CM1-CU3: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Discuss the role of Science and Technology in Philippine Nation Building.

2. Evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in terms of their
contributions to nation building.
3. Identify actual science and technology policies of the government and appraise their
impact on the development of the Filipino nation.

INTRODUCTION:

Science and Technology is essential in nation building. Scientific knowledge and

technological advancements are needed to address problems and concerns such as climate
change, natural disasters and epidemics. Also, they are needed to increase industrial
productivity leading to economic development.

WHY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IMPORTANT IN NATION BUILDING?

● Ensure quality healthcare

● Efficiently deliver social services
● Develop good infrastructure
● Increase economic productivity
● Increase agricultural productivity
● Generate jobs for workers
● Conserve and protect the environment
● Produce quality goods
● Secure peace, order and stability
● Manage natural disasters

In the Philippines, the importance of science and technology is recognized.

● In the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Science and Technology are given priority to "foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human
liberation and development"
● In Section 10, Article XIV, it is stated that "Science and Technology are essential for
national development and progress".
PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA

● In the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, the government mandates an

"increased use of scientific and technological breakthroughs".
● The government intends to do this by promoting and accelerating technology adoption
and stimulating innovation.

The main government agency for science and technology is the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST)

DOST was created to provide central direction, leadership and coordination of scientific
and technological efforts.

DOST composed of; Three (3) sectoral planning council

1. Formulating policies, plans, programs, projects and strategies for S&T development;
2. Programming and allocating funds
3. Monitoring of research and development projects; and for generating external funds

Seven (7) research and development institutes

1. Advanced Science and Technology Institute
2. Food and Nutrition Research Institute
3. Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI)
4. Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI)
5. Metals Industry Research and Development Center
6. Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)
7. Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI)

Service institute of DOST;

● Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO)
● Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA)
● Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)
● Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System.
● Science Education Institute (SEI)

All program, projects and activities of DOST shall target to achieve the following
outcomes;
1. Stimulation of Innovation
2. Promotion and acceleration of Technology adoption
 3. Development of a critical mass of globally competitive human resources on Science and
Technology
4. Increased productivity and efficiency of micro,small and medium entrepreneurs
(MSMEs)
5. Ensured resiliency to disaster risk and climate change
6. Reduced inequality in science and technology capacities and opportunities
7. Achieved effective science and technology governance.

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PERSONALITIES IN S&T IN THE

PHILIPPINES

Balik Scientist Program

- The program aims to encourage Filipino Scientists or Scientists of Filipino descent to

return to the Philippines and conduct research or scientific undertakings. As of December
2017, there were 497 scientists who served under the program.

- Republic Act No. 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act was signed into law in 2018. The law
will provide incentives and assistance to returning Filipino experts, scientists, inventors,
and engineers.

- According to UNESCO, a country should have 380 scientists/researchers per million

population. However, in the Philippines, there are only 189 researchers/scientists per
million which means that there is a gap of around 19,000 researchers or scientists

- One of those Balik Scientists is Dr. Josefino C. Comiso, a Senior Scientist in USA's
National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA Dr. Josefino C. Comiso

Order of National Scientists

- The Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1003-A, s. 1976, established the National Academy
of Science and Technology to become the highest recognition and advisory body on
science and technology. Part of this decree is the establishment of the "Order of
National Scientists"

- The "Order of National Scientists" is the highest honor that is being bestowed by the
President of the Republic of the Philippines to a Filipino man or woman of science in the
Philippines who has made significant contributions in one of the different fields of
science and technology
 - As of 2018, there are 41 National Scientists. Two of them are engineer agriculturist
Ramon Barba and biologist Angel Alcala.

Small & Medium Enterprise Technology Upgrading (SETUP) Program

A nationwide strategy encouraging and assisting micro, small, and medium enterprises
(MSMEs) to adopt technological innovations to improve their products, services, operations,
increase their productivity and competitiveness, and develop new products.

Purpose of SETUP:
● Infusion of appropriate technologies to improve/develop products, services and/or
operations.
● Human resource training, technical assistance and consultancy services.
● Design and execution of functional packages and labels.
● Assistance for compliance with regulatory and market standards including testing.
● Provision of assistance for technology acquisition.

Priority Sectors:
● Food processing
● Furniture
● Marine & Aquatic Resources
● Horticulture & Agriculture
● Pharmaceuticals, ICT & Electronics
● Gifts, housewares & decors
● Metals & engineering

Grants-In-Aid (GIA) Program

- Aims to harness the country’s scientific and technological capabilities by providing

financial grants to S&T programs/projects to spur a sustainable economic growth for
the country.

- Through the funding of relevant science and technology (S&T) undertakings, the GIA
program is designed to contribute to productivity improvement and quality of life of
Filipinos by generating and promoting appropriate technologies.
 - It also aims to strengthen the participation of various S&T sectors particularly in research
and development (R&D), promotion, technology transfer and utilization, human
resources development, information dissemination, advocacy, and linkages.

Forest Products Research And Development Institute (FPRDI)

The research and development arm on forest products utilization of the Philippines'
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the body that coordinates and manages the
national science and technology system.

Mandate:
● Conduct applied research and development on forest products utilization based on
the needs of the forest products-using and allied industries and the general public;
● Undertake the transfer of completed researches directly to the end user via linkage
units of other government agencies; and
● Provide technical services and training to various clienteles.

Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Is mandated to undertake research and development activities in the peaceful uses of

nuclear energy, to institute regulations on the said uses and to carry out the enforcement of said
regulations to protect the health and safety of radiation workers and the general public.

Function:
● Conduct research and development on the application of radiation and nuclear
techniques, materials and processes;
● Undertake the transfer of research results to end-users, including technical
extension and training services;
● Operate and maintain nuclear research reactors and other radiation facilities; and
● License and regulate activities relative to production, transfer and utilization of
nuclear radioactive substances.

Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (Project NOAH)

Is a integrated disaster prevention and mitigation program. It is designed to employ

science and technology to generate accurate data and address the conditions needed to make
informed decisions for disaster risk reduction activities, through national government agencies,
partners in the private sector and the academe.

Eight Major Components:

1. Distribution of Hydrome-teorological Devices in hard-hit areas in the Philippines
(Hydromet)
2. Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation – Light Detection and Ranging
(DREAM-LIDAR) Project.
3. Enhancing Geohazards Mapping 3. through LIDAR
4. Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM)
5. Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project
6. Local Development of Doppler Radar Systems (LaDDeRS)
7. Landslide Sensors Development Project
8. Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP)

Philippine-California Advanced Research Institutes (PCARI) Project

The Philippine-California Advanced Research Institutes (PCARI) Project is a capacity-

building/technology-generating collaborative initiative designed to upgrade to global standards
in the research, development, and innovation expertise and competencies of the faculty,
researchers, students and staff of Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs).

Features:
● Involves scholarship, training and research;
● Focuses on two fields: information infrastructure development (IID) and health
innovation and translational medicine (HITM);
● Provides opportunities for direct collaboration between Philippine faculty-
researchers and UC-based experts in order to build research capabilities and
infrastructure in Philippine universities and colleges;
● Attracts the best and the brightest with full support for research, which includes
modern equipment, attendance in conferences and state-of-the-art laboratories;
and
● Addresses important problems of society using the best technologies, including
the development of technologies close to commercialization.

Philippine Space Program

- The government is funding the National Space Development Program which aims to
set the foundation for the establishment of a Philippine Space Agency.
 - The government established the Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite
Program in 2014, in partnership with Japan's Hokkaido University and Tohoku
University. The program has since produced three fully functional microsatellites, the
Diwata-1, Diwata-2 and Maya-1.

- The development of the country's space program is important for national security,
agricultural development, environmental management, climate change mitigation, among
others. The program seeks to develop technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles,
microsatellites and communication satellites.

SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Science education is important in order to develop students' scientific skills, attitudes, and
values. This will empower them to solve problems, become more critical, see the world
differently, and become productive contributors to nation building.

DOST Scholarship Programs

● Many Filipino scientists, inventors, innovators, engineers and professionals benefited

from DOST's scholarship programs.
● The program is mandated under Republic Act 7687, or the Science and Technology Act
of 1994.

Philippine Science High School (PSHS)

● DOST provides free secondary education to young Filipinos who have high aptitude for
science and technology through the Philippine Science High School (PSHS).
● Currently, there are 16 campuses, one per region, except for ARMM. Many graduates of
PSHS eventually become scientists, inventors, professionals and educators.

Regional Science High School Union

The Department of Education manages Regional Science High Schools that have
curriculum focused on science and mathematics.

DOST established several programs to improve science education in the country.

 ● Project HOTS – The Project Hands-on Teaching and Learning of Science through
Inquiry develops the capacity of schools and teachers to teach science through mobile
school laboratories, inquiry-based science curriculum, hands-on training and technology
use trials.
● VISSER - Versatile Instrumentation System for Science Education and Research project
aims to modernize school laboratories through the development and integration of new
instruments and technologies.
● STARBOOKS – Starbooks is a digital library containing science materials which can be
accessed by educational institutions off-line.
● InnoBox Project – The InnoBox project aims to search for outstanding and most
innovative teaching methods and learning materials for science.

Selected Indigenous Science and Technologies

- In the Philippines, indigenous science and technologies must be known, recognized and
understood given their rich cultural diversity. With more than 100 indigenous groups,
each has a unique but interconnected indigenous science and technologies.

- Many herbal medicines have indigenous origins. Many indigenous practices in resource
management have been documented like the muyong system in Ifugao and the lapat
system in Apayao.

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