Technology Authority to provide central direction

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and coordination of scientific and technological research and development. 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.

Fifth Republic

President Corazon Aquino

In 1986, during Corazon Aquino's presidency, the National Science and Technology

Authority were replaced by the Department of Science and Technology.
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. It was formulated to modernize production sector, upgrade research activities,
and develop infrastructure for science and technology.
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.

A Research and Development Plan was also formulated to examine and determine
which areas of research needed attention. 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 the its strategic nature.

During President Fidel Ramos administration 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. 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

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benefit themselves and their students. Health care services were promoted through
local programs such as "Doctors to the Barrio Program."
Priority for S&T personnel increased when Magna Carta for Science and Technology
Personnel 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. 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).
4. The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 8293)

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 In President Joseph Estrada's term, two major legislations that he signed were
Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (PCAA) and Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (ECA).
PCAA was designed to protect and preserve the environment and ensure the
sustainable development of its natural resources, and ECA outlaws computer hacking
and provides opportunities for new businesses emerging from the Internet-driven New
Economy. Aside from these, President Estrada launched a full-scale program based on
cost-effective irrigation technologies.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration was dubbed as the "golden

age" of science and technology. Numerous laws and projects that concerns both the
environment and science was passed to help increase the productivity from Science,
Technology and Innovations (STI) and help benefit the poor people. "Filipinnovation"
was the coined term used in helping the Philippines to be an innovation hub in Asia.
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 that is ecofriendly.
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.

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 In 2010, President Benigno Aquino III proposed 10 ways to fix basic education in
the country. Kindergarten to grade-12 is an education system under
tDepartmenoEducation that aims to enhance learners’
basiskills,producemorecompetentcitizens,and prepare graduates for lifelong learning
and employment.

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 Today, in the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the science and
technology sector is top priority based on the budget given for research and
development. Currently, our country has Philippine Space Technology Program which
launched DIwata-2 in 2018 after the launch of Diwata in 2016 that displayed the
Philippine flag in space. It also gives importance to agriculture and disaster
preparedness.