Science, Technology, and Nation Building

• Science and Technology and Nation Building is the topic of the lesson.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the role of Science and Technology in Philippine Nation Building.
• Evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in terms of their contributions to nation building.
• Identify actual science and technology policies of the government and appraise their impact on the development of the Filipino nation.

Why is Science and Technology important in Nation Building?

• Science and Technology is essential in nation building and needed to address problems and concerns.
• Problems and concerns include climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics.
• It has the potential to increase industrial productivity leading to economic development.
• Science and Technology can ensure quality healthcare, increase agricultural productivity, and conserve and protect the environment.
• Science and Technology can efficiently deliver social services, produce quality goods, and secure peace, order, and stability.
• Science and Technology can develop good infrastructure, generate jobs for workers, and manage natural disasters.
• In the Philippines, the importance of science and technology is recognized.
• In the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Science and Technology are given priority to "foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development".
• In Section 10, Article XIV, it is stated that "Science and Technology are essential for national development and progress".

Philippine Government Science and Technology Agenda

• In the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, the government mandates an "increased use of scientific and technological breakthroughs".
• The government intends to do this by "promoting and accelerating technology adoption" and "stimulating innovation".
• The main government agency for science and technology is the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
• DOST was created to "provide central direction, leadership and coordination of scientific and technological efforts and ensure that the results are geared and utilized in maximum economic and social benefits for the people".
• DOST is composed of three (3) sectoral planning councils.
• DOST is also composed of seven (7) research and development institutes.
• DOST is also composed of two (2) collegial bodies.
• DOST is also composed of six (6) service institutes.
• DOST has several regional and provincial offices.
• Some of the agencies under DOST are the Advance Science and Technology Institute, Science Education Institute and National Research Council of the Philippines.
• All programs, projects and activities of DOST shall target Stimulation of Innovation.
• DOST shall also target the Promotion and acceleration of Technology adoption.
• DOST shall also emphasize the Development of a critical mass of globally competitive human resources on Science and Technology.
• DOST shall also emphasize the Increased productivity and efficiency of micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs).
• DOST shall also target Ensured resiliency to disaster risks and climate change.
• DOST aims to reduce inequality in science and technology capacities and opportunities.
• DOST also aims to achieve effective science and technology governance
• The Philippines lags behind its ASEAN neighbors in terms of R&D expenditures and number of researchers.

Major Development Programs and Personalities in S&T in the Philippines

• The Balik Scientist Program aims to encourage Filipino Scientists or Scientists of Filipino descent to return to the Philippines and conduct research or scientific undertakings.
• As of December 2017, there were 497 scientists who served under the program.
• Republic Act No. 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act was signed into law in 2018, providing incentives and assistance to returning Filipino experts, scientists, inventors, and engineers.
• The Balik Scientist program is important in maintaining a critical number of Filipino experts, scientists, inventors, and engineers.
• According to UNESCO, a country should have 380 scientists/researchers per million population.
• In the Philippines, there are only 189 researchers/scientists per million which means that there is a gap of around 19,000 researchers or scientists.
• Dr. Josefino C. Comiso, a Senior Scientist in USA's NASA, is a Balik Scientist.
• His goal as a Balik Scientist is to "improve ability of the country to utilize advanced technology in addressing problems on natural resource management, especially as related to climate and environmental changes".
• The Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1003-A, s. 1976, established the National Academy of Science and Technology.
• The PD also sought to make it the highest recognition and advisory body on science and technology and established the "Order of National Scientists".
• The "Order of National Scientists" is the highest honor bestowed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines to a Filipino man or woman of science in the Philippines who has made significant contributions in one of the different fields of science and technology.
• As of 2018, there are 41 National Scientists including engineer agriculturist Ramon Barba and biologist Angel Alcala.
• Small & Medium Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) is part of the "nationwide strategy to encourage MSMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve existing products, services, and operations; increase productivity and competitiveness".
• The goal is to enable MSMEs to develop new products and establish or sustain market niches.
• According to DOST, in 2018, the companies supported by SETUP produced 42,853 jobs.
• Also in 2018, the supported companies had P 8.344 billion cumulative gross sales, and a 41% productivity increase.
• A total of 20, 635 technology interventions and 773 projects were funded through SETUP.
• SETUP aimed for job generation, increased productivity, higher income generation, economic development and eventual poverty alleviation.
• Through the Grants-In-Aid Program, the government funds scientific and technological undertakings to promote development in the country.
• The Grants-In-Aid Program also promotes technology transfer, innovation, human resources development and productivity improvement.
• The Forest Products Research and Development Institute conducts researches on wood products, rubber, paper, pulp and other forest products.
• Philippine Nuclear Research Institute conducts researches on the safe use of nuclear energy for medical, agricultural, environmental and industrial purposes.
• Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) is a government-funded project administered by the University of the Philippines.
• Project NOAH aims to cultivate a culture of preparedness to decrease risks of casualties during natural disasters through advanced researches.
• The Philippine-California Advanced Research Institutes (PCARI) Project aims to develop Science and Technology manpower through scholarships, trainings and research collaborations with top universities and institutions in California, USA.
• The PCARI's priority areas are information infrastructure development (IID) and health innovation and translational medicine (HITM).
• The government is funding the National Space Development Program to set the foundation for the establishment of a Philippine Space Agency.
• The government established the Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite Program in 2014, in partnership with Japan's Hokkaido University and Tohoku University.
• The program has produced three fully functional microsatellites: Diwata-1, Diwata-2 and Maya-1.
• The development of the country's space program is important for national security, agricultural development, environmental management, climate change mitigation, and includes unmanned aerial vehicles, microsatellites and communication satellites.

Science Education in the Philippines

• Science education is important in order to develop students' scientific skills, attitudes, and values to solve problems, become more critical, see the world differently, and become productive contributors to nation building.
• Many Filipino scientists, inventors, innovators, engineers and professionals benefited from DOST's scholarship programs.
• The DOST programs are mandated under Republic Act 7687, or the Science and Technology Act of 1994.
• DOST provides free secondary education to young Filipinos with high aptitude for science and technology through the Philippine Science High School (PSHS).
• Currently, there are 16 PSHS campuses and many graduates eventually become scientists, inventors, professionals and educators.
• The Department of Education manages Regional Science High Schools that have curriculum focused on science and mathematics.
• DOST established several programs to improve science education in the country.
• Project HOTS (Hands-on Teaching and Learning of Science through Inquiry) develops the capacity of schools and teachers to teach science through mobile school laboratories, inquiry-based science curriculum, hands-on training and technology use trials.
• VISSER (Versatile Instrumentation System for Science Education and Research project) aims to modernize school laboratories through the development and integration of new instruments and technologies.
• STARBOOKS is a digital library containing science materials which can be accessed off-line and the InnoBox project aims to search for outstanding and most innovative teaching methods and learning materials for science.

Selected Indigenous Science and Technologies

• In the Philippines, indigenous science and technologies must be known, recognized and understood given their rich cultural diversity.
• There are over 100 indigenous groups in the Philippines, each with a unique but interconnected indigenous science and technology.
• Many herbal medicines have indigenous origins.
• Indigenous practices in resources management have been documented like the muyong system in Ifugao and the lapat system in Apayao.

Conclusion

• Science and Technology is important in Philippine nation building.
• It helps the nation address problems such as those related to natural disasters, food security, climate change, peace, health, among others.
• It also helps the country achieve its development goals.
• It is important that the government continues to support science and technology through policies and programs that benefit the different sectors of the society.