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Learning Outcomes:

• 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.

• Identify actual science and technology policies of the government

and appraise their impact on the development of the Filipino nation.
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HISTORY of S and T in the
PHILIPPINES

• represents the wide scientific and technological advances the

Philippines has made.
• The main managing agency responsible is the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST).
• The science department has consulting agencies for Forestry,
Agriculture and Aquaculture, Metal Industry, Nuclear
Research, Food and Nutrition, Health, Meteorological and
the Volcanology and Seismology
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 …history

Notable Scientists - who have made notable contributions in

different scientific fields:
Fe del Mundo - Pediatrics
Eduardo Quisumbing - Plant Taxonomy
Gavin Trono - tropical marine Phycology
Maria Orosa - Food Technology
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STONE AGE

• Archeological findings show that modern man from Asian mainland first
came over
land on across narrow channels to live in Batangas and Palawan about
48,000 B.C.
• Subsequently they formed settlement in Sulu, Davao, Zamboanga,
Samar, Negros,
Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan and Cagayan.

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Iron Age

• The Iron Age lasted from the third century B.C. to

11th century A.D.
• During this period Filipinos were engaged in the
extraction smelting and refining of iron from ores
until the importation of cast iron from Sarawak and
later from China.
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 Inventions/Discoveries

 They learned to weave cotton, make glass ornaments, and cultivate lowland
rice and diked fields of terraced fields utilizing spring water in mountain
regions.
 They also learned to build boats for trading purposes.
 Spanish chronicles noted refined plank built warships called caracoa suited for
inter-island trade raids.
 The Spaniards later utilized Filipino expertise in boat-building and seamanship
to fight the raiding Dutch, Portuguese,
 Muslims and the Chinese pirate Limahong as well as to build and man the
galleons that sailed to Mexico. 7
10th Century A.D.

• Filipinos from the Butuan were trading with Champa (Vietnam)

and those from Ma-I (Mindoro) with China as noted in Chinese
records containing several references to the Philippines.
• These archaeological findings indicated that regular trade relations
between the Philippines, China and Vietnam had been well
established from the 10th century to the 15th century A.D

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Trading

The people of Ma-I and San-Hsu (Palawan) traded

bee wax, cotton, pearls, coconut heart mats, tortoise
shell and medicinal betelnuts, yu-ta cloth (probably
jute or ramie?) for Chinese porcelain, leads fishnets
sinker, colored glass beads, iron pots, iron needles and
tin.
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 Before the Spaniards

• Filipinos were already engage in activities and practices related to science

forming primitive or first wave technology. They were curative values of
some plant on how to extract medicine from herbs.
• They had an alphabet, a system of writing, a method of counting and
weights and measure.
• They had no calendar but counted the years by the period of the moon and
from one harvest to another.
• The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of
engineering by pre-Spanish era Filipinos.
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 Spanish Colonial Period

• contributed to growth of science and technology in the country.

• The Spanish introduced formal education and founded scientific institutions.
• Early years of Spanish rule, Parish schools were established where religion,
reading, writing, arithmetic and music were taught.
• Sanitation and more advanced methods of agriculture were taught to the
natives.
• Colleges and universities in the archipelago including the University of Sto.
Tomas were established.
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• Study of medicine was given priority in the Spanish era, especially
in the later years.
• The Spanish also contributed to the field of engineering by
constructing government buildings, churches, roads, bridges and
forts.
• Biology is given focus.
• Contributors to science in the archipelago during the 19 th century
were botanists, Fr. Ignacio Mercado., Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera
and Dr. Leon Ma Guerrero, chemist Anaclento del Rosario, and
medicine scholars Dr. Manuel Guerrero, Dr. Jose Montes and Dr.
Elrodario Mercado.
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• 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.
• Agriculture and industrial development on the other hand
were relatively neglected.
• The opening of the Suez Canal saw the influx of European
visitors to the Spanish colony and some Filipinos were able to
study in Europe influenced by the rapid development of
scientific ideals brought about by the Age of Enlightenment.
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Spanish Regime

Later part of the 16th Century - Development of

schools
• Colegio de San Ildefonso-Cebu-1595
• Colegio de San Ignacio-Manila-1595
• Colegio De Nuestra Senora del Rosario-
Manila-1597
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• Development of Hospitals
oSan Juan Lazaro Hospital - the oldest in the Far East was
founded in 1578.
•The Real Sociedad Economica de los Amigos Del
Pais de Filipinas founded by Governador Jose Basco y Vargas
in 1780 encouraged research in agriculture and industry. The
society promoted cultivation of indigo, cotton, cinnamon, and
silk industry.
• In 1789 Manila was opened to Asian shipping, inaugurating
an era of increase in export of rice, hemp, tobacco, sugar, and
indigo, and imports of manufacturing goods. 15
The 19th Century
• In 1863 the colonial authorities issued a royal degree to reform the existing
educational system.
• In 1871 the school of medicine and pharmacy were opened in UST. After
15 years it granted the degree of Licenciado en Medicina to 62 graduates.
• The licentiate degree equivalent to a Master degree was granted Bachelor’s
degree in pharmacy to its 1st six graduates who included Leon Ma.
Guerrero considered was the father of Philippine Pharmacy due to his
works on Medicinal Plants of the Philippines.
• There were no school for engineering but they offered nautical four year
course for pilot of merchant marine that includes the subjects: Arithmetic,
Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Physics, Hydrography, Meteorology,
Navigation and Pilotage

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• Higher education was generally viewed with suspicion as
encouraging rebellion among native Filipinos and thus only few
daring students were able to undertake higher studies.
• The expanded world trade and commerce in the later part of the 19th
century led to the rapid development of Manila as cosmopolitan
center.
• Modern amenities such as steam tramways, waterworks, newspaper,
electric lights, banking system were introduce in 19th century.
• Jesuits promoted meteorological studies founding Manila
observatory at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1865.

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American Period and
Post-Commonwealth Era

• The progress of S&T in the Philippines continued under the American rule.
• On July 1, 1901 The Philippine Commission established the Bureau of Government Laboratories
which was placed under the Department of Interior. The Bureau replaced the Laboratorio
Municipal, which was established under the Spanish colonial era. 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.
• On December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the Philippines was established.The
Bureau of Science became the primary research center of the Philippines until World War II.

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• Science, during the American period, was inclined towards
agriculture, food processing, forestry, medicine and pharmacy.
• Not much focus was given on the development of industrial
technology due to free trade policy with the United States which
nurtured an economy geared towards agriculture and trade.
• In 1946, the Bureau of Science was replaced by the Institute of
Science.
• In a report by the US Economic Survey to the Philippines in 1950,
there is a lack of basic information which were necessities to the
country's industries, lack of support of experimental work and
minimal budget for scientific research and low salaries of scientists
employed by the government.
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• In a report by the US Economic Survey to the
Philippines in 1950, there is a lack of basic information
which were necessities to the country's industries, lack
of support of experimental work and minimal budget
for scientific research and low salaries of scientists
employed by the government.
• In 1958, under President Carlos P. Garcia, the
Philippine Congress passed the Science Act of 1958
which established the National Science Development
Board.
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Marcos Era and Martial Law

• 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 S&T.

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Notable S&T Accomplishments of
the Marcos Regime

 the Department of Education was directed to revitalize science courses in public high
schools.
 additional funds were channeled to support projects in applied sciences and science
education.
 a big part of the war damage fund was given to private universities to encourage them to
create courses in science and technology and research.
 upgrade of the science curricula and teaching equipment.
 establishment of research and development schools, technical institutes,
 science education centers, and agricultural colleges and vocational high schools

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• creation of the National Grains Authority
• establishment of the Philippine Council for Agricultural
Research to support the progressive development of
agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
• promotion of scientific research and invention
• establishment of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical
and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) under
the Department of National Defense.
• creation of the Philippine National Oil Company
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• establishment of the National Academy of Science and
Technology composed of scientists as a reservoir of scientific
and technological expertise for the country.
• creation of a Task Force on the formulation of a national
action program to assess S&T policies and programs.
• 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.
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• instituted the Health Sciences Center creation of the National
Committee on Geological Sciences
• reorganization of the National Science Development Board and its
agencies into a National Science and Technology Authority
• granting of salary increases to teachers in the Philippine Science
High School
• enactment of a law for the completion of the National Agriculture
and Life Sciences Research Complex at the University of the
Philippines at Los Baños
• establishment of Mindanao and Visayas campuses of the Philippine
Science High School. 25
The Fifth Republic

• under President Corazon C. Aquino

• The National Science and Technology Authority was replaced by the
Department of Science and Technology, giving S&T a representation in the
cabinet.
• Under the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan for the years 1987-
1992, S&T’s role in economic recovery and sustained economic growth
was highlighted.
• In the 1990 SONA, Aquino announced that S&T development shall be one
of the top three priorities of the government towards an economic recovery.
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• In 1988, 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 status by the year 2000.
• Aquino encouraged scientists and inventors to bring the Philippines to its
former position as second to Japan in the field of S&T.
• Aquino encouraged the private research sector to form a stronger bond with
public research to help jump-start the progress in the area of Philippine
Research and Development.
• Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988, Science for the Masses
Program
• Funding for the S&T sector was tripled
• The Science and Technology Master Plan was formulated 27

• A Research and Development Plan was also formulated

Under Pres. Fidel V. Ramos

• significant increase in personnel specializing in the S&T

field.
• 3,500 scholarships were given to students taking up S&T-
related courses - Science and Technology Scholarship Law
of 1994
• modernization and update of science classrooms. Health care
services were promoted through local programs - "Doctors
to the Barrio Program.” 28
Under Pres. Fidel V. Ramos

• Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel

• National Program for Gifted Filipino Children in Science
and Technology
• Science and Technology Agenda for National Development
(STAND)
• Inventors and Inventions Incentives Act
• The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines 29
Under Pres. Joseph Estrada

• Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No.

8749[33]) - to protect and preserve the environment and
ensure the sustainable development of the country’s natural
resources
• Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792)
[34] which outlaws computer hacking and provides
opportunities for new businesses emerging from the
Internet-driven New Economy 30
Under Pres. Joseph Estrada

• launch of a full-scale program based on cost effective

irrigation technologies
• Basic health care, basic nutrition, and useful education
• Speed up the program for establishing one science high
school in every province pushed for the advancement of
industries and schools into the Internet age announcement
of the passage of the e-Commerce Act
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Under Pres. Gloria Arroyo

• dubbed as the "golden age" of science and technology

• Numerous laws and projects concerning the environment
and science helped push STI
• The term "Filipinnovation" was coined to promote the
Philippines to be an innovation hub in Asia strengthening
the schools and education system to focus more in science,
technology and mathematics passage of the Biofuels Act.
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Under Pres. Benigno Aquino

conferment of 4 new National Scientist for their scientific contribution.

• Gavino C. Trono - extensive studies made on seaweed species helped families in
the coastal areas.
• Angel C. Alcala - served as the pioneer scientist and advocate of coral reefs aside
from his contribution in the fields of systematics, secology and herpetology
• Ramon C. Barba - all year round availability of mangoes was made possible
through his studies on the induction of flowering of mango and micropropagation
of important crop species.
• Edgardo D. Gomez - steered the national-scale assessment of damage coral reefs
which led to a national conservation program.
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Science Education in the Philippines

Focuses on teaching, learning, and understanding science

 Teaching science involves ways on how to effectively teach science – means
exploring pedagogical theories and models in helping teachers teach
scientific concepts and processes effectively
 Learning science includes both pedagogy and most interesting aspect –
helping understand and love science
 Understanding science implies developing and applying science process
skills and using science literacy in understanding the natural world and
activities in everyday life.
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• John Dewey stressed the importance of utilizing the
natural environment to teach students – nature must indeed
furnish first physical stimuli to provide wealth of meaning
through social activities and thinking
• Marx (1994) – science is going to be one of the most
important school subjects in the future
•

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• Science Education – justified by the vast amount of
scientific knowledge developed in this area that
prepares citizens in a scientifically and technically
driven world
• Provides skills and knowledge that are
necessary for a person to live in what Knight
(1986) describes as the age of science and to
develop a citizenry that will meet the goals of
science in the society
• Developing a science culture is therefore an
immense responsibility for schools 36
• Science Education in Basic and Tertiary Education
• In basic education science education helps students
learn important concepts and facts that are related
to everyday life
• Develops positive attitude such as the love for
knowledge, passion for innovative things,
curiosity to study about nature, and creativity
• Develop a strong foundation for studying science
and for considering science-related careers in the
future
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• In tertiary education, science education deals with developing
students’ understanding and appreciation of science ideas and
scientific words
• through offering courses in the General Education
curriculum
• Focuses on the preparation of science teachers, scientists,
engineers, and other professionals in various science-
related fields such as engineering, agriculture, medicine
and health sciences
• Provides scholarships to encourage more students to
pursue science courses.
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Science Schools in the Philippines
• Science education is supported by the government in the
establishment of science schools in various parts of the
country.
• Several government programs implemented by the
Department of Education and few private schools for
science education
• Some science schools:
• Philippine Science High Schools
• Special Science Elementary Schools (SSES)
• Quezon City Regional Science High School
• Manila Science High School
• Naga City Science High School 39
• Goa Science High School
Selected Indigenous Science and Technologies

Indigenous Knowledge – is embedded in the daily life experiences of young childrens as they
grow up
• Some examples:
• Predicting weather conditions and seasons using knowledge in observing animals’ behavior and celestial
bodies
• Using herbal medicine
• Preserving foods
• Classifying plants and animals into families and groups based on cultural properties
• Preserving and selecting good seeds for planting
• Using indigenous technology in daily lives
• Building local irrigation systems
• Classifying different types of soil for planting based on cultural properties
• Producing wines and juices from tropical fruits 40
• Keeping the custom of growing plants and vegetables in the yard
THE ROLE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
IN DEVELOPMENT

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42
Every nation endeavors to attain development.
Everyone desires development. But what does
‘development’ really mean?

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To many countries,‘development’ is
simply becoming in the future what
industrialized countries are today..

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Development
• the acceleration of economic
growth.
• the reduction of inequality.
• the eradication of absolute
poverty.
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•is a multi-dimensional process
•.

•involves the reorganization and

reorientation of entire economic and
social systems

•involves major changes in the

administrative, institutional and social
structures

•involves major changes in popular

attitudes, customs and beliefs. 46
47
Role of Science and Technology

Science and Technology are both

regarded as forces needed for
improving the welfare of developing
states.
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Science and technology are key drivers to
development, because technological and
scientific revolutions underpin
➤ economic advances
➤ improvements in health systems,
education and infrastructure.

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ON ONE HAND…

Science and Technology

are also feared to be
contributors to the
dehumanization of man
and to the degradation
of the environment.

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The role of science and technology in
development should be directed
towards the reduction of the
inequalities between advanced and
developing countries, and between
various sections of the population in a
country.
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• Through breakthroughs in health services and education, these technologies
have the power to better the lives of poor people in developing countries.
• Eradicating malaria, a scourge of the African continent for centuries is now
possible.
• Cures for other diseases which are endemic in developing countries are also
now possible, allowing people with debilitating conditions to healthy and
productive lives.
• The extent to which developing economies emerge as economic
powerhouses depends on their ability to grasp and apply insights from
science and technology and use them creatively. Innovation is the primary
driver of technological growth and drives higher living standards.

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MANAGING TECHNOLOGICAL
REVOLUTIONS POSES CHALLENGES

• Certain innovations and discoveries will

raise bio-ethical issues
➤ genetic modification of food crops
➤ cloning of human embryos

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MANAGING TECHNOLOGICAL
REVOLUTIONS POSES CHALLENGES

• Cost of health care will worsen the present

inequality by limiting health care access to wealthy
individuals.
➤ health care in certain countries, where the
demand for very high cost diagnostic equipment and
surgical interventions enabling longevity and better
quality of life for older wealthy people overstretches
public health care budgets, and lowers service quality
in poor neighborhoods.
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MANAGING TECHNOLOGICAL
REVOLUTIONS POSES CHALLENGES

• Resource-intensive technologies,
focused on satisfying high
consumption demand, like holidays
abroad in costal resorts,
wilderness areas, or iconic cities,
increase carbon emissions and
environmental damage.
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TO PROMOTE TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCES…

Developing countries should

 invest in quality education for youth,
 invest in continuous skills training for
workers and managers
 ensure that knowledge is shared as
widely as possible across society.

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Activity

• Prepare a 3-page essay on:

• 1. The history of Science and Technology in the Philippines.

• 2. Current issues faced by the Philippines

• 3. Among the issues mentioned, what field should the

• government concentrate / put emphasis on in relation to
• nation-building?
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Assignment:

1. Read about
• The Human Person flourishing in terms of science and technology.
- Technology as a way of Revealing
• The philosophy of Martin Heidegger – The Question Concerning Technology

2. What is a good life?

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THANK
YOU!