History of

Science and
Technology in
the Philippines
Science, Technology & Society

LSPU-San Pablo
1st Semester
S.Y. 2020-2021
 Objectives

1. discuss the influence of science and technology in

the development of the Philippine society
2. identify government programs, projects and
policies geared toward boasting the science and
technological capacity of the country
3. discuss the indigenous science and technology in
the Philippines
 HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY in the
PHILIPPINES

1. Pre-colonial Period
2. Spanish Colonial Period
3. American Period and Post Common Era
4. Marcos Era and Martial Law
5. Fifth Republic (Corazon Aquino’s Presidency)
6. President Fidel V. Ramos’ Term
7. President Joseph Estrada’s Term
8. Science and Technology During President Gloria M.
Arroyo’s Term
9. President Benigno S. Aquino’s Term
10.Status of S & T and Plans for Development under
President Rodrigo Roa- Duterte
1. Pre-colonial Period
Indigenous technology already
existed with regards to wet and dry
agriculture
Handicraft, pottery, weaving,
metal ware, and boats
Aware of the medicinal &
therapeutic properties of plants
Alphabet, method of counting,
weights and measure
Engage in farming, shipbuilding,
mining and weaving
Spanish Colonial Period
 Features of Spanish Colonization

Introduced formal education

Religion, reading, writing, arithmetic and music
were taught
Sanitation and more advanced methods of
agriculture
Medicine was given priority
Meteorological studies
American Period and Post
Common Era
 Some Features of the Period

National Research Council of the Philippines

(NRCP)
was inclined towards agriculture, medicine, and
pharmacy
Bureau of Science was established and later on
replaced to Institute of Science in 1958.
Science Act of 1958 - NSDB
Marcos Era and Martial Law
 During the Regime
Science was given importance
Directed the Dept. of Education as amended in the 1973 constitution- provided
selected HS with science teaching equipment
NSDB – established the Phil Atomic Energy Commission
Research & development , established of technical institutes, PCARRD now
PCAARRD (Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources
Research and Development (PCAARRD), PAGASA, PNOC, PBI, IRRI, BPI and
the Bureau of Forest Products
National Committee on Geological Sciences in 1980
NSDB was changed to NSTA in 1982
Establishment of Mindanao and Visayas campuses of Phil. Science High School
 The Fifth Republic- C. C.
Aquino’s Presidency
 NSTA was replaced by DOST

 Science and Technology’ role in

economic recovery and sustained
economic growth was highlighted
 First Science & Technology Master
Plan or STMP was formulated in
1988
 RA 6655 or the Free Public Secondary
Education Act of 1988
 Implemented Science for the Masses
Program – aimed at scientific and
technological literacy among Filipinos
 Pres. Fidel V. Ramos’ Term
 DOST initiated the Science and
Technology Agenda for
Development (STAND)- country’s
development plan (1993to 1998)
 Presidential task force was
formed to deal with overall
problem confronting R & D and
S & T development in the
country.
 Pres. FV Ramos…
Establishment of another Science and Technology
framework plan entitled ‘Competence, Competitive
Conscience: the Medium-Term Plan of the
Department of Science & Technology (1999-2004)
Science & Technology was one of the means wherein
the Philippines could attain the status of New
Industrialized Country (NIC)
 President Joseph Estrada’s Term
 Two major legislations were signed:
 Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8749)-
designed to protect and preserve the environment
and ensure the sustainable development of its
natural resources
 Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (RA 8792)-
outlaws computer hacking and provides
opportunities for new businesses emerging from
the Internet-driven New Economy
-launched a full scale program based on cost-
effective irrigation technologies
 President Gloria M. Arroyo’s Term
S & T was dubbed as the “golden age” of
science and technology by secretary
Estrella Alabastro
Science, Technology and Innovation
(STI) was developed to strengthen schools
and education system
RA 9367 or Biofuels Act – promotes the
development and usage of biofuels
throughout the country
 President Benigno S. Aquino
RA 10601-improves the Aquaculture
and Fisheries Sector through
Mechanization (AFMech)
Organic Agricultural Act of 2010 (RA
10068)

• The Harmonized Agenda for Science and Technology in 2014

• RA 19844 or DICT Act of 2015 was signed into law on May 23, 2016; on
July 3, 2019 – Former Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr. will continue to
serve for the Department of Information and Communications Technology
(DICT)
Status of Science &Technology
under Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
 Commitment:

Pres. Duterte assured its commitment to science, technology and

innovation sector
Has increased the budget of DOST- from 50 billion in 2010 to
208 billion in 2017
In the 10-point economic agenda, S & T was included
DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña identified the focus of
the Dept as technology transfer and commercialization
 Major accomplishment of Duterte
administration:
Entry into the frontiers of space through its support to the
Philippine Space Technology Program-PSTP. Two satellites
were launched – DIWATA 1 (launched in 2016, Filipino
scientists were trained in Japan) and DIWATA 2 (launched
2018 to better monitor the country)
Memorandum of agreement between Russia & the
Philippines regarding space program will soon materialize
 Major accomplishment of Duterte
administration:
Republic Act 11035- an act institutionalizing the
Balik Scientist Program was signed into law by the
President on June 15, 2018.
Agreement to standardize voice call charges to P2.50.
On weather, 271 new weather stations were installed
by the DOST throughout the country.
Famous Filipino in the Field of
Science
1. Ramon Cabanos Barba- for his outstanding research on plant tissues
2. Josefino Casas Comiso- for his works on observing the
characteristics of Antarctica by using satellite images
3. Jose Bejar Cruz Jr. – known internationally in the field of electrical
engineering; was elected as officer of the famous Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineering.
4. Lourdes Jansuy Cruz- notable for her research on sea snail venom
5. Fabian Millar Dayrit- for his research on herbal medicine
6. Rafael Dineros Guerrero III- for his research on tilapia culture
7. Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr. – for inventing meconium drug testing
8. Lilian Formalejo Patena- for doing research on plant biotechnology
9. Mari-Jo Panganiban Ruiz- for being an outstanding educator and
graph theorist
10. Gregory Ligot Tangonan- for his research in the field of
communications technology
 Indigenous Science and
Technology in the Philippines
 Some examples of indigenous knowledge that
are taught and practiced the indigenous
people are:
 Predicting weather conditions and seasons using knowledge in observing animal’s
behavior and celestial bodies;
 Using herbal medicines

 Preserving foods

 Classifying animals and plants into families and groups based on cultural properties;

 Preserving and selecting good seeds for planting;

 Build local irrigation systems;

 Classifying different types of soil for planting based on cultural properties;

 Producing wines and juices from tropical fruits and

 Keeping the custom of growing plants and vegetables in the yard