LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

Ozamiz City

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

LEARNING MODULE

Course STS (Science, Technology and Society )

Module/Term Module 3/ Week 4-5
TITLE: Science and Technology (S&T) and Nation Building
EXPLORE: INTRODUCTION:
(4 hrs.) 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.
Science &Technology (S&T) and Nation Building
 To identify actual S&T policies/agenda of the government
 To evaluate government policies pertaining to S&T in terms of
their contributions to nation building

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.

On 21 October 2016, the DOST hosted the 1st National R&D

Conference (NRDC) to harmonize the country’s research and
development priorities and align them with the thrusts of the current
administration. Comments and recommendations raised during the 1st
NRDC were considered in the final version of the HNRDA which was
presented to stakeholders during the 2nd National R&D Conference on
15 February 2017.

One of the outcomes identified in the Philippine Development Plan

2017-2022 is to increase the country's potential growth by building the
foundation for a globally competitive knowledge economy where
accelerated technology adoption and stimulated innovation are
envisioned to be achieved. The HNRDA, therefore, articulates our
national priorities and will serve as guide for public investment in R&D
while ensuring a cohesive convergence and integration of R&D efforts
towards the shared goal of inclusive socio-economic growth and a better
life for Filipinos.

The HNRDA is organized into 5 sectors: Basic Research; Agriculture

Aquatic and Natural Resources; Health; Industry, Energy and Emerging
Technology; and Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change
Adaptation. The Agenda was formulated by the National Research
Council of the Philippines (NRCP), Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development
(PCAARRD), Philippine Council for Health Research and Development
(PCHRD), Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging
Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), and Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) in cooperation with stakeholders in the respective sectors.

 Aligned with AmBisyon natin 2040: matatag, maginhawa, at

panatag na buhay para sa lahat
 Has 3 pillars:
 Malasakit (enhancing the social fabric)
 Pagbabago (reducing inequality)
 Kaunlaran (increasing potential growth)

 Organized into 5 sectors:

1. Basic research
 2. Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources
3. Health
4. Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology
5. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation

1st Sector: National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA)

National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) is mandated to
promote and support fundamental and basic research in the country
The National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), a
collegial body of over four thousand researchers, scientists, and experts,
is mandated to promote and support fundamental and basic research in
the country as provided in the 9th Philippine Legislature Act No. 4120
passed on 8 December 1933. It is likewise mandated to provide advice
on problems and issues of national interest.
Along this line, the NRCP supports research that is directed
primarily towards developing a new and fuller scientific knowledge or
understanding of any subject which may or may not have practical
applications. Basic research results from intellectual curiosity aimed at
proving the unknown, or it may seek new knowledge required for
practical application in the future (Ref: Science Act of 1958 as amended
by RA 3589).
For 2017-2022, the NRCP’s National Integrated Basic Research
Agenda (NIBRA) will prioritize fundamental research in support of the
Philippine Development Plan, the National Security Plan, and the
Science for Change Program led by the Department of Science and
Technology. It has six issue-based NIBRA programs, namely:
A. Water Security – TUBIG Program (Tubig ay Buhayin at Ingatan)
B. Food and Nutrition Security – SAPAT Program (Saganang Pagkain
Para sa Lahat)
C. Health Sufficiency – LIKAS Program (Likas Yaman sa Kalusugan)
D. Clean Energy – ALERT Program (Alternative Energy Research
Trends)
E. Sustainable Community – SAKLAW Program (Saklolo sa Lawa)
F. Inclusive Nation-building – ATIN program (Ang Tinig Natin)

Among these six, the top three priority areas for 2017-2019 are
SAKLAW, ATIN, and LIKAS Programs. Outputs of NRCP-funded
research are journal and scholarly publications, policy advisories, patent
applications, and products used for community and public engagements
such as books, manuals, monographs, among others.
The NIBRA is a product of a series of consultations and forums
which started in 2016. The thirteen disciplinal Divisions of NRCP
generated their respective basic research agenda. These are the
Divisions of Governmental, Educational and International Policies
(Division 1), Mathematical Sciences (Division II), Medical Sciences
(Division III), Pharmaceutical Sciences (Division IV), Biological
Sciences (Division V), Agriculture and Forestry (Division VI),
Engineering and Industrial Research (Division VII), Social Sciences
(Division VIII), Physics (Division IX), Chemical Sciences (Division X),
Humanities (Division XI), Earth and Space Sciences (Division XII), and
Veterinary Medicine (Division XIII).

2nd Sector: Health

Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) is
mandated as the national coordinating body for health research in the
country.
Republic Act No. 10532 or the Philippine National Health
Research System (PNHRS) Act of 2013 recognizes and mandates the
Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD-
DOST) as the national coordinating body for health research in the
country. Together with the PNHRS core agencies: Department of
Health (DOH), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and
National Institutes of Health – University of the Philippines Manila
(NIH-UPM), the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA)
was developed. The NUHRA serves the following purposes: it is the
national roadmap for health research in the Philippines; it provides
focus and direction for health research and development efforts; it
guides policy makers, funding and donor agencies and researchers; it
provides evidence-based solutions to pressing health problems; and it
serves as basis for maximizing resource utilization and minimizing
duplication of research efforts.
The research priorities for health research and development (R&D)
is a product of consultations with experts and stakeholders from the
private and public sectors including other line agencies of government,
academe, and industry. Consultations were done through meetings,
workshops and focused group discussions (FGDs). The research priority
setting activities were guided by the DOST’s S&T thrusts, emerging
and re-emerging health concerns and other national and global
development concerns. The health R&D priorities comprise the health
S&T component of the NUHRA.

RESEARCH PRIORITIES for HEALTH RESEARCH and

DEVELOPMENT.
A. Diagnostics
B. Drug discovery and development
C. Functional foods
D. Hospital equipment and biomedical devices
E. Information and communication technology for health
F. Dengue
G. Nutrition and food quality and safety
H. Disaster risk reduction
I. Climate Change Adaptation
J. Omic technologies for health (Platform technology across research
priorities)

3rd Sector: AGRICULTURE, AQUATIC AND NATURAL

RESOURCES (AANR)
A product of multi-sectoral consultations initiated by the Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD).
The Harmonized National R&D Agenda in AANR (HNRDA-
AANR) 2017-2022 is an integration of the existing R&D agenda of
government agencies conducting R&D in AANR and inputs from
various stakeholders. The HNRDA-AANR 2017-2022 is a product of
multi-sectoral consultations. Initially, a Roundtable Consultation was
conducted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and
Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) with
representatives from government agencies performing R&D functions
in AANR on October 13, 2016 at PCAARRD, Los Baños, Laguna. The
output of the consultation, an initial draft agenda, was then presented
during the National R&D Conference on October 21, 2016 held at
Crowne Plaza Hotel Galleria, Quezon City. The conference was
attended by representatives from government, the academe and private
sector and civil society groups. The draft HNRDA-AANR was also
presented to the Regional R&D Consortia during the Joint Regional
R&D Consortium Chairpersons and Directors meeting held at
PCAARRD on November 28, 2016. In addition, it was sent to heads of
agencies involved in R&D in AANR for validation, and further
discussed during the 2nd Round Table Consultation held on February
10, 2017 at PCAARRD.
The AANR sector supports the use of advanced and emerging
technologies such as biotechnology, genomics, bioinformatics,
nanotechnology, nuclear technology, space technology, electronics and
automation, and ICT as R&D tools to find S&T solutions to AANR
problems or develop new products with significant potential impact to
the sector.
The sector supports organic agriculture, halal food production,
food safety and traceability initiatives, and the development of
genetically modified organisms as long as it is compliant with biosafety
rules and regulations.
The AANR sector also supports Farm Mechanization, as mandated
by RA 10601, otherwise known as the Agricultural and Fisheries
Mechanization Law, to modernize the sector and increase agricultural
productivity, efficiency and competitiveness.

4th Sector: INDUSTRY, ENERGY AND EMERGING

TECHNOLOGY
The responsibility of Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and
Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) are the
following:
1. Food and Nutrition Security
2. Countryside Development
3. Competitive Industry
4. Delivery of Social Services
5. Intelligent Transportation Solutions
6. Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Solutions
7. Human Security

Seventeen sectors covering various industries, the energy and

transportation sectors, and high impact fields like biotechnology and
nanotechnology are within the purview of the Philippine Council for
Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development
(PCIEERD-DOST). The overarching objective of DOST-PCIEERD is
to strengthen these sectors through research and development (R&D)
support, human resource and institution development, information and
technology diffusion, and development of enabling policies. These
programs contribute to the Department of Trade and Industry’s strategy
of promoting industry competitiveness - to sustain the tremendous
growth in the services and manufacturing sectors experienced over the
last six years as well as develop business opportunities in frontier
sectors. Such goals are anchored on the Government’s long term goal of
attaining genuine and inclusive growth.
The Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA) for the
Industry Sector for 2017-2022 is formulated through targeted
consultations with the private sector, National Government Agencies
(NGAs) and the academe. This was presented during the National R&D
Conference in 2016 and finalized in February 2017. The foundation of
the HNRDA are the consolidated individual DOST-PCIEERD sectoral
R&D roadmaps which were crafted through a consultative process with
key stakeholders and aligned with NGA priorities. To ensure its
continued relevance with rapid technological changes and an
increasingly globalized economy, each R&D roadmap is periodically
assessed and updated during the period 2017-2022.
To secure a truly harmonized R&D strategy within government,
the DOST-PCIEERD has entered into several memorandum of
agreement with NGAs essentially to seamlessly integrate R&D efforts
strategically and even fiscally (through co-implementation and
cofunding of projects). By mid-2017, partnerships would have been
forged with more than a dozen NGAs including the Department of
Energy, Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of
National Defense.
Industry competitiveness will focus on micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) and much effort will be provided toward
countryside development. Many R&D projects will leverage on existing
resources and focus on waste utilization, value-addition of traditional
products and efficient manufacturing processes. Lastly, it is noteworthy
that four new fields of research are to be included as priority areas for
2017-2022. These are deemed to be emerging industries and critical to
national development.
• Space Technology Applications
• Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
• Human Security and Defense Research
• Creative Industries
5th Sector: DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND CLIMATE
CHANGE ADAPTATION (DRR & CCA)
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)
and Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) are in-charge of the following:
1. Observation and Monitoring Networks
2. Technology Development and Application for Monitoring
3. Modelling and Simulation for Improvement of Monitoring and
Forecasting
4. Hazards, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
5. Warning and Risk Communication
6. Technology Development and Application for Climate Change
Mitigation and Adaptation
7. Technology Development and Application for Disaster Risk
Management
8. Policy Research

The 2017-2022 Harmonized National Research and Development

Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
(HNRDA DRR-CCA) represents the priorities of government
organizations and stakeholders involved in DRR and CCA, consistent
with related local and international development initiatives.
The HNRDA DRR-CCA consolidates the priorities of the DOST
Sectoral Councils, which have conducted multi-sectoral consultations,
DOST agencies and DOST regional offices. The research priorities
were evaluated and harmonized by a team from the Philippine Institute
of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and Philippine
Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) with reference to related national plans, such as the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan, the National
Climate Change Action Plan, and global initiatives such as the
Sustainable Development Goals and Sendai Framework for Disaster
Risk Reduction. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change
Adaptation are cross-cutting concerns in the health, agriculture,
environment, energy and industry sectors.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by
the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in September 2015. It sets
out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 associated
targets and describes a number of international mechanisms for
supporting implementation.
DOST supports the Agenda by focusing substantial efforts to
contribute to Goals 9, 11 and 13.
 Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and
sustainable industrialization and foster innovation .
 Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe,
resilient and sustainable.
 Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its
impacts.