III

Science and Technology and

Nation Building
By:
Anna Maria Gracia T. Ingcog-Estardo, RN, LPT, MAEd
Objectives:
• Discuss the role of science and technology in
Philippine nation building;

• Evaluate government policies pertaining to S&T in

terms of their contributions to nation-building;
and

• Identify actual S&T policies of the government

and appraise their impact on the development of
the Filipino nation.
• Brief Historical Background of
Science and Technology in the
Philippines
• Philippines Then and Now

Video Presentation
• The early inhabitants of the archipelago had
their own culture and traditions.

– Own belief system and indigenous knowledge

– Keeps them organized and sustained their lives
and communities for many years.
• Pre-Spanish
Philippines

-Embedded
in the way of life
SCIENCE
– Planting crops that provide them food
– Taking care of animals
– Food production
– Interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to
predict seasons and climates
– Medicinal uses of plants
TECHNOLOGY
– Building houses
– Irrigations
– Developing tools
– Musical instruments
• Metal Age influence
– Gold and silver jewelry

• Trading with other countries

 Indigenous or Folk Science

 • Spanish Rule
– Brought their own culture and practices
– Established schools and introduced the concepts
of subjects 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
• Life during the Spanish era
– Became modernized

• 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
– 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

– More influence in the

Development of S&T
• Pubic education system

• Improved engineering works and health of the

people

• Mineral resources were explored and exploited

• “Americanize” the Filipinos

– Reorganized the learning of science

– In basic education, science education focuses on

nature studies and science and sanitation.
• 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.
 • New Republic
– 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
 Influences in the Development
of S & T in the Philippines
Internal Influences
• Survival
• Culture
• Economic Activities Development
of S & T in External Influences
the • Foreign
Philippines Colonizers
• Traders with
Foreign
Countries
• International
Economic
demands
• How does school
science shape Science
and Technology in our
country?
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 NRCP 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

2. Physics, Engineering, and Industrial Research,

Earth and Space Sciences, and Mathematics

3. Medical, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and Forestry

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