CHAPTER 3
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING
LEARNING OUTCOME:
Discuss the role of science and technology in Philippine nation building
Evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in terms of their
conditions to nation building
Identify actual science and technology policies of the government and appraise their
impact on the development of Filipino nation
Brief Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines
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
Irrigation
Developing tools
Musical Instruments
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 travelled 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.
Metal Age Influence
Gold and Silver Jewelry
Trading with other countries American Period
More influence in the Development of S&T
Public 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.
Health and Sanitation
Filipinos learned the value of cleanliness, proper hygiene, and healthy practices
Hospitals, clinics, and health centers were established including public hospitals for
lepers.
Infrastracture
Americans built roads, streets and bridges
The new infrastracture helped make the movement of products and services more
efficient.
Boulevards, zone districts, and centers of leisure were also established.
World War II
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.
The 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
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.
Internal Influences
• Survival
• Culture
• Economic Activities
Development
External Influences
• Foreign Colonizers
• Traders with Foreign Countries
• International Economic demands
DOST-NRCP STATEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMUNIZATION
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
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
Physical, 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
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
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
