The Philippine Government S&T Agenda
The Philippine Government S&T Agenda
Introduction
The need to develop a country's science and technology has generally been recognized as one of the
imperatives of socioeconomic progress in the contemporary world. This has become a widespread
concern of governments especially since the post-World War II years. Among Third World countries,
an important dimension of this concern is the problem of dependence in science and technology as
this is closely tied up with the integrity of their political sovereignty and economic self-reliance.
•The Department of Science and Technology in the Philippines is a government agency tasked with
overseeing and managing national technology development and acquisition, undertaking
technological and scientific research and promoting public consciousness of science and technology.
•DST is responsible for formulating and adopting a comprehensive National Science and Technology
Plan for the Philippines, and to subsequently monitor and coordinate its funding and
implementation.
•The DST undertakes policy research, technology assessment, feasibility and technical studies and
maintains a national information system and databank on science and technology.
HISTORY
Before the colonization by the Spaniards in the Philippine islands, the natives of the archipelago
already had practices linked to science and technology. Filipinos were already aware of the
medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of extracting medicine from herbs.
The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-Spanish era
Filipinos.
SCIENTIST AS ADVOCATES
Scientists and technologists are essential in a developing world. They are one of the key players in a
country's quest for industrialization. They are the lifeblood of research, innovation and have
important roles in the industry and the manufacturing sector. Together with their roles in nation-
building, scientists, too, have a responsibility to advocate for the betterment of S&T in their
countries.
For the Philippines, in order to halt the vicious cycle of technological backwardness and poverty, it is
important that scientists and technologists themselves be aware of the sad plight of S&T in the
country and to advocate for its improvement.
Innovation Culture
What recent success we have with the saltwater lamp, the salamander tricycle and the Diwata 1
microsatellite is a good start but only indicates that we have a long way to go before we create an
innovation culture. Innovation can only happen with enough scientists and technologists to develop
an “innovation ecosystem.”
saltwater lamp
salamander tricycle
Diwata 1 microsatellite
Science and technology help us understand nature and the world, and enables us to lead full lives
through new and innovative means. It therefore requires that we as Filipinos, expand our science
and technology base to enable us to compete in an integrated ASEAN.
Expand research and development initiatives by providing more grant support for R and D through
the DOSTs sectoral planning councils such as PCIERD, PCAARD and ASTI in cooperation with
universities in the regions. The science initiative must be distributed to the regions especially those
where food production needs to be improved, industry needs to grow and where innovation needs
to be developed. This is critical in light of climate change and expensive electricity and the need to
disperse industry and economic activities.
Renewable energy- We need new technologies to enable high electricity yields in limited space with
less dependence on natural resources to enable us to meet our COP 21 commitments, while
lowering the price of electricity.
S and T for industry development- We need stronger participation of our scientists and engineers if
we want to revitalize our basic industries such as the steel industry.
Faster and cheaper internet – We have Asia’s slowest internet, yet our archipelago needs it bridge
gaps and build networks.
Increased food production- Given limited lands, technology is needed to expand yields while
increasing quality of output and being less dependent on foreign inputs like fertilizers.
Climate change adaptation- We need cutting edge technology to enable our farmers to adapt to
changing climates and the need to do away with technologies that destroy the capacity for good
healthful yields.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN S&T IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Doppler Radars
- Through radio waves, these determine the rate at which rain or hail is travelling toward or away
from the radar. In total, 13 doppler radars are all over the country.
Filipinnovation
- The term coined by Arroyo to spearhead the progress of Philippine innovation in both local and
global scales by means of enhancing human capital, industry, and public policy.
Diwata-2
- It is the second microsatellite launched into space by the Philippines that is tasked to determine
the amount of disaster-related damage, monitor natural and cultural heritage places, and track
vegetation changes.
Felix D. Maramba
- A Filipino scientist recognized for his contributions to the development of one of the world’s
most profitable biogas systems.
- He created a coconut oil-fueled power generator. With Maramba’s idea of creating a power
generator using coconut oil as the source of energy, he has made an incredible breakthrough in
science and technology in the Philippines by providing energy from a readily available resource.
Maramba's invention has made a significant impact on the lives of many people.
- Maramba became the president of the Philippine Association of Flour Millers, Inc.
- He was the author of two books: "Biogas and Waste Recycling, The Philippine Experience"
and "Farm Management in the Philippines".
Gregorio Zara
- A Filipino engineer and physicist, who made major contributions to the advancement of
engineering and inventions in the Philippines.
- His innovations in his field of specialization have contributed to the popular understanding
and utilization of science in the country.
- He has a total of 30 devices and equipment patented to his name. The most popular among
those is the TV-telephone system. In the middle of the 1950s, long before the start of the digital
age, Zara developed the first videophone, or two-way television-telephone.
- His other contributions include the wooden microscope, the semi-automatic propeller-
making machine, an aircraft propeller that is entirely made of wood, and the earth induction
compass, used by pilots for direction. These scientific inventions made him internationally
known, which led him to win numerous awards and accolades during his career as an engineer,
inventor, government servant, and educator.
SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Philippines is trying its best to improve the state of science education in the country. The reason
for the establishments of science schools to encourage students to pursue their career in science
and technology and to nurture their gifted potentials in science.
Science education focuses on teaching, learning, and understanding science to non-scientists, such
as us, students, or with the adults within the general public.
● Teaching science involves developing ways on how to effectively teach science. This
means exploring pedagogical theories and models in helping teachers teach scientific
● Learning science includes both pedagogy and the most interesting aspect, which is helping
● Understanding science implies developing and applying science-process skills and using
science literacy in understanding the natural world and activities in everyday life.
Science education helps students learn important concepts and facts that are related to everyday
life including important skills such as: process skills, critical thinking skills, and life skills that
are needed in coping up with daily life activities (Chaille & Britain, 2002).
Science education will develop a strong foundation for studying science and for considering science-
related careers in the future.
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Deals with developing students’ understanding and appreciation of science ideas and scientific
works. This is done through offering basic science courses in the General Education curriculum.
The state also provides scholarships to encourage more students to pursue science courses.
SCIENCE SCHOOLS in the PHILIPPINES
• under DOST, offering free scholarship for the secondary course with special emphasis to
science subjects.
• with end view of preparing its students for a science career (RA No. 3661)
Scientific literacy is the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required
for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity.
Scientific literacy means that a person can ask, find, or determine answers to questions derived from
curiosity about everyday experiences. Scientific literacy entails being able to read with
understanding articles about science in the popular press and that a person can identify scientific
issues underlying national and local decisions and express positions that are scientifically and
technologically informed.
Technology Literacy is the ability to safely, responsibly, creatively, and effectively use appropriate
technology
Environmental literacy is the understanding, skills and motivation to make responsible decisions that
considers his or her relationships.
These are the distinct social cultural groups that share collective and ancestral ties to the
lands and natural resources where they live, occupy or from which they have been
displaced.
Indigenous Science
It refers to the body of traditional and environmental, and cultural knowledge unique to a
group of people which has served to sustain people through generations of living within a
distinct bioregion.
Indigenous science comes from indigenous knowledge perfected by people through life
experiences. Indigenous knowledge connotes traditional and non-scientific knowledge
because it includes superstitious beliefs and practices which come from human imagination.
These products may also become the foundation of people’s creativity, originality, and
inventiveness.
•
Knowledge in observing animal behavior to predict weather and
season
• traditional health practices
• use of herbal medicines
• preserving food
• preservation and selection of good seeds for planting
• building irrigation system
Indigenous Technology
Indigenous technologies are processes or products which are the results of studying
indigenous science.
Yoyo – This is a toy made up of an axle connected to two disks and a string looped around the
axle. This was used by ancient Filipinos to fight against intruders and Spaniards. This toy was
a product of the creative mind of Pedro Flores, but it was the Americans who mass-produced
the product.
Medical Incubator – This equipment was invented by Dr. Fe del Mundo. The incubator was
made from two laundry baskets which were placed one inside the other and was provided
with hot water to regulate the body temperature of newborn babies.
Erythromycin – The antibiotic was discovered by Dr. Abelardo Aguilar in 11949. Erythromycin
is produced by the bacterium Streptomyces erythreus in the soil from Iloilo.
Patis or fish sauce – Ruperta David (Aling Tentay) invented patis in the 1940s when she noticed
that some of the salted fish that she stored in the jar turned into fragments then turned to liquid. This
led to the establishment of Tentay Food and Sauces Inc. in 1949.
Banana Catsup – Maria Orosa y Ylagan focused on creating a different flavor of catsup. This
led her to the invention of banana catsup. She was also the brain behind other food products
like calamansi nip and soya- lac.