Science, Technology and Nation Building

• The history of science and technology in the Philippines started way back before the country gained independence from the American Colonizers
• Before the coming of the Spanish Colonizers, the early inhabitants of the archipelago had their own culture, traditions, belief system and indigenous knowledge system that keep them organized and sustained their lives and communities for many years
• Science in pre-Spanish Philippines

  • Scientific knowledge is observed in the way of planting their crops to provide them food and taking care of the animals to help their daily tasks and for food production
  • It is also used in observing and interpreting the movement of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and climates
  • They used science in preparing the soil for agricultural purposes
• Technology in pre-Spanish Philippines


  • Used by the people on building houses, irrigations, and developing tools that they can use in everyday life
  • They developed tools for planting, hunting, cooking, and fishing; for fighting their enemies during war or tribal conflicts; and transportation
• The different archaeological artifacts discovered in different parts of the country also prove that the Metal Age also had significant influence on the lives of early Filipinos
• The sophisticated designs of golf and silver jewelry, ceramics, and metal tools have helped in the development of different tools
• When the Spaniards colonized the country, they brought with them their own culture and practices
• They established schools and introduced the concepts of subjects and disciplines
• Galleon trade


  Brought additional technology and development in the Philippines
• The Galleon Trade was a government monopoly
• Galleons used in the Galleon Trade

  • 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 250,000 pesos worth of goods spending 30 days at sea
• Although the country is blessed with these developments, the superstitious beliefs and the Catholic doctrines and practices during the Spanish era halted the growth of science in the country
• The Americans had more influence in the development of science and technology than the Spaniards
• What the Americans did

  • Established the public education system
  • Improved engineering works and the health conditions of the people
  • Reorganized the learning of science and introduced it in public and private schools
  • Researches were done to control malaria, cholera, and tuberculosis and other tropical diseases
  • Allowed American scholars to introduce new knowledge and technology in the country
  • The protestant church missions in different places in the country also brought hospitals and schools to far-flung areas
  • Transportation and communication systems were improved, though not accessible throughout the country
  • Mineral resources of the country were explored and exploited
• World War II has destabilized the development of the country
• Institutions and public facilities were burned and many lives were destroyed
• The human spirit to survive and rebuild the country may be strong but the capacity of the country to bring back what was destroyed was limited
• The Philippine government introduced and implemented several programs, projects, and policies to boost the area of science and technology
• The goal is to prepare the whole country and its people to meet the demands of a technologically driven worlds and capacitate the people to live in a world driven by science
• The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) sought an expertise of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP) to consult various sectors in the society to study how the Philippines can prepare itself in meeting the ASEAN Goals
• The NCRP is expected to recommend policies and programs that will improve the competitiveness of the Philippines in the ASEAN region
• Policies and programs clustered by the NCRP

  • Social Sciences, humanities, education, international policies and governance
  • Physics, engineering and industrial research, earth and space sciences, mathematics
  • Medical, chemical, and pharmaceutical sciences
  • Biological Sciences, agriculture, and forestry
• Policies and programs under Social Sciences, humanities, education, international policies and governance

  • Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to the curriculum
  • Emphasizing the teaching in the mother tongue
  • Developing school infrastructure and providing for ICT
  • Local food security
• Policies and programs under Physics, engineering and industrial research, earth and space sciences, mathematics


  • Emphasizing degrees, licenses, and employment opportunities
  • Outright grants for peer monitoring
  • Review R.A. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act)
  • Harnessing science and technology as an independent mover of development
• Policies and programs under Medical, chemical, and pharmaceutical sciences

  • Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms ASEAN-harmonized standards 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 two percent of the GDP to research
  • Legislating a law supporting human genome projects
• Policies and programs under 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
• Areas and fields to embark various research and projects

  • Use of alternative and safe energy
  • Harnessing mineral resources
  • Finding cure for various diseases and illnesses
  • Climate change and global warming
  • Increasing food production
  • Preservation of natural resources
  • Coping with natural disasters and calamities
  • Infrastructure development
• Famous Filipino scientists


  • Ramon Cabanos Barba
  • Josefino Cacas Comiso
  • Jose Bejar Cruz, Jr.
  • Lourdes Jansuy Cruz
  • Fabian Millar Dayrit
  • Rafael Dineros Guerrero III
  • Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr.
  • Lilian Formalejo Patena
  • Mari-Jo Panganiban Ruiz
  • Gregory Ligot Tangonan
• Other outstanding Filipino scientists

  • Caesar A. Saloma
  • Edgardo Gomez
  • William Padolina
  • Angel Alcala