Lesson 4

Philippine Government Policies in

Science and Technology
Specific Objectives

Evaluate the impact of science and technology in Philippine Nation Building

Introduction
The development of science and technology in the Philippines has already come a long way.
Many significant inventions and discoveries have been accomplished by or attributed to
Filipinos.

On this topic, the learners will explore the role of science and technology and different
government policies in terms of their contributions to Nation Building, evaluate the significant
contributions and discoveries of promising Filipino innovators/ inventors that pave a way to the
development of science and technology in the Philippines.

Lesson Proper
 Role of Science and Technology in Nation Building

Technology is always linked with development phase. Technology occurs when there is
advancement in science. Every individual expects development in every nation in all aspects.
Thus, for development to happen, science and technology must go together.

Barangays are developed into towns and towns to cities and cities are expanding to greater
solutions. This expansion has occurred through the expansion of science and technology over the
years passed and will be more in the coming years.

Basically, science is known as the study of knowledge, which is made into a system and depends
on analysis and understanding facts. Technology is basically application of this scientific
knowledge.

For a successful economy, particularly in today’s quest for knowledge-based economies, science,
technology and engineering are the basic requisites. If our nation does not implement science and
technology, then the chances of getting itself developed becomes minimal and thus could be
even rated as an undeveloped nation. Science and technology is associated in all means with
modernity, and it is an essential tool for rapid development.
Modernization in every aspect of life is the greatest example of the implementation of science
and technology in every nation. With the introduction of modern gadgets in every walk of life,
life has become simple, and this is possible only because of implementing science and
technology together. Without having modern equipment’s in all sectors, be it in medicines,
infrastructure, aviation, electricity, information technology or any other fields, the advancement
and benefits that we face today would not have been possible.

A nation who is not able to proper on these grounds would never be able to sustain the lives there
and may have to solely depend on other nations for the basic requirements. Such is the influence
of science and technology for the development of the Philippine nation. We as citizens of the
nation and who hold equal responsibility for the growth, should equip the youth with all possible
facilities for their research thirst and support and motivate them, as the future of our nation is in
their hands, and they could get our nation to more advanced levels than what it is today.

 A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICIES OF THE PHILIPPINE

GOVERNMENT

A. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States
in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and
into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an
urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They
recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that
improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling
climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Figure 1. Sustainable Development Goals

The Philippine Development Plan of 2017-2022, discussed various strategies that would
accomplish the following goals:
 a. to build a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor;
b. to promote a long and healthy life;
c. to become smarter and more innovative; and
d. to build a high-trust society.

 Philippine Development Plan (2017-2022)

The Philippine Development Plan of 2017-2022, discussed various strategies that would
accomplish the following goals:
a. to build a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor;
b. to promote a long and healthy life;
c. to become smarter and more innovative; and
d. to build a high-trust society.

These goals were based on collective long-term vision of Filipinos to have: “matatag,
maginhawa, at panatag na buhay”.

 Key Areas from Philippine Development Plan (2017-2022):

a.  Enhancing the social fabric (malasakit)

b.  Inequality-reducing transformation (pagbabago)
c.  Increasing growth potential (patuloy na pag-unlad)
d.  Enabling and supportive economic environment
e.  Foundations for sustainable development

B. THE DOST
The DOST, in consultation with government and private research and development institutions,
the academe, industry and other concerned agencies, prepared the Harmonized National R&D
Agenda (HNRDA) 2017-2022 to ensure that results of S&T endeavors are geared towards and
are utilized in areas of maximum economic and social benefit for the people. The formulation of
the HNRDA is in line with the DOST’s mandate of providing central direction, leadership and
coordination of the scientific and technological efforts in the country.

Figure 2 The HNRDA is aligned with AmBisyon Natin 2040

 The HNRDA is aligned with AmBisyon Natin 2040: matatag, maginhawa at panatag na
buhay para sa lahat. It has three pillars: Malasakit (enhancing the social fabric), Pagbabago
(reducing inequality) and Kaunlaran (increasing potential growth). AmBisyon Natin 2040 and
the three pillars form the foundation for more inclusive growth, a high-trust and resilient society
and a globally competitive knowledge economy.

Figure 3. The Harmonized National R&D Agenda (2017-2022)

C. Major Development Programs in Science and Technology in the Philippines

1. Doppler Radars

PAGASA installed its first Doppler weather radar station in Baler, Aurora and another in Baguio.
It was built to further improve weather forecasting capability and disaster risk reduction in the
country, four Doppler radars, which could measure the rain volume, and two flood forecasting
and warning centers have been completed last 2017.
2. RA 7687 Scholarship Program
Science and technology are essential for national development and progress. The State shall give
priority to research and development, invention, innovation and their utilization; and to science
and technology education, training and services. As such, it shall provide for scholarships,
grants-in-aid, or other forms of incentives to deserving science students and other specially
gifted citizens to enable them to pursue higher education or training in areas of science and
technology.

3. SETUP

SETUP is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist SMEs (small and medium enterprises)
to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity
and competitiveness. SETUP provides micro small and medium enterprises with equipment and
technical assistance to enable MSMEs to increase sales and production, streamline and improve
overall company operations, upgrade the quality of products and services, conform to national
and international standards of excellence, and be competitive in their respective fields.

4. Balik Scientist Act

On June 15, 2018, Republic Act No. 11035 was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. This Act
was also known as the Balik Scientist Act. According to the law itself, it aims to “strengthen the
scientific and technological human resources of the academe, public and private institutions,
including locally registered enterprises in order to promote knowledge sharing and accelerate
the flow of new technologies into the country.”

5. Philippine Space Agency

Republic Act No. 11363, the Philippine Space Agency, or PhilSA, will be the central
government agency addressing all national issues and activities related to space science and
technology applications. The PhilSA is tasked to assist the country in the creation, development,
and implementation of national and international space policies, among other directives.

SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Concept of Science Education

Science education focuses on teaching, learning, and understanding science.

 Teaching science involves developing ways on how to effectively teach science. This
means exploring pedagogical theories and models in helping teachers teach scientific
concepts and processes effectively.
 Learning science includes both pedagogy and the most interesting aspect, which is
helping students 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.
SCIENCE SCHOOLS in the PHILIPPINES
One outstanding program for science education supported by the government is the
establishment of science schools in various parts of the country. There are also several
government programs implemented by the Department of Education and few private schools for
science education.
• Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS)
• Special Science Elementary Schools (SSES) Project
• Quezon City Regional Science High School
• Manila Science High School
• Central Visayan Institute Foundation

PROMISING FILIPINO INNOVATORS AND INVENTORS

1. Reina Reyes an astrophysicist, data scientist, and renowned for confirming Albert
Einstein’s theory of relativity. One of her passion projects is Pinoy Scientists, a blog that
features mostly young Filipino scientists across different fields and from across the
world.

2. Irene Crisologo is a radar meteorologist based in Potsdam, Germany working on open-

source methods for processing weather radar data.
3. Julius Sempio, scientist specializing in geoinformatics and remote sensing. Specializes in
geoinformatics and remote sensing, is helping develop an effective archive and database
for images coming from Diwata-1, a Philippine microsatellite launched into orbit last
year, and the future Diwata-2.
4. Andreia Carrillo is an astrophysicist from Bulacan, now based in Austin in the United
States, where she is finishing a doctorate degree at the University of Texas. Her
previously published paper characterized a dwarf galaxy 15 million light years away,
including the kinds of stars it had and their implications on the environment.
5. Kamela Ng is a molecular epidemiologist who splits her time between the Institute of
Tropical Medicine at Antwerp, Belgium, and the University of Amsterdam in the
Netherlands. Her current research is focused on the early detection of drug resistant-
tuberculosis transmission.
6. Migs Canilao is an anthropologist and archaeologist specializing in environmental and
urban geography. He is completing his studies at the University of Illinois in Chicago,
where his research involves using high resolution satellite imagery to track ancient gold
trading trails and settlements in Northwestern Luzon.
7. Sarah Oliva is a geophysicist based in Tulane University in New Orleans, United States.
Hailing from Naga, Oliva had a background in physics and material science but returned
 to a childhood love, geology — one that was partially nurtured by having a geologist for
a dad.

References/Additional Resources/Readings
Bijker, W. E., Hughes, T. P., Pinch, T. and Douglas, D. G., The Social Construction of
Technological Systems: New Directions in the Sociology and History of Technology, MIT Press,
Cambridge, 2012.
European Association for the Study of Science and Technology.
Japanese Society for Science and Technology Studies
Asia Pacific Science Technology & Society Network
Bohman, James (1998). “The Coming of Age of Deliberative Democracy”. The Journal of
Political Philosophy 6 (4): 400–425.
Chilvers, Jason (March 2008). “Deliberating Competence, Theoretical and Practitioners
Perspectives on Effective Participatory Appraisal Practice”. Science, Technology, & Human
Values 33 (2). Retrieved April 21, 2015.