Colegio de San Gabriel Arcangel

City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Philippines

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Program BEED/BSED,BSEE,BSCE
Course Code GECO7
Description Science, Technology and Society

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 3

Name Score
Date Section

Topic: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING

Learning 1.Explain the historical timeline of science and technology in the Philippines;
Outcomes: 2.Explain how early Filipinos applied scientific principles in their daily living;
3. Present government policies on science and technology and explain their importance to
the nation; and
4.Discuss the role of science and technology in science building

References: Science, Tecnology, and Society; Janice Patria Javier Serafica, et al

Science ,Technology and Society;Kathryn IdrishaK. Aldea, et al
Science, Technology and Society;Daniel Joseph Mc Namarra, et al
Science , Technology and Society;Denzyl Hubert S. Bautista, et al

Discussion : History of Science and Technology in the Philippines (Nation Building )

Pre-Colonial Period
Even 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. They already had an alphabet,
number system, a weighing and measuring system and a calendar. Filipinos were already engaged in farming, shipbuilding, mining and weaving.

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription shows the use of mathematics in precolonial Philippine societies. A standard system of weights and measures is demonstrated
by the use of precise measurement for gold, and familiarity with rudimentary astronomy is shown by fixing the precise day within the month in relation to the phases of
the moon.
Shipbuilding showed geometric thinking and mastery of convexity, concavity, and the proper proportion between ship breadth and length to ensure sailing
efficiency. The practice of constructing as much as twelve ships and boats to fit inside each other, not unlike matryoshka dolls containing each other, can be
interpreted as large three-dimensional wooden demonstration of sets, subsets, volumes, and ordinality. [2]

The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-Spanish era Filipinos. [3]

Spanish Colonial Period

The colonization of the Philippines contributed to growth of science and technology in the archipelago. The Spanish introduced formal education and founded scientific
institution. During the early years of Spanish rule in the Philippines. Parish schools were established where religion, reading, writing, arithmetic and music was taught.
Sanitation and more advanced methods of agriculture was taught to the natives. Later the Spanish established colleges and universities in the archipelago including the
University of Santo Tomas.[3]

Accounts by Spanish friars in the 1580s showed that astronomy was already known and practiced. The accounts also give the local names of constellations, such as
Moroporo for the Pleiades and Balatik for Ursa Major among others.

In 1687, Isaac Newton included an explicit reference to the Philippines in his classic Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica by mentioning Leuconia, the ancient
Ptolemaic name for the Philippines.[2]

The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the Spanish era, especially in the later years. The Spanish also contributed to the field of engineering in
the islands by constructing government buildings, churches, roads, bridges and forts.[3] Biology is given focus.

Contributors to science in the archipelago during the 19th century were botanists, Fr. Ignacio Mercado., Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera and

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City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Philippines
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Dr. Leon Ma Guerrero, chemist Anaclento del Rosario, and medicine scholars Dr. Manuel Guerrero, Dr, Jose Montes and Dr. Elrodario
Mercado.[4]

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.[4] 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.[4]

American Period and Post-Commonwealth Era

Angel Alcala is a national scientist noted for his work in marine and aquatic biology.

The progress of science and technology in the Philippines continued under 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 and on December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the Philippines was established. [3] The Bureau of Science became the primary
research center of the Philippines until World War II.[5]

Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing, 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. [5]

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. In 1958, during the regime of President Carlos P. Garcia, the Philippine Congress passed the Science Act of 1958 which
established the National Science Development Board.[5]

Marcos Era and Martial Law

During Ferdinand Marcos' presidency, 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." [6] In his two terms of presidency and during Martial Law, he enacted many
laws promoting science and technology.

In his Second State of the Nation Address on January 23, 1967, he declared that science was necessary for the development programs, and thus, directed the Department
of Education to revitalize the science courses in public high schools. The Department of Education, with the National Science Development Board (NSDB), is
organizing a project to provide selected high schools with science teaching equipment over a four-year period. [7]

In his Third State of the Nation Address on January 22, 1968, he recognized that technology was the leading factor in economic development, and channeled additional
funds to support projects in applied sciences and science education. [8]

In his Fourth State of the Nation Address on January 27, 1969, he gave a big part of the war damage fund to private universities to encourage them to create courses in
science and technology and to research. He stated that he planned a project to have medical interns do a tour of duty in provincial hospitals to arouse their social
conscious and reduce the "brain drain." On April 6, 1968, he proclaimed 35 hectares in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal as the site of the Philippine Science Community. The
government also conducted seminars for public and private high school and college science teachers, training programs and scholarships for graduate and undergraduate
science scholars, and workshops on fisheries and oceanography.[9]

In his Fifth State of the Nation Address on January 26, 1970, he emphasized that the upgrading of science curricula and teaching equipment is crucial to the science
development program. He added the Philippine Coconut Research Institute to the NSDB to modernize the coconut industry. The NSDB also established the Philippine
Textile Research Institute. The Philippine Atomic Energy Commission of the NSDB explored the uses of atomic energy for economic development. Marcos assisted
107 institutions in undertaking nuclear energy work by sending scientists to study nuclear science and technology abroad, and providing basic training to 482 scientists,
doctors, engineers, and technicians.[10]

In his Seventh State of the Nation Address on January 24, 1972, he spoke about his major development projects in reforming sectors of education. Such projects
included research and development schools, technical institutes, science education centers, and agricultural colleges and vocational high schools. [11]

In 1972, he created the National Grains Authority to provide for the development of the rice and corn industry to fully harness it for the economy of the country.
(Presidential Decree No. 4, s. 1972)[12] He established the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research to support the progressive development of agriculture, forestry,
and fisheries for the nation. It was attached to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. [13] He provided further support for the
promotion of scientific research and invention with Presidential Decree No. 49, s. 1972. This decree contains details on the protection of intellectual property for the
creator or publisher of the work.[14] He established the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) under the
Department of National Defense to provide environmental protection and to utilize scientific knowledge to ensure the safety of the people. (Presidential Decree
No. 78, s. 1972)[15]

In 1973, he created the Philippine National Oil Company to promote industrial and economic development through effective and efficient use of energy sources.
(Presidential Decree No. 334, s. 1973)[16]

In 1976, he enacted a law under Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, s. 1976 to establish the National Academy of Science and Technology, which is composed of
scientists with "innovative achievement in the basic and applied sciences," to serve as a reservoir of scientific and technological expertise for the country. [17]

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City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Philippines
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

In 1978, he created a Task Force on the formulation of a national action program on science and technology to assess policies and programs of science and technology.
(Executive Order No. 512, s. 1978)[18] In his Fourteenth State of the Nation Address on July 23, 1979, he said that the government 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. While these projects have had breakthroughs, the market machinery did not
adapt and invest in this technology due to the high-risk front-end costs.[19]

In 1979, he constituted the Health Sciences Center created by R.A. No. 5163 as an autonomous member within the University of the Philippines System to improve the
internal organization and unity of leadership within its units. (Executive Order No. 519, s. 1979)[20]

In 1980, he created the National Committee on Geological Sciences to advise government and private entities on matters concerning development in geological
sciences. (Executive Order No. 625, s. 1980)[21]

In 1982, he reorganized the National Science Development Board and its agencies into a National Science and Technology Authority to provide central direction and
coordination of scientific and technological research and development. (Executive Order No. 784, s.
1982)[22] He granted salary increases to the people with teaching positions in the Philippine Science High School due to their necessity in the advancement of national
science. (Executive Order No. 810, s. 1982).[23] He enacted a law on the completion of the National Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Complex at the University
of the Philippines at Los Baños. (Executive Order No. 840, s. 1982)[24]

In 1986, he established the Mindanao and Visayas campuses of the Philippine Science High School to encourage careers in science and technology and to be more
accessible to the talented students in the Mindanao and Visayas areas. (Executive Order No. 1090, s. 1986) [25] Fifth Republic
Filipina food technologist Maria Y. Orosa (1893–1945) is credited with inventing banana ketchup.[26][27]

In 1986, during Corazon Aquino's presidency, the National Science and Technology Authority was replaced by the Department of Science and Technology, 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. During Corazon Aquino's State of the Nation Address in 1990, she said that science and
technology development shall be one of the top three priorities of the government towards an economic recovery. [5]

On August 8, 1988, Corazon 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.[5] The Congress did not put much priority in handling bills related to science and technology. The Senate Committee on Science and Technology was one of the
committees that handles the fewest bills for deliberation.[5]

Former DOST Secretary Ceferin Follosco reported that the budget allocation for science and technology was increased to 1.054 billion pesos in 1989 from the previous
year's 464 million pesos. However, due to the Asian financial crisis, budget allocation for the years 1990 and 1991 were trimmed down to 920 and 854 million pesos
respectively. Budget allocation were increased to 1.7 billion pesos in 1992.[5]

During her term, President Corazon Aquino encouraged scientists and inventors to bring the Philippines to its former position as second to only Japan in the field of
science and technology. One of the goals of her administration was to achieve the status as being an industrialized country by 2000. She urged that the private research
sector form a stronger bond between public research to help jump-start the progress in the area of Philippine Research and Development.[28]

Ironically, it was during President Corazon Aquino's term and the reorganization of Philippine bureaucracy that Executive Order No.128 abolished R.A. No. 3859,
also known as the “Philippine Inventors Incentive Act.” This Philippine Inventors Commission was under the Science Development board. It gave assistance to Filipino
inventors through giving financial aid, patent application assistance, legal assistance, and to help inventors market their products domestically and abroad. [29] Despite the
abolishment of the Philippine Inventors Commission, her administration gave rise to new avenues for the government to aid the progress of Science and Technology in
the country.

R.A. 6655 or the Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988 opened doors to free education up to the secondary level, implemented in the education system together
with this was the “Science for the Masses Program” which aimed at scientific and technological literacy among Filipinos. The Aquino administration recognized the
importance of science and technology in the development of the Philippines into a newly industrialized country. Funding for the science and technology sector was
tripled from 464 million in 1986 to 1.7 billion in 1992.

The Science and Technology Master Plan was formulated which aimed at the modernization of the production sector, upgrading research activities, and development of
infrastructure for science and technological purposes. A Research and Development Plan was also formulated to examine and determine which areas of research needed
attention and must be given priority. The criteria for identifying the program to be pursued were, development of local materials, probability of success, potential of
product in the export market, and its strategic nature. The grants for the research and development programs was included in the Omnibus Investment Law.[1]

There were noticeable improvements regarding science and technology as stated in President Fidel Ramos' State of the Nation Address. In his third SONA, there was a
significant increase in personnel specializing in the science and technology field. At 1998, the Philippines was estimated to have around 3,000 competent scientists and
engineers. Adding to the increase of scientists would be the result of the two newly built Philippine Science High Schools in Visayas and Mindanao which promotes
further development of young kids through advance S&T curriculum.[30] The government provided 3,500 scholarships for students who were taking up professions
related to S&T. Schools were becoming more modernized and updated with the addition of high-tech equipment for student improvement and teachers were getting

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City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Philippines
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

training programs to benefit themselves and their students. Health care services were promoted through local programs such as "Doctors to the Barrio Program." The
health care programs were innovative and effective as shown by the change in life expectancy from 67.5 years in
1992 to 69.1 years in 1995.[31]

Priority for S&T personnel increased when Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439) was established. The award was published in
order to give incentives and rewards for people who have been influential in the field of S&T. In the sixth SONA, education was one of the primary story-lines wherein
programs such as National Program for Gifted Filipino Children in Science and
Technology and enactment of a law creating a nationwide system of high schools specializing in the field of science and engineering. [32]

Fidel V. Ramos believes that science and technology was one of the means wherein the Philippines could attain the status of new industrialized country (NIC). During
his term, he was able to establish programs that were significant to the field of S&T. In 1993, Science and Technology Agenda for National Development (STAND)
was established. Among its priorities were: (1) exporting winners identified by the DTI; (2) domestic needs identified by the President's Council for Countryside
Development; (3) support industries and (4) coconut industry development. Congress, during his term, was able to enact laws that were significant for the field. Among
were: (1) Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439); (2) Science and Technology Scholarship Law of 1994 (Republic Act No. 7687)
and (3) Inventors and Inventions Incentives Act (Republic Act No. 7459). The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 8293) was enacted
during Ramos' term. The law provides industrial property rights, copyrights and related rights, and technology transfer arrangements. [33]

In President Joseph Estrada's term, two major legislations that he signed were Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749[34]) which was designed to
protect and preserve the environment and ensure the sustainable development of its natural resources, and Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792) [35]
which outlaws computer hacking and provides opportunities for new businesses emerging from the Internet-driven New Economy. Aside from these, in his first State of
the Nation Address, President Estrada launched a full-scale program based on cost-effective irrigation technologies. He also announced that Dole-outs are out, which
meant basic health care, basic nutrition, and useful education for those who want, but cannot afford it. Lastly, he said that they would speed up the program to establish
one science high school in every province.[36] It was in his second State of the Nation Address that President Estrada announced the passage of the Clean Air Act, and
the decision to pursue the 15-year modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.[37] His last State of the Nation Address pushed for the advancement of
industries and schools into the Internet age, as well as the announcement of the passage of the e-Commerce Act. [38]

In the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, the science and technology sector of the Philippines was dubbed as the "golden age" of science and technology by
then secretary Estrella Albastro [3]. Numerous laws and projects that concerns both the environment and science to push technology as a tool to increase the country's
economic level. This is to help increase the productivity from Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) and help benefit the poor people. Moreover, the term
"Filipinnovation" was the coined term used in helping the Philippines to be an innovation hub in Asia.[4]

The STI was developed further by strengthening the schools and education system such as the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), which focuses in science,
technology and mathematics in their curriculum. This helps schools produce get more involve in this sector. Private sectors were also encouraged to participate in
developing the schools through organizing events and sponsorships. Future Filipino scientists and innovators can be produced through this system [4]

Helping the environment was one of the focus in developing technology in the Philippines. One of the more known laws to be passed by her administration was the
R.A. 9367 or the "Biofuels" act. This act promotes the development and usage of biofuels throughout the country. This potentially enables a cheaper alternative to
gasoline as a medium in producing energy. Also, this benefits the environment since it boasts a cleaner emission compared to regular fuel. Yet, setbacks such as lack of
raw materials is holding the full implementation of the laws since importing the necessary materials are imported more. [5] On one had, drought-free rice was also highly
encouraged to by used during her term. This enables farmers to produce rice despite the environmental hazards that slows or stops the production. [3]

In an effort to improve the efficiency of both land and water, the government imposes Republic Act 10601 which improves the Agriculture and Fisheries Sector through
Mechanization (AFMech). RA 10601 covers research, development, and extension (RDE), promotion,

distribution, supply, assembling, manufacturing, regulation, use, operation, maintenance and project implementation of agricultural and fisheries machinery and
equipment (Section 4).[39]

In 2014, President Aquino conferred four new National Scientist for their contribution in the Scientific field,[40] Academicians Gavino C. Trono, Angel C. Alcala,
Ramon C. Barba, and Edgardo D. Gomez was honored in their respective fields. Trono's contribution helped a lot of families in the coastal populations through the
extensives studies he made on seaweed species. On the other hand, Alcala served as the

pioneer scientist and advocate of coral reefs aside from his contribution in the fields of systematics, secology and herpetology. Barba's contribution changes the seasonal
supply of fresh fruits to an all year round availability of mangoes through his studies on the induction of flowering of mango and micropropagation of important crop
species. Lastly, Gomez steered the national-scale assessment of damage coral reefs which led a national conservation.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Trace the development of science and technology from the colonial times up to the present. What have you
observed?
2. What do you think are the major contributions of science and technology to Philippine nation building? 3. What specific
government policy do you like the most in terms of contributing to the science and technology in the Philippines? What do
you think arethemajor contributions of the Philippines to the field at present?

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 Colegio de San Gabriel Arcangel
City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Philippines
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

4. What policies do you want the government to implement in the near future?

ACTIVITY:
Divide the class into groups. Each group will be assigned to a president after Marcos. Identify some some achievements in the
field of science and technology under the assigned administration and trace how they helped shape the Philippines as a nation, Sow
tour findings to class through a 5- to 10- minute creative video presentation

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