LESSON 3

GOVERNMENT
L A W S , POLICIES ,
PL A N S A N D
PROJECTS P E R T A I N I N G
TO SCIENCE A N D
TECHNOLOGY
 LE A R N I N G O U T C O M E S

1. Describe the science and technology environment from

1986- 2016;
2. Identify government laws, policies, plans and projects pertaining
to science and technology; have a glimpse of the status of science
and technology and plans for its development under President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte; and
3. Appraise their contribution to the development of science
and technology in the country.
 Introduction
The role that science and technology has played in improving
the life and conditions of people in the world is vivid. Because
the Philippines is a developing country, the status of science
and technology in our country is still below par when
compared with countries like Japan and USA. There is a great
need therefore to enact more laws and strengthen existing
ones to improve science and technology including research
and development in the country.
 Science and Technology Environment From
1986 to 2016
President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino
highlighted the importance of science and
technology in achieving economic progress.
She helped establish the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) which
formulated the Science and Technology
Master Plan 1991-2000. At that time, the
Philippines aimed to be a Newly
Industrialized Country (NIC)
Succeeding presidents have had their fair share of policies
geared towards improving the sector. President Fidel V.
Ramos introduced laws on inventors' incentives and
science and technology scholarships while President Gloria
Macapagal Arroy0 adopted policies focusing on a
national innovation system and promoted technological
entrepreneurship under the Medium-Term Development
Plan 2004-2010.
 The most recent National Science and
Technology Plan 2002-2020 is largely
focused on building technological self-
reliance. Meanwhile, the Harmonized
Agenda for science and technology
presented to President Benigno Aquino in
2014 highlighted two critical issues: inclusive
growth and disaster risk reduction.
Critical technologies to address these issues
have been developed and this include
LiDAR processing, remote sensing and
microsatellites (DIWATA-I).
 Government Policies and Laws Pertaining t o Science
and Technology
To improve and strengthen science and technology including research
development, it is necessary that government enact laws. Several laws have been
enacted by Congress since 1958 to present. They are as follows:
R.A. 2067 "Science Act of 1958"- An Act To Integrate, Coordinate and
Intensify Scientific and Technological Research and Development and To
Foster Invention To
Provide Funds Therefore and for Other Purposes.
R.A. 3589 — An Act Amending RA 2067 Modifying the National Science
Development Board, National Institute of Science and Technology, and
the Philippine Atomic
Energy Commission, Extending Tax Exemption, Privileges and Grants, Requests
and
Donations for Scientific Purposes to Private Educational Institutions and
For Other Purposes enacted June 22,
 R.A. 5207 — An Act Providing for the Licensing and Regulation of
Atomic Energy Facilities and Materials, Establishing the Rules of
Liability for Nuclear Damage
and for Other Purposes.
This Act was approved June 15, 1968 to encourage, promote, and assist
the development and use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes as a
means to improve the health and prosperity of the inhabitants of the
Philippines and to contribute and accelerate scientific, technological,
agricultural, commercial, and industrial progress
.
Presidential Decree No. 49, s. 1972 established the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA). Its
function was to provide environmental protection and to utilize
scientific knowledge to ensure the safety of the people.
 • Presidential Decree No. 334, s. 1973 created the Philippine National Oil
Company to promote industrial and economic development through
effective and efficient use of energy resources.
• R.A. 8749 — The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 was enacted by
Congress on June 23, 1999 to protect and preserve the environment and
ensure the sustainable development of its natural resources.
• R.A. 8792 — An Act Providing for the Recognition and Use of
Electronic Commercial and Non-Commercial Transactions and
Documents, Penalties for unlawful Use Thereof and For Other
Purposes passed in June 15, 2000.
 This Act aims to facilitate domestic and international
dealings, transactions, assignment, agreements, contracts
and exchanges and storage of information through the
utilization of electronic, optical and similar medium mode,
instrumentality and technology to recognize the width
and reliability of electronic documents related to such
activities and to promote the universal use of electronic
transactions in the government and the general public.

• R.A. 9367 "Biofuels Act of 2006" - An Act to Direct

the Use of Biofuels Establishing for this Purpose the
Biofuel Program, Appropriating Funds
Therefore, And For Other Purposes.
This Act was enacted by Congress on June 12, 2007 to develop and
utilize indigenous and sustainable sources, clean energy sources
to reduce dependence on imported oil.

• R.A. 9513 — "The Renewable Act of 2008" was passed by

Congress to accelerate the development of the country's
renewable energy resources by providing fiscal and non-fiscal
incentives to private investors and equipment
manufacturers/fabricators/suppliers.
• R.A. 10175 — Philippine Cybercrime Prevention Act of
2012 passed September 12, 2012. An Act Defining
Cybercrime, Providing for the Prevention, Investigation,
Suppression and the Imposition of Penalties Therefore and
For Other Purposes.
R.A. 10612 — An Act Expanding the Coverage of the Science
and Technology Scholarship Program and Strengthening the
Teaching of Science and Mathematics in Secondary
Schools and For Other Purposes.

This Act shall be known as the Fast-Tracked Science and Technology Scholarship Act of
2018. It shall strengthen the country's Science and Technology education by fast-tracking
graduates in the science, mathematics, and engineering who shall teach in secondary
schools throughout the country. Towards this end, scholarships shall be provided to finance
the education of talented and deserving students in the third year of college and pursuing a
degree or training in the areas of science and technology and to provide incentives for
them to pursue a career in teaching in high schools in their home regions.
• R.A. 10844 An Act Creating the Department of
Information and Communication Technology (DICT)
which was signed into law on May 23, 2016.

In accordance with the law, the Department of Information

and Communications Technology (DICT) shall be the
primary policy planning, coordination, implementing, and
administrative entity of the Executive branch of the
government that will plan, develop, and promote the
national ICT development agenda.
 Major Science and Technology
Development Plans
·Science and Technology Master Plan (STMP). This plan was submitted
to the President in March 1989 by the presidential task force composed of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of
Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade Industry (DTI), Department of
Transportation and Communication (DOTC), as well as the presidential
adviser on public resources and three academic institutions directly involved
in S & T. The development of fifteen (15) leading edges to steer the country
toward industrial development were: (1) aquaculture and (2) marine fisheries,
(3) forestry and (4) natural resources, (5) process industry, (6) food
and (7) feed industry, (8) energy, (9) transportation, (10) construction
industry, (11) information technology, (12) electronics, (13)
instrumentation and control, (14) emerging technologies, (15)
pharmaceuticals.
 To attain the objectives set in the STMP the
following strategies were pursued: modernize
the production sectors through massive
technology transfer from domestic and foreign
sources; upgrade the R & D capability through
intensified activities in high priority sector and
S&T infrastructure development such as
manpower development; and develop
information networks, institutional building and
S&T culture development.
 Science and Technology Agenda f o r
National Development (STAND Philippines
2000)
This plan was initiated during the term of President Ramos and it embodied the
country's technology development plan in the medium term, in particular, for the period
1993-1998. The STAND identified seven export winners, 11domestic needs, three other
supporting industries, and coconut industry as priority investment area. The seven
identified export winners were computer software; fashion accessories; gifts, toys, and
houseware; marine products; metal fabrications; furniture; and dried fruits.

The domestic needs included food, housing, health, clothing, transportation,

communication, disaster mitigation, defense, environment, manpower development and
energy. Because of their linkages with the above sectors, three additional support
industries were included in the list of priority sectors, namely: packaging, chemicals,
and metals. Lastly, because of its strategic importance, the coconut industry was
included in the list.
 National Science and
Technology
Plan (NSTP 200 2-202 0)
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), with the mandate
of formulating S&T policies, programs, and projects in support of
national development priorities has remained, driven by these guiding
visions stated in the NSTP mainly:

By 2004, S&T shall have contributed significantly to the

enhancement of national productivity and competitiveness and
to the solution of pressing problems.

By 2010, the Philippines shall have earned niches and become a world
class knowledge provider and user in selected science and technology
areas, and shall have developed a vibrant S&T culture.
By 2020, the Philippines shall have developed a wide range of globally competitive
products and services which have a high technological content.

The 12 priority areas for S&T development are:

1) Agriculture, forestry & natural resources;

2) Health and medical services;
3) Biotechnology;
4) Information and Communication Technology
5) Microelectronics;
6) Materials, science and engineering;
7) Earth and marine services;
8) Fisheries and aquaculture;
9) Environment;
10)Natural disaster mitigation;
11)Energy; and
12)Manufacturing and service engineering.
 Status o f Science and Technology and Plans f o r
Development under President Rodrigo Roa -
Duterte
The Duterte administration reassured its commitment to science, technology and
innovation sector. This was established in the increase in the budget of the Department
of Science and Technology (DOST). In a speech of President Duterte delivered by
Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno during the opening of the National Science and
Technology Week 2017, he stated that the budget of DOST has quadrupled in the last
seven years "from P50 billion in 2010 to P208 billion in 2017. The budget for research
and development grew by nearly 6X over the same period of time from PI billion in
2009 to P5.8 billion in 2017. This was disclosed in his speech during the celebration of
the National Science and Technology Week at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on
July 11, 2017.
In the 10-point economic agenda, the promotion of science,
technology and creative arts was included to enhance
innovation and creative capacity towards self-sustaining
inclusive development. S&T must create an avenue for
development in various sectors, such as in the economy.

DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Pena identified the focus of

the Department as technology transfer and
commercialization thus ten percent of its overall budget was
allocated for technology transfer. This resulted to generation
of 1000 new intellectual properties that can be adopted in
just one year.
 Major accomplishments of
the Duterte administration
are:
• Entry into the frontiers of space through its support to the
Philippine Space Technology Program. DIWATA-I satellites which
was launched in 2016 was made by Filipino scientists who were
trained in Japan. The DlWATA-2 which will be launched in 2018
has improved the capabilities to better monitor the country. This
was made by another batch of Filipino scientists. This space
technologies can also be utilized in other sectors, such as in
agriculture and disaster preparedness.

• A Memorandum of Agreement between Russia and the Philippines

regarding the space program will soon materialize.
• Republic Act 11035 "An Act Institutionalizing the Balik
\
Scientist Program" was signed into law by the
President on June 15, 2018. This law would give more
incentives to returning Filipino experts, scientists,
inventors, and engineers who would share their
expertise in the country.

• On telecommunication, Department of Information and Communication

Technology, National Telecommunication Commission and
telecommunication companies have agreed to standardize voice call
charges to P2.50.
• On weather, 271 new weather stations were installed by the Department
of Science and Technology throughout the country. The Zamboanga
Doppler Weather Radar System was also installed.
 REPORTERS
Parato, Arvin B.
Tapar,Desiree Thea R,
Valenciado, Karen B.