SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AND DEVELOPMENT IN
THE PHILIPPINES
OBJECTIVES:
After reading and doing the tasks in this module, you should be able to
• Trace the development of science and technology in the Philippines
• Analyze the influence of governance to science and technology
• Name the indicators of the condition of science and technology
• Identify the pillars of development in a country
• Propose ways how to improve development through science and technology
The Philippines was one of the first
Asian countries to be exposed to
western science and technology. It was
colonized by a world power, not once
but twice yet we remained poor.
Why are we so poor as a nation?
THE DEVELOPMENT OF S & T
Pre Historic Ancient Time Medieval Modern

Science Modern
Science
SR

Modern
Technology
Technology

IR
Start of
Spanish
Colonization
500 years
THE DEVELOPMENT OF S & T (PHILIPPINE SETTING)
Pre Colonial Era
The pre-Spanish Filipinos were scattered in
independent settlements called barangay.
They live by farming, hunting and fishing.
Their tools were spears, bows, knives and
bolos. They had a writing system and a
method of counting. Their traditional
knowledge was laden with supernatural
beliefs.
SPANISH ERA (1565-1898)
The Spaniards at the height of their
power brought western science
and technology to the country. S &
T however did not develop
significantly because public
education was very limited, and
instruction centered on religion.
The industrial revolution which
happened in Europe did not reach
the country because the Spaniards
chose to export raw agricultural
products over manufacturing
(colonial economy).
AMERICAN ERA (1898 – 1945 )
US was already a global power when it
conquered the Philippines from Spain.
This is the second time the country was
exposed to advanced science and
technology. The Americans improved the
public education system and even offered
lots of science programs in college. They
put up more science agencies in the
government. Still S & T in the country did
not reach the pinnacle because the
colonial economy continued.
S & T IN THE REPUBLIC
The American S & T policy continued after
the independence (science education,
more science agencies). The “colonial”
approach to economy also continued thus
no strong manufacturing industry was
actually built from 1945 to present. The
different administrations had their own S
& T agenda making no long term
investments in S & T. Local political issues
have discouraged direct technology
transfer to the country.
INDICATORS OF STATE OF AFFAIRS OF S &T
The Center for Research and Development Strategy-Japan Science and
Technology Agency (CRDS-JST) has the following indicators : research and
development (R&D) expenditures, patent outputs, R&D manpower per population,
research development and spending per gross national product, research
publications, and education spending. In 2015, the Philippines ranked 5th in
ASEAN in the CRDS-JST study.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ranked the 100 most vibrant
S&T clusters in the world using the following criteria: patent applications,
research publications and citations. In 2020, the cluster of Tokyo-Yokohama
(Japan) topped the list. The Philippines is not included in the list.
S & T AND DEVELOPMENT
The Traditional Way of Development ( The Industrial Revolution Model)
1. Improve Agriculture
2. Mass Production of Goods (ex. textile)
3. Market
4. Mass Manufacturing of Technology
for Mass Production (ex. textile machines )
5. Market
6. Welfare
7. Service
MEASURES OF DEVELOPMENT
1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) total value of products and services
2020 IMF rank of PH: #31 Global, #13th Asia, #3 SEA
2. Gross National Product (GNP) total value of products and services
owned by the country’s residents #44 Global
3. Gross National Product per Capita – GNP per population
# 123 out of 192 2019 ranking
4. Human Development Index (HDI) - life expectancy, education, and gross national
income per capita.
# 116 out of 189 2017 ranking
MEASURES OF DEVELOPMENT
5. World Economic Forum's Competitive Index (WEFCI) – enabling environment,
market, human capital, innovation ecosystem

Among the 140 countries being ranked in 2019, the Philippines is at the 64th spot in the
overall index. This was a sharp drop from rank 46th in 2015-2016. The World Economic
Forum's Competitive Index (2019) is topped by Singapore. The Philippines is almost at
the bottom among the ASEAN nations falling behind Singapore (1st). Malaysia (27th)
Thailand (40th), Indonesia (50th) and Brunei (56th).
S & T IN WEFCI’S FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT
Enabling Market Human Capital Innovation
Environment Ecosystem
Institutions Product Market Health Business Dynamism
ICT Adoption Labor Market Skills Innovation Capability
Infrastructure Financial System
Economic stability Market Size
Task: Study the Global Competitiveness 2019 report at
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2019.pdf
Focus on the report about Malaysia (pp.383-385) and the Philippines (pp.477-482).
Malaysia ranks 27th while Philippines is at the 64th place. Compare the scores of the two
countries in the specific index components used for competitiveness. Identify ten (10)
index components where Malaysia has a big advantage over the Philippines. (The
identified index components should be among the 20 indices where Malaysia has the
biggest advantage over the Philippines.) For each of the identified index components,
propose an action how the country can improve in that area.