SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION - BUILDING

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - MANILA

CAS – NATURAL SCIENCES
 HISTORY

1. Pre-Colonial
Period
2. Spanish Colonial
Period
3. American Colonial
Period
4. Post-War to
Present
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
 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.
 Filipinos were already engaged in farming,
shipbuilding, mining, fishing, pottery, and weaving.
 Filipinos were already aware of the medicinal and
therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of
extracting medicine from herbs.
 They already had an alphabet, number system, a
weighing and measuring system and a calendar.
 Filipinos have their own system of writing called the
“baybayin”
 They traded cotton, pearls, shells, coconut mats,
jars, glass beads, panie cloth for porcelain with
neighboring regions such as Borneo, Malacca,
Vietnamese and Chinese
 The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the
sophisticated products of engineering by pre-
Spanish era Filipinos and was created by the
Ifugao people, more than 2000 years ago
They had knowledge of martial arts and weaponry.
 SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD
 The Spanish introduced formal education by establishing colleges and universities and founded
scientific institutions.
 One notable institution is the University of Santo Tomas(UST) in 1611, one of the world’s oldest
Catholic universities; Colegio De San Ildefonso, Colegio Maximo De San Ignacio and Colegio de
Santa Isabel

 Parish schools were established where religion, reading, writing, arithmetic and music were taught.

 Sanitation and more advanced methods of agriculture was taught to the natives.

 Meteorological & astronomical studies were promoted by Jesuits who founded the Manila
Observatory (1865) at the Ateneo de Manila University which issued public typhoon warning in the
country
University of Santo Tomas

Circa 1928
 SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD
 The Spanish also contributed to the field of engineering in the islands by
constructing government buildings, churches, roads, bridges and forts.

 Biology is given focus. Contributors to science in the archipelago during the

19th century were

botanists:
 Fr. Ignacio Mercado, Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera & Dr. Leon Ma Guerrero

chemist
 Anacleto del Rosario

medicine scholars
 Dr. Manuel Guerrero, Dr. Jose Montes, Dr. Elrodario Mercado
SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD
 The Galleon Trade have accounted in
the Philippine colonial economy.

 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 who
were probably influenced by the rapid
development of scientific ideals
brought by the Age of Enlightenment
Manila-Dagupan Railway was established
 AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD
 The development of science and technology was sustained during
the American occupation by the establishment of government
research institutions.
 On July 1, 1901 The Philippine Commission of the American colonial
administration established the Bureau of Government Laboratories
which was placed under the Department of Interior.
 Philippine Normal University in 1901.
 American missionaries founded Silliman University in 1901 as an
elementary school for boys.
 University of the Philippines on June 18, 1908
 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; in 1906, the bureau published
the “Philippine Journal of Science”
 On December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the
Philippines(NRCP) was established for the promotion of scientific
researches in the country
 The Bureau of Science became the primary research center of the
Philippines until World War II.
Year Government Institution established during
the American Period

1898 Bureau of Health

1900 Bureau of Mines and Forestry
1901 Weather Bureau
Bureau of Public Works
Bureau of Agriculture
1905 Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey

1929 Bureau of Plant Industry

 AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD
 Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing,
forestry, medicine and pharmacy.
 The Manila-Dagupan Railway became Manila Railroad Company
 Post-War to present

 In 1947 the Bureau of Science was replaced by the Institute of Science; the
Institute of Nutrition and the Science Foundation of the Philippines were also
established
 In 1952, the Commission on Volcanology (COMVOL) was created and placed
under NRCP
 In 1958, during the time of President Carlos P. Garcia, the Philippine
Congress passed the Science Act of 1958 establishing the National Science
Development Board to formulate policies for the development of science and
technology programs, and coordinate with different agencies.
 POST COMMONWEALTH-ERA
 Under the 1973 Philippine Constitution, Article XV, Section 1, the
government's role in supporting scientific research and invention was
acknowledged.
 Philippine Coconut Research Institute & Phil. Textile Research
Institute were created to improve on industries
 Philippine Atomic Energy Commission was established in 1970 to aid
research on other sustainable sources of energy
 Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) in 1972
 In 1974, a science development program was included in the government's
Four-Year Development Plan which covers the years 1974-1978. Funding
for science was also increased. The National Science Development Board
was replaced by the National Science and Technology Authority under
Executive Order No. 784.
 National Kidney & Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, Lung
Center of the Philippines were established
 On July 12, 1980, LRTA ( government agency) was created
 A Scientific Career in the civil service was introduced in 1983.
 POST COMMONWEALTH-ERA
 In 1986, during Corazon Aquino's presidency, the National
Science and Technology Authority was replaced by the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), giving
science and technology a representation in the cabinet. Under
the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan for the years
1987-1992, science and technology's role in economic
recovery and sustained economic growth was highlighted.

Executive Order No. 128

"The DOST shall provide central direction, leadership and
coordination of scientific and technological efforts and ensure that
the result there geared and utilized in area of maximum economic
and social benefits for the people"
 POST COMMONWEALTH-ERA

Former Pres. Fidel Ramos provided

scholarships for S & T programs
Enacted the Inventor’s Incentives Act and the
S & T Scholarship Act
Magna Carta for scientists, engineers,
researchers, and other S & T personnel in the
government or RA No. 8439 of 1997 was
established to sustain the country’s R & D
endeavors
Former Pres. Joseph Estrada enacted the
Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 protecting the
environment for the health of the people and
our natural environment and the
 Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 pushing
for modernization and protection from hacking
upon entering the age of the internet
 Post Commonwealth Era

Former Pres. Gloria Arroyo developed the technology

entrepreneurship under the Medium Term Philippine
Development Plan 2004-2010
 RA No. 9367 promoting the use of biofuels.
The National Science and Technology Plan (NSTP)
2002-2020 was formulated with focus on building
technological self-reliance
Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009 was
enacted to utilize R & D researches of institutions so that
outputs to S & T will be disseminated to the wider public.
Post Commonwealth Era

 In 2014, the Harmonized Agenda for

Science and Technology was presented
to Pres. Benigno Aquino III zeroing on
disaster risk reduction and inclusive
growth
 The Fast-Tracked S & T Scholarship
Act of 2013 was enacted providing
financial assistance through
scholarships to gifted students so they
can be qualified secondary teachers in
the field of science and math.
 POST COMMONWEALTH-ERA
 The past administration has guaranteed its commitment to
uphold the value of S & T in the country during the National
Science and Technology Week (NSTW) in 2017. In line with
this the ratified budget of DOST has increased to Php 20.8
billion in 2017 from Php 5 billion in 2010 and the budget for R
& D from Php 1 billion in 2009 to Php 5.8 billion in 2017.
 Signed the Balik Scientist Law or RA 11035 or “Act
Institutionalizing the Balik Scientist Program” June 15, 2018
giving incentives to returning Filipino experts, scientists,
inventors, and engineers who would share their expertise in
the country
 current administration’s support to the Philippine Space
Technology Program, making official the country’s entry into
the frontiers of space
 “Build, Build, Build” which was launched in 2017, aimed at
ushering in the “Golden Age of Infrastructure”; to reduce
poverty, encourage economic growth and reduce congestion
in Metro Manila