Science, Technology

& Nation-building
• •Discuss the role of Science and Technology in Philippine
nation building
• •Evaluate government policies pertaining to science and
technology in terms of their contributions to nation building.

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The Philippine
Government
S&T
Agenda
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• Science and technology in
the Philippines describes
scientific and technological
progress made by the
Philippines and analyses
related policy issues. The
main agency responsible
for managing science and
technology (S&T) is
the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST).
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 GOAL: prepare the whole country and its people to meet the
demands of a technologically driven world and capacitate
the people to live in a world driven by science.​
External 
Development Influencers:
of Science and Foreign
Internal Influencers: Technology in Colonizers,
Survival, Culture, Traders with
Economic Activities the
Foreign Countries,
Philippines International
Economic
Demands
 ✔Focused on using its
limited resources in
S&T improving S&T capability
✔Use of overseas
 in the Development Allocation
to improve scientific
New productivity and
Republic technological capability.
✔Human resources
development.
 • During Ferdinand Marcos'
presidency, the importance given to
science grew.
• In the amended 1973 Philippine
Constitution, Article XV, Section 9
(1), he declared that the
"advancement of science and
technology shall have priority in the
national development." In his two
terms of presidency and during
Martial Law, he enacted many laws
promoting science and technology.
• In his Second State of the Nation
Address on January 23, 1967, he
declared that science was necessary
for the development programs, and
thus, directed the Department of
Education to revitalize the science
courses in public high schools. The
Department of Education, with the
National Science Development Board
(NSDB), is organizing a project to
provide selected high schools with
science teaching equipment over a
four-year period.
 • In his Third State of the
Nation Address on January
22, 1968, he recognized that
technology was the leading
factor in economic
development, and channeled
additional funds to support
projects in applied sciences
and science education.
 •In his Fourth State of the Nation Address
on January 27, 1969, he gave a big part of
the war damage fund to private universities
to encourage them to create courses in
science and technology and to research. 
• 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.
Philippine Coconut •In his Fifth State of the Nation
 Research Institute Address on January 26, 1970,
he emphasized that the
upgrading of science curricula
and teaching equipment is
crucial to the
science development program.
He added 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
Philippine Textile Energy Commission of the NSDB
Research explored the uses of
atomic energy for economic
Institute 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.
 National Grains Authority
•In 1972, he created
the National Grains
Authority to provide
for the development of
the rice and corn
industry to fully
harness it for the
economy of the
country. (Presidential
Decree No. 4, s. 1972). 
•He established the
Philippine Council for
Agricultural Research to
support the progressive
development
of agriculture, forestry,
and fisheries for the
nation. It was attached to
the Department of
Agriculture and
Natural Resources for
administrative purposes.
•He provided further
support for the promotion
of scientific research and
invention with Presidential
Decree No. 49, s. 1972. This
decree contains details on
the protection of
intellectual property for the
creator or publisher of the
work.
 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. (Presidential
Decree No. 78, s. 1972)
In 1973, he created
the Philippine
National Oil
Company to
promote industrial
and economic
development
through effective
and efficient use of
energy sources.
(Presidential Decre
e No. 334, s. 1973)
•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 1980, he created the National
Committee on Geological
Sciences to advise government
and private entities on matters
concerning development in
geological sciences. (Executive
Order No. 625, s. 1980)
• In 1986, during Corazon
Aquino's presidency, the
National Science and
Technology Authority was
replaced by
the Department of
Science and Technology,
giving science and
technology a
representation in
the cabinet. 
• During her term, President
Corazon Aquino encouraged
scientists and inventors to bring
the Philippines to its former
position as second to only Japan
in the field of science and
technology. One of the goals of
her administration was to
achieve the status as being an
industrialized country by 2000.
She urged that the private
research sector form a stronger
bond between public research
to help jump-start the progress
in the area of Philippine
Research and Development.
• 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.
Advancing science, technology, and innovation (STI) in the
country through increased use of scientific and technological
breakthroughs institutionalize improvements in production,
health, education, energy, and infrastructure systems, among
others.
ASEAN, (the Association of South East Asian Nations), was
founded in 1967 “to strengthen further the existing bonds of
regional solidarity and cooperation.” The Philippines was one of
the founding member countries when ASEAN was set up in
Jakarta, while the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which was
implemented in December 2015, has a primary purpose to create
one of the largest single market economies in the world,
facilitating the free movement of goods, services, and
professionals between the 10 member states. As a result, the
Philippines relationship and interaction with ASEAN and its
members is of key importance to the bloc.