MODULE 2
Science and technology in the Philippines
describes scientific and techno-logical progress made by the Philippines and
analyses related policy issues.
Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
The main agency responsible for managing science and technology (S&T).
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 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.
Some of the agencies under the Department of Science and Technology include:
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources
Research and Development (PCAARRD)
is responsible for the development of the agriculture, aquatic, and natural
resources sectors in the Philippines.
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)
is responsible for the research and development of nuclear science and
technology in the Philippines.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA)
is responsible for providing weather forecasts, flood warnings, and other
meteorological services in the Philippines.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)
is responsible for monitoring and studying earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
and other geologic phenomena in the Philippines.
There are also sectoral councils for Forestry, Agri-culture and Aquaculture, the
Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and Nutrition, Health, Meteorology,
Volcanology and Seismology.
The major contributions of science and technology to Philippine nation-building are
linked to its socio-economic progress and its industrialization. Today, the current
state of our country is very low in its capacity to produce local goods for domestic needs
as well as in international scientific research publications.
Brief Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines
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."
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."
"The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by
pre-Spanish era Filipinos. The early inhabitants of the had their own culture and
traditions. They had their own belief system and indigenous knowledge
Kept them organized and sustained their lives and communities for many
years.
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (key) is inscribed with small writing hammered into
its surface. It shows heavy Indian cultural influence (by way of Srivijaya) present in the
Philippines prior to European colonization in the 16th century.
"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.
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (Filipino: Inskripsyon sa Binatbat na Tanso ng
Laguna, Malay: Prasasti keping tembaga Laguna; often shortened into the acronym
LCI), a legal document inscribed on a copper plate in 900 CE, is the earliest known
calendar-dated document found in the Philippines. The date of the inscription would
make it contemporary to the Balitung kingdom of Central Java, although it did not
necessarily originate from that area.
The plate was found in 1989 by a laborer near the mouth of the Lumbang River in
Wawa, Lumban, Laguna in the Philippines. The inscription, written in a mix of the Old
Malay language using the Old Kawi script, was first deciphered by Dutch anthropologist
and Hanunó'o script expert Antoon Postma in 1992.
The LCI documents the existence of several early Philippine polities as early as AD 900,
most notably the Pasig River delta polity of Tondo. Scholars believe that it also indicates
trade, cultural, and possibly political ties between these polities and at least one
contemporaneous Asian civilization—the Medang Kingdom of the island of Java.
The inscription was written in Kawi script—a writing system developed in Java— using a
mixture of languages including Sanskrit, Old Javanese, and Old Malay. This was a rare
trace of Javanese influence, which suggests the extent of inter insular exchanges of that
time.
SCIENCE
Planting crops that provide them food
Taking care of animals to help in their daily tasks
Food production
Interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and climates and
organizing months and years
Medicinal uses of plants
TECHNOLOGY
Building houses
Irrigation systems
Developing tools
Musical instruments
METAL AGE INFLUENCE
Sophisticated designs of gold and silver jewelry, ceramics and metal tools.
Trading with other countries like China, Indonesia and Japan.
All these practices in S & T are known as Indigenous or Folk Science
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."
Spanish Rule
Spaniards brought their own culture and practices
Established schools and introduced the concepts of s and disciplines
Learning of science in school focuses on understanding different concepts
related to the human body, plants, animals and bodies.
Technology focuses on using and developing house tools in everyday life.
Life during the Spanish era
Life became modernized, adapting some western technology and ways of life.
Filipinos replicated technology brought by the Spaniards using indigenous
materials.
Medicine and advanced science were introduced in formal colleges and
universities.
GALLEON TRADE
The galleon trade was supplied by merchants largely from port areas of Fujian
who traveled to Manila to sell the Spaniards spices, porcelain, ivory,
processed silk cloth and other valuable commodities.
From 1565 to 1815, the galleon trade contributed to the change of culture,
language and environment for both Philippines and Mexico.
The Galleon Trade was a government monopoly. Only two galleons were
used: One sailed from Acapulco to Manila with some 500,000 pesos worth of
goods, spending 120 days at sea; the other sailed from Manila to Acapulco with
some 250,000 pesos worth of goods spending 90 days at sea.
The country became one of the centers of global trade in SEA and was
considered one of the most developed places in the region.
Superstitious beliefs and Catholic doctrines and practices halted the growth of
science in the country.
AMERICAN PERIOD
The Americans have more influence in the Development of S&T compared to the
Spaniards. They established the public education system, improved engineering works
and health conditions of the people. They established a modern research university, the
University of the Philippines and also created more public hospitals. The mineral
resources were explored and exploited, transportation and communication systems
were improved, though not accessible throughout the country.
The Americans did everything to “Americanize” the Filipinos. They reorganized the
learning of science and introduced it in public and private schools.
In basic education, science education focused on nature studies and science and
sanitation. The teaching of science in higher education has greatly improved and
modernized.
WORLD WAR II
World War II has destabilized the development of the country in many ways.
Institutions and public facilities were turned into ashes, houses were burned, and many
lives destroyed. The country had a difficult time to rebuild itself from the ruins of the war.
The human spirit to survive and to rebuild the country may be strong but the capacity of
the country to bring back what was destroyed was limited.
Establishment of the New Republic
The new nation started focusing on using its limited resources in improving S&T
capability.
Use of Overseas Development Allocation to improve scientific productivity and
technological capability.
Human resource development focused on producing more engineers,
scientists, technology experts, doctors, and other professionals.
INFLUENCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF S & T IN THE PHILIPPINES
Science and technology may have significant impact on the lives of the people
and in the development of Philippine society. However, improving the quality of science
education still remains as a big challenge in the country. School science from basic
education to graduate education is improving slowly, and there are only a few students
enrolling in science and technology courses.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Introduced and implemented programs, projects and policies to boost science
and technology.
GOAL: prepare the whole country and its people to meet the demands of a
technologically driven world and capacitate the people to live in a world
driven by science.
In response to the ASEAN 2015 Agenda, the government, particularly the DOST,
has sought the expertise of the NCRP to consult various sectors in the society to
study how the Philippines can prepare itself in meeting the ASEAN 2015 goals.
The NRCP clustered these policies into four:
1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and Governance
Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to the
curriculum
Emphasizing teaching in the mother tongue
Developing school infrastructure and providing for ICT broadband
Local food security
2. Physics, Engineering, and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and
Mathematics
Emphasizing degrees, licenses, and employment opportunities
Outright grants for peer monitoring
Review of RA 9184
Harnessing science and technology as an independent mover of development
3. Medical, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms with ASEAN-harmonized
standards by full implementation of the FDA
Creating an education council dedicated to standardization of pharmaceutical
services and care
Empowering food and drug agencies to conduct evidence-based research as
pool of information
Allocating 2% of the GDP to research
Legislating a law supporting human genome projects
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and Forestry
Protecting and conserving biodiversity by full implementation of existing laws
Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN countries
Promoting indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous people’s conservation
Formulation of common food and safety standards
