Unit 4:

Science and
Technology and
Nation Building
Unit 4: S&T and Nation Building

This unit discusses:

1. the history of Philippine S&T
2. how it affected the society and the physical
environment through the years
3. S&T roles in nation building.
 Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this Unit, students are expected to

demonstrate the following:

1. Recall the history of Philippine S&T

2. Discuss how developments in Philippine S&T
affect society and the physical environment
3. Relate how Filipino philosophical point of
views affect the development of S&T
4. Relate S&T roles in nation building
 Diagnostics: Learning Checkpoint
Instruction: Search and identify a major contribution of each of
the following scientist:
1. Anacleto Del Rosario
2. Francisco Quisumbing
3. Gregorio Zara
4. Julian Banzon
5. Manuel Guerrero
6. Ignacio Mercado
7. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera
8. Maria Orosa
9. Agapito Flores
10. Juan Salcedo, Jr.
 Discussion
• herbal medicines
• Business: use of the
alphabet, numbers,
weighing and measurement
systems, and calendar
• Farming, building of ships,
mining minerals and
weaving for clothing were
Usage of herbs – Pre-Spanish era the first skills developed by
www.spot.ph Filipinos for livelihood
• a superb architectural
design like the Banaue rice
terraces
Banaue rice terraces
www.worldatlas.com
 Discussion
• formal education and creation of
scientific organizations
• schools were mandated to teach
religion, mathematics, reading
and writing, and music and arts
• Health and sanitation were also
taught to locals.
University of Santo Tomas
• innovative approaches on farming www.rappler.com
• medicine and biology were given
focused
• focused on engineering:
construction of buildings,
churches, bridges, roads and
forts
• trade was prioritized due to Religion was taught
possible bigger profits thefirst.website
 Discussion
• the former Laboratorio Municipal was
replaced by the Bureau of
Government Laboratories under the
Department of Interior
• The Bureau was established for the
purpose of studying tropical diseases
and other related research projects
• In 1905, the Bureau was changed to
the Bureau of Science, which became Bureau of Science
the main research center of the www.pinterest.com
Philippines
• In 1933, the National Research
Council of the Philippines was
established
Medicine
• focused on agriculture, medicine and histclo.com
pharmacy, food processing and
forestry
• In 1946 the Bureau of Science was
substituted by the Institute of Science
 Discussion
• President Ferdinand Marcos mandated
Department of Education to do a
promotion of science courses in public
high schools
• budget for research projects in applied
sciences and science education
• fund for private universities and colleges
for the creation of courses related to Department of Science and
S&T and to promote research Technology (DOST)

• 35-hectare lot in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal commons.wikimedia.org

was proclaimed in 1968 as the Philippine
Science Community (now DOST site)
• Seminars, workshops, training programs
and scholarships on fisheries and
oceanography were sponsored by the
government
 Discussion
• Philippine Coconut Research,
Philippine Textile Research Institute,
Philippine Atomic Energy Commission,
National Grains Authority, Philippine
Council for Agricultural Research,
PAGASA, Philippine National Oil
Company, Plant Breeding Institute,
International Rice Research Institute,
Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Research on coconut
Forest Products, National Committee agriculture.com.ph
on Geological Sciences, National
Science Development Board, and
National Science and Technology
Authority
• National Academy of Science and
Technology (NAST)
• Mindanao and Visayas campuses of NAST
the Philippine Science High School nast.ph
were built and operated.
 Discussion
• In 1986, President Corazon Aquino
replaced the National Science and
Technology Authority to
the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) for S&T to be
represented in the cabinet
• S&T to have part on sustainable
economic recovery and growth
• created S&T Master Plan aimed to
update the production sector,
improve research activities, and
develop infrastructure used for
S&T.
Former Pres. Corazon C. Aquino • The R&D Plan determined
philnews.ph research areas of priority based on
local materials, likelihood of
success, potential of product to be
exported, and its tactical nature.
 Discussion
• In 1998, during the presidency of Fidel V.
Ramos, the Philippines had
approximately 3,000 competent scientists
and engineers.
• The "Doctors to the Barrio Program”
brought an improvement of life
expectancy from 67.5 years to 69.1 years
between 1992 to 1995.
• Incentives were given to people who
played significant role in S&T.
• National Program for Gifted Filipino
Children in S&T
• Republic Act (RA) No. 8439: Magna en.wikipedia.org
Carta for S&T Personnel; RA No. 7687:
S&T Scholarship Law of 1994; RA No.
7459: Inventors and Inventions Incentives
Act; and RA No. 8293: The Intellectual
Property Code of the Philippines.
 Discussion
• RA No. 8749: The Philippine
Clean Air Act of 1999 and RA
No. 8792: Electronic Commerce
Act of 2000 were both signed
and mandated during the term of
President Joseph E. Estrada
• He was also responsible in
implementing cost-effective
pesoreserve.com irrigation technologies,
distribution of basic health care,
nutrition, and education for
those who were willing but could
not afford.
Modernization of the
Philippine Armed
• He also laid down a 15-year
Forces by Pres. modernization program of
Joseph E. Estrada the Armed Forces of the
pt.wikipedia.org Philippines.
 Discussion
• During the administration of Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, Science, Technology
and Innovations (STI) was developed to
strengthen the educational system and
to help the poor.
• "Filipinnovation" was coined that aimed
to make the Philippines an innovation
hub in Asia.
• RA No. 9367: "Biofuels" Act to utilize
indigenous materials as source of
energy while having cleaner emissions
• use drought-free rice, rice that can "Filipinnovation"
withstand environmental hazards koronadalcitynews.blogspot.com
• RA No. 10601: Agriculture and Fisheries
Sector through Mechanization (AFMech)
was also passed that aimed to
modernize agricultural and fisheries
machinery and equipment
 Discussion
In 2014, President Benigno Aquino,
Jr. conferred new National
Scientists:
• Gavino C. Trono, who studied
seaweed species
Gavino C. Trono Angel C. Alcala • Angel C. Alcala, who
archimedesheatray.blogspot.com en.wikipedia.org pioneered on coral reefs
• Ramon C. Barba, who
changed the seasonal supply
of mangoes
• Edgardo D. Gomez, who
spearheaded the assessment
Edgardo D. Gomez
of damaged coral reefs and
Ramon C. Barba
en.wikipedia.org ovpaa.up.edu.ph their conservation
 Discussion
• President Rodrigo R. Duterte: S&T
budget for R&D grew by nearly six
times over the same period of time
• Formulation of programs and policies
that will aid in shaping the country
• “Science for the People”
• DOST to help transfer technology
and to put R&D results into
commercialization gaining 1,000 new
intellectual properties in only a year
Philippine 1st satellite: Diwata-1
• Philippine Space Technology news.abs-cbn.com
Program launching Diwata-2 in 2018,
after the launching of Diwata-1 that
put our flag in space.
• S&T on agriculture and disaster
preparedness
 Discussion

• Philippine S&T effects on society and the physical environment and vice versa
• S&T has numerous positive contributions to society and the physical environment.
Agriculture being the number one source of our food needs to be mechanized so as to
cope with the rapidly and exponentially growing population. Water pumps and
sprinkler cope with the damaging heat cause by the changing climate and weather.
S&T has also made it possible to produce genetically modified crops, which grow
faster and are more resistant to pests and diseases. Fertilizers needed by the crops to
increase nutrients in the soil, enhance the growth of the crops and produce high-
quality yields are developed thru S&T. S&T has improved transportation by road, by
air, by water and even by space for the benefits of society for comforts and business
for profit. S&T has made communication even better to transfer information or voice
out their concerns or reach each other or to grow and improve customer services
among societies and among institutions thru radios, televisions, internet, and social
media. S&T has enhanced the learning process and eventually good quality education
can help boost our economy. Learning management systems have been used in
education nowadays like computers, mobile phones, tablets, projectors, and internet.
Visual learning and on line learning have become popular for even difficult subjects
like mathematics, physics, biology, geography, economics and others.
• No matter how numerous positive impacts S&T has given individuals like us and the
society as a whole, there will always be accompanying adverse impacts it brings to
us. One is resource depletion. The increasing number of new and advanced
technologies brings about higher depletion of earth’s natural resources, plus
increasing wastes generated and emitted as these technologies are manufactured,
and eventually when the products are disposed. S&T has also increased our
population. Advanced birth control methods may help balance population and the
resources but only in developed countries. In developing countries, there is no control
on birth rate, mortality rate is high, resources like food are scarce and health and
sanitation are also poor.
• The behavior of society also affect the growth of S&T and eventually may either
increase or decrease the S&T impacts to us in return. In order to contribute to the
development of the Philippines, Filipinos must attain certain level of scientific literacy
since science is linked to technology and industrialization. Filipinos are having
difficulty attaining this literacy due to lack of science culture, deficiencies or congested
curriculum, poor teaching learning process, lack of instructional materials and teacher
training, lack of textbooks, and lack of laboratories. The introduction of K to 12, a 12-
year program for learning under basic education and is accepted globally, may help
bridge the gap. Government has continuously prioritize education in their national
budget. Issues and concerns about S&T focus on lack of funding in research and
development (R&D), lack trained and skilled R&D manpower, institutional gaps, and
lack and failure or policies and regulations. Projects most of the time have no focus
due to differences in interests of the proponents and funding institutions. Unlike in
other countries, there is no mechanism for possible collaboration with industries.
Individuals who are member of the society, the government and the private sectors
thus, need to continuously look for the public good.
S&T effects on society and the environment and
vice versa
• Mechanized agriculture
• Water pumps and sprinkler cope with the
damaging heat cause by the changing
climate and weather.
• Production of GMO crops which grow faster
and are more resistant to pests and diseases.
• Fertilizers needed by the crops to increase
nutrients in the soil, enhance the growth of Mechanized farming
the crops and produce high-quality yields lusakastar.com
• Improved transportation by road, by air, by
water and even by space
• Better communication thru radios, televisions,
internet, and social media.
• S&T has enhanced the learning process and
quality education
• Visual learning and on line learning On-line learning
www.teachingonline.net
S&T effects on society and the environment and
vice versa
• Resource depletion
• Increasing wastes generated and
emitted as these technologies are
manufactured, and eventually when the
products are disposed
• S&T has also increased our population.
• Advanced birth control methods Resource depletion and pollution
may help balance population and news.mb.com.ph
the resources but only in developed
countries.
• In developing countries, there is no
control on birth rate, mortality rate
is high, resources like food are
scarce and health and sanitation
are also poor. Poor sanitation
www.wpro.who.int
Filipino philosophical point of views
• Gripaldo (2007) believed that Philosophy needs:
• clarification of meaning for intrinsic good
• application so as to get its extrinsic good or the introduction of a
concrete solution to an identified problem
• coincides with Aristotelian fashion, both epistemic (basic
concepts of natural sciences) and phronetic (aspects of
philosophy).
• S&T is a means to address public good
• benefiting both individually and socially the largest number of the
local or national population
• consideration of individual interests build unity and subsidiarity,
which is working together for the common good
• government must exercise utilitarian perspective that a
development project or a government service like education,
public health, transportations, infrastructure, military defense and
other social services must promote common welfare of the
population
Filipino philosophical point of views

• The idea of the public good must be balanced

between its ideal (economic) logic and its practical
(ethical) logic.
• applying the Aristotelian concept that is an individual
seeks not only his personal needs or wants but also
those of others in order to survive
• The government should be on top of ensuring public
good with rational perspective.
• Private groups or civil societies may pursue a public
good through their own initiative even if the
government cannot support them financially so as to
promote welfare of everybody, be it on community,
institutional, or national level.
Filipino philosophical point of views

• Filipinos must attain certain level of scientific literacy

since science is linked to technology and
industrialization
• Filipinos are having difficulty attaining this literacy due
to:
• lack of science culture, deficiencies or congested
curriculum, poor teaching learning process, lack of
instructional materials and teacher training, lack of
textbooks, and lack of laboratories
• The introduction of K to 12 may help bridge the gap.
• Government has continuously prioritize education in
their national budget.
Filipino philosophical point of views

• Issues and concerns about S&T focus on:

• lack of funding in research and development (R&D),
lack trained and skilled R&D manpower, institutional
gaps, and lack and failure of policies and
regulations.
• Projects most of the time have no focus due to
differences in interests of the proponents and funding
institutions.
• No mechanism for possible collaboration with
industries.
• Individuals who are member of the society, the
government and the private sectors thus, need to
continuously look for the public good.
 Activity 1
Unit 4. Exercise 1.0. Philippine S&T Innovation
Instructions: Choose among the following Filipino scientists and
inventors
Paulo Campos Baldomero Olivera Raymundo Punongbayan
Angel Alcala Dioscoro Umali Gavino Tronio
Ricardo Sigua Diosdado Banatao Proceso Alcala
Maria Ligaya Braganza Ame Garong
Alfredo Galang and Benito Lumen

Create a trump card (A4 size) showing the profession of the

scientist/inventor, his specialization and his most significant
contribution. Be ready to discuss the trump card and its content in
the classroom.
 Activity 2
Unit 4. Exercise 2.0. The Impacts of Philippine S&T
Innovation
Instructions:
Using the same subject in your trump card, discuss
using a powerpoint presentation:
• the significance of the invention to society
• how the invention affects the physical environment
 Activity 3
Unit 4. Exercise 3.0. The Fate of the Philippine S&T
Innovation
Instructions:
Group by 4 students.
Among the subjects in the trump cards of your group
members, identify what happened after the innovations
were done.
Discuss using a powerpoint presentation the following: (1)
How were the inventions accepted by the society?
(2) How were the inventions supported by the
government?
(3) Was the real public good served? If not, why?, and (4)
Recommend how would the public good be served.
Meta-Cognitive Reading Report
Assignment 1. Meta-Cognitive Reading Report
Readings:

• Caoli, Olivia. “A History of Science and Technology of the

Philippines,” in Analysis of Conditions for National Scientific
and Technological Self-Reliance: The Philippine Situation,
Quezon City: University of the Philippines, 1986.
• Dayrit, Fabian. “Sustainable Development: An Evolving
Paradigm for the 21st Century,” in Stellar Origins, Human
Ways: Readings in Science, Technology, and Society, ed.
Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila
University Press, 2011.
• Gripaldo, Rolando M. (2007). The concept of the public
good: a view from a Filipino philosopher
Meta-Cognitive Reading Report
Use the MRR form and answer the following:

1. (3) Things that I significantly learned from the

readings
2. (3) Things that are still unclear to me
3. I used to think that….
4. (3) questions that I want to ask about the readings