The Early Years  Insular Bureau of Agriculture and

(Spanish Period, 1521-1898) Bureau of Gvernment Laboratories

 Suez Canal o Authored by Dean Worcester
o It shortened the route from the  A zoology professor at
Philippines to Europe in 1869. the University of
o Filipinos were able to study in Michigan and a strong
Europe. advocate of science.
 E.g. Darwin’s theory of o Conducted biological, chemical,
evolution in 1859. and other scientific studies.
 Mendel’s law of heredity
in 1866.  The Philippine Commission
 Invention of telephone in o Expanded and included Dr.
1875. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, a
Filipino.
 Filipino scientist interested on Animal
and plant systems  1905
o Fr. Ignacio Mercado, Dr. o The bureau of Government
Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, and Laboratories was reorganized
Dr. Leon Ma. Guerrero in into the Bureau of Science.
Botany.  Enabled it to undertake
o Anacleto del Rosario in research in all field of
Chemistry. science.
o Dr. Manuel Guerrero, Dr. Jose  Many notable American
Montes, and Dr. Elrodario scientist were recruited.
Mercado in Medicine. o 1906
 Quality research works
The Early Years (American Occupation, were produced
1898-1941) necessiting the creation
o The Schurman Commission (Jacob of the Philippine Journal
Gould Schurman) of Science.
o Recommended the replacement  1906
of military government with a o The bureau of Science was
civil government. made the custodian of the
o Establish the free public International Standards of
educational system in the Weights and Measurements in
country. the Country.

 The Taft Commission (William Howard  The University of the Philippines

Taft) o Was established in 1908.
o Started the gradual Filipinization o Followed by the College of
of the government. Agriculture in Los Banos.
o Encouraged education in
preparation for self-government.  Jones Law (The Philippine Autonomy
Act)
 1901 o Replaced the Philippine
o Philippine public school system Commission with the House of
was established. Representatives.
o 765 Thomasites were recruited  Downtrend of the Bureau
of Science began.
  Transferred to the and Leprosy before
Department of 1900.
Agriculture and o Also did research on uses of
Natural Resources Agricultural products.
(DANR).  Edwardo Quisumbing.
 Shift the emphasis from  Medical plants.
health and sanitation to  Alfredo Santos.
the study of country’s  Isolation and
natural resources. elucidation of
 Growth of Science natural products.
slowed.  Luz Olivares Belardo.
 Essential oils used
 Bureau of Science as food flavors
o Had new functions and fragrances.
 Regulation, analysis, and  Julius Banzon.
branding of commercial  Coconut as
fertilizer. renewable source
 Control, checking, of fuel.
advertising, labeling or
branding of any business The College of Agriculture
and commercial  Focused efforts on improving the
commodities. breed of basic crops, livestock and
o The world recession in the poultry.
1930s caused further losses to o Varietal introduction, evaluation
the bureau. and inheritance in rice, corn,
sugar cane, coconut, abaca and
 1933-1934 tobacco.
o A general reorganization took o Improving the breed, feed
place. ration, and the quality of meat
 DANR became the and eggs.
Department of o Dr. Francisco Fronda
Agriculture and  Father of Poultry Industry
Commerce. in the Philippines.
 Bureau of Agriculture  Wrote 500 scientific
was split into the Bureau articles during his
of Plants and Bureau of lifetime.
Animal Industry.
 The Division of Mineral The Early Years (The war years, 1941-1945)
Resources was  Manuel L. Quezon
converted into the o The president when the war
Bureau of Mines. between Japan and US broke
 Bureau of Science lost out in 1941.
some of its division.  Very poor economy confronted the
Commonwealth and later the Republic.
 Public Health and Nutrition  Unproductive period in the research
o Main thrust during the early life of the Bureau of Science.
years. o Fear of death and threat of
 Due to outbreak of hunger prevailed.
cholera, small pox,
 A few national scientist directed their
dysentery, malaria, TB,
efforts to food processing.
 o Toyo and Vinegar were  There was rampant graft, corruption,
produced. and inefficiency of the government due
o Coconut was converted into to unqualified officials.
coco jam and cooking oil.  The budget for the bureau of Science
for its research and other scientific
The Early Years (Rehabilitation and activities was at the mercy of the
Reconstruction period, 1945-1948) secretary (operating with a low budget
 Manuel Roxas led to the bureau soliciting foreign aid
o Became the first president of through scientific projects)
the Republc.
 Laid down his policies to Post-War Philippine S&T (The Quirino
rebuild the economy Administration. 1948-1953)
(industrialization, people  President Elipidio Quirino desperately
participation in the sought the help of the US.
government, closer o The Bell Mission- President
cooperation with the US, Truman proposed an economic
and the restoration of survey mission.
peace and justice) o $250 Million-aid from the US
 Bell Trade Relations  Institute of Science was renamed
o Provided for free trade relations Institute of Science and Technology
between the Philippines and the and placed under the National
US until 1954. Economic Coordination.
o This gives the Americans the  Philippine economy flourished
right to dispose of, exploit, o Crop production from 1946-
develop, and utilize all 1956 increased by 100%
agricultural, timber, and mineral o Livestock and poultry
lands of the country. production likewise improved.
 Bureau of Science was converted to o The demands for lumber and
the Institute of Science and placed timber greatly increased due to
under the office of the President. rehabilitation and reconstruction
o Coordinated and redirected all programs.
scientific efforts toward
industrialization. Post-War Philippine S&T (The Magsaysay
 Filipino scientist directed their efforts Administration, 1953-1957)
toward the solution of the country’s  President Ramon Magsaysay directed
problems and needs (big shortage of all his efforts to the upliftment of the
food and fuel, public health was poor) rural people.
o Conversion of coconut oil into  Improved land reform system
ethyl alcohol  Provided easy-term credit and facilities
o Fermentation of cassava  Constructed roads and buildings for
o Indigenous raw materials and masses
recycled food were used as  Provided technical advice for farmers
animal feed, etc. on farm management and intensive
 The gradual Filipinization of the development.
government resulted several negative  Extended the duty-free trade under
effects on the development of science the Bell Trade Act.
in the country.  Highest number of scientist, as well as
 Reorganization led to loss of records scientific works occurred in 1956.
  Due to RA no. 1237 which granted the Philippine Atomic Energy
special privileges to scientist and Commission (PAEC)
inventors  The Scientific Instrumentation
 Dioscoro Umali organized the Division Division was added to NSDB which
of Plant Breeding, the Philippine Seed shifted its efforts to extensive training
Board, the National Rice and Corn and expansion.
Cooperative movement program.  The International Rice Research
 Fronda continued to improve the Institute (IRRI) was established in
poultry industry by introducing modern 1960.
techniques.

Post-War Philippine S&T (The Garcia

Administration, 1957-1961) (Pre-Martial Law Years, 1965-1971)
 President Carlos Garcia adopted the  President Ferdinand Marcos national
“Filipino First Policy” goals emphasized economic and rural
 The National Science Board was developments
replaced with the National Science o Self-sufficiency in rice and
Development Board (NSDB), raising diversification of crops.
it to a department level with a budget o Land reform program and
of its own. intensification of community
 Scientific and industrial researches development programs.
were made more possible. o Laws that adjusted the
 1959 was called the “Crop Year” government’s buying price for
 Increased in production despite the rice and corn, reorganized
prolonged drought agricultural agencies to reduce
 An offshoot of agricultural research operational costs and attain
breakthroughs efficiency.
o Improved farm technology  UP College of Agriculture underwent
o Use of modern farm practices. rapid development in its facilities,
faculty and staff, academic programs
Post-War Philippine S&T (The Macapagal and extension
Administration, 1961-1965)  Training ground for Filipinos and other
 President Disdado Macapagal Asian graduate students
instituted the full decontrol program  The Ford Foundation granted funds
which lifted all government controls on for the establishment of the UP
foreign exchange. Computer Center in 1967, laboratory
 The country’s foreign reserves were facilities and research equipment.
depleted  The Philippine Sugar Industry
 Ended the protection of Filipino granted funds to support, revive and
enterprises develop a strong sugar technology
 Unlimited importation and the Filipino curriculum.
colonial mentality of buying “stateside”  Thrust the research were redirected
goods caused a substantial drop in towards.
sales of Philippine-made commodities.  5 years of priority
 The NSDB was mandated in 1963 to o Basic necessities
undertake research in all fields. o Import substitutes
o Through its commissions, o Exports
National Institute of Science o Waste materials and product
and Technology (NIST) and utilization
 o Science education program The Marcos Era (After Martial Law, 1981-
1985)
Science Education in the Philippines  President Marcos issued proclamation
 Science education focuses on the 2045 that lifted Martial Law
teaching, learning and understanding  NSDB drafted a comprehensive
of science. science and technology plan for the
 Schools have the responsibility to country (Five Year Science
develop “science culture” and ,Technology Development Plan)
o Philippine Science High School  NSDB was reorganized to National
System (PSHSS) Science and Technology Authority
o Special Science Elementary (NSTA)
Schools (SSES) o Mandated to formulate a
o Regional Science High School comprehensive National Plan
for Science and Technology
Indigenous S&T in the Philippines  The following agencies were created
 Indigenous S&T refers to the practice o Philippine Council for
of indigenous knowledge in everyday Agriculture and Resource
life (parents and older folks served as Research and Development
first teachers) (PCARRD)
 Examples o National Research Council of
o Predicting weather conditions the Philippines (NRCP)
by observing animal’s behavior o Philippine Council for Health
o Using herbal medicine Research and Development
o Preserving foods (PCHRD)
o Producing wines and juices o Philippine Council for Industry
from tropical fruit and Energy Research
o Building local irrigation systems Development (PCIERD)
 NAST tackled 3 major issues
The Marcos Era (Martial Law Years, 1972- o Collection of biological
1982) specimens
 President Marcos created o State of the dairy industry
Proclamation 1081 placing the entire o Effects of radiation on human
Philippines under Martial Law health
 He made himself head of the National
Economic Development Authority Post EDSA revolution (1986-present)
(NEDA)  President Corazon Aquino inherited a
 Reorganized many government serious economic crisis.
agencies (NSDB, NIST, DANR)  Organized the Philippine Commission
 Created Philippine Council for on Good Governance (PCGG)
Agricultural Research (PCAR) which  Created the Commission on Human
later became PCARR, Philippine Root Rights (CHR)
Crop Research and Training Center,  NSTA was reorganized to Department
Philippine Tobacco Research and of Science and Technology (DOST)
Training Center, Institute of Plant  PAGASA was transferred to DOST
Breeding, BIOTECH, CLSU Cotton from the Department of National
Research and Development Institute, Defense
National Academy of Science and  President Fidel Ramos envisioned the
Technology and Filipino Inventors Philippines “to be a country where all
Society, etc. are provided a better life”
  DOST refocused its efforts on the 15
“leading edges” sectors that have
substantial contribution to GNP
o Agriculture, aquaculture and
marine fisheries, forest and
natural resources, metals and
engineering, textile industry,
mining and minerals, process
industry, food and food industry,
information technology,
electronics, instrumentation and
control, emerging technologies,
and the pharmaceutical
industry.

Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA)

2017-2022
 Organized into 5 sectors
o Basic research
o Agriculture Aquatic and Natural
Resources
o Health
o Industry, Energy and Emerging
Technology
o Disaster Risk Reduction and
Climate Change Adaption.
