REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Mindanao State University

Department of Political Science
Brgy. Fatima, General Santos City

GEC 108: Science, Technology & Society

General Concepts and STS Historical Development

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION-BUILDING

Objectives. When you finish this lesson, you will be able to:

• examine the role of Science and Technology (ST) in Philippine nation-

building;
• evaluate government policies pertaining to Science and Technology (ST) in
terms of their contribution to nation-building, and;
• appraise the impact Science and Technology (ST) policies of the
government from the Marcos Era up to the present.
• list noteworthy inventions, with their inventors, and give their major
contributions in shaping the Filipino nation
• Differentiate the impacts of Science, Technology and Society (STS).

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 1

INTRODUCTION

Science and technology in the Philippines represent the wide scientific

and technological advances the Philippines has made. The main managing agency
responsible for science and technology (S&T) is the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST). The science department have consulting agencies for
Forestry, Agriculture and Aquaculture, Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and
Nutrition, Health, Meteorological and the Volcanology and Seismology. Numerous
national scientists have contributed in different fields of science including del
Mundo in the field of Pediatrics, Eduardo Quisumbing in the field of Plant taxonomy,
Gavino Trono in the field of tropical marine Phycology, and Maria Orosa in the field
of Food technology.

Pre-Spanish Period. Even before

the colonization by the Spaniards in the Philippine
islands, the natives of the archipelago already had
practices linked to science and technology. Filipinos
were already aware of the medicinal and therapeutic
properties of plants and the methods of extracting
medicine from herbs. They already had an alphabet,
number system, a weighing and measuring system and a calendar. Filipinos were
already engaged in farming, shipbuilding, mining and weaving. The Banaue Rice
Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-Spanish era
Filipinos.

Spanish Colonial Period. The colonization of the Philippines contributed to

growth of science and technology in the archipelago. The Spanish introduced
formal education and founded scientific institution. During the early years of
Spanish rule in the Philippines. Parish schools were established where religion,
reading, writing, arithmetic and music was taught. Sanitation and more advanced
methods of agriculture was taught to the natives. Later the Spanish established
colleges and universities in the archipelago including the University of Santo
Tomas. The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the Spanish
era, especially in the later years.

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 2

 The Spanish also contributed to the field of engineering in the islands by
constructing government buildings, churches, roads, bridges and forts. Biology is
given focus. Contributors to science in the archipelago during the 19th century
were botanists, Fr. Ignacio Mercado., Dr. Trinidad
Pardo de Tavera and Dr. Leon Ma Guerrero, chemist
Anaclento del Rosario, and medicine scholars Dr.
Manuel Guerrero, Dr, Jose Montes and Dr. Elrodario
Mercado. The Galleon Trade have accounted in
the Philippine colonial economy. Trade was given
more focus by the Spaniard colonial authorities
due to the prospects of big profits. Agriculture and industrial development on the
other hand were relatively neglected. The opening of the Suez Canal saw the influx
of European visitors to the Spanish colony and some Filipinos were able to study in
Europe who were probably influenced by the rapid development of scientific ideals
brought by the Age of Enlightenment.

American Period and Post-Commonwealth Era. The progress of

science and technology in the Philippines continued under American rule of the
islands. On July 1, 1901 The Philippine Commission established the Bureau of
Government Laboratories which was placed under the Department of Interior. The
Bureau replaced the Laboratorio Municipal, which was established under the
Spanish colonial era. The Bureau dealt with the study of tropical diseases and
laboratory projects. On October 26, 1905, the Bureau of Government Laboratories
was replaced by the Bureau of Science and on December 8, 1933, the National
Research Council of the Philippines was established. The Bureau of Science
became the primary research center of the Philippines until World War ll. Science
during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing,
forestry, medicine and pharmacy. Not much focus was given on the development
of industrial technology due to free trade policy with the United States which nurtured
an economy geared towards agriculture and trade. In 1946 the Bureau of Science
was replaced by the Institute of Science. In a report by the US Economic Survey to
the Philippines in 1950, there is a lack of basic information which were necessities

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 3

to the country's industries, lack of support of experimental work and minimal
budget for scientific research and low salaries of scientists employed by the
government. In 1958, during the regime of President Carlos P. Garcia, the
Philippine Congress passed the Science Act of 1958 which established the
National Science Development Board.

Marcos Era. During Ferdinand Marcos' presidency, the

importance given to science grew. In the amended 1973 Philippine
Constitution, Article XV, Section 9 (1), he declared that the
"advancement of science and technology shall have priority in the
national development. "In his two terms of presidency and during
Martial Law, he enacted many laws promoting science and
technology. In his Second State of the Nation Address on January
23, 1967, he declared that science was necessary for the
development programs, and thus, directed the Department of
Education to revitalize the science courses in public high schools. The Department
of Education, with the National Science Development Board (NSDB), is
organizing a project to provide selected high schools with science teaching
equipment over a four-year period. In his Third State of the Nation Address on
January 22, 1968, he recognized that technology was the leading factor in
economic development, and channeled additional funds to support projects in
applied sciences and science education.

In his Fourth State of the Nation Address on January 27, 1969, he gave
a big part of the war damage fund to private universities to encourage them to
create courses in science and technology and to research. He stated that he
planned a project to have medical interns do a tour of duty in provincial hospitals
to arouse their social conscious and reduce the "brain drain." On April 6, 1968, he
proclaimed 35 hectares in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal as the site of the Philippine Science
Community. The government also conducted seminars for public and private high
school and college science teachers, training programs and scholarships for
graduate and undergraduate science scholars, and workshops on fisheries and
oceanography. In his Fifth State of the Nation Address on January 26, 1970, he
emphasized that the upgrading of science curricula and teaching equipment is

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 4

crucial to the science development program. He added the Philippine Coconut
Research Institute to the NSDB to modernize the coconut industry. The NSDB
also established the Philippine Textile Research Institute. The Philippine Atomic
Energy Commission of the NSDB explored the uses of atomic energy for
economic development. Marcos assisted 107 institutions in undertaking nuclear
energy work by sending scientists to study nuclear science and technology abroad,
and providing basic training to 482 scientists, doctors, engineers, and technicians.
In his Seventh State of the Nation Address on January 24, 1972, he spoke about his
major development projects in reforming sectors of education. Such projects
included research and development schools, technical institutes, science education
centers, and agricultural colleges and vocational high schools.

In 1972, he created the National Grains Authority to provide for the

development of the rice and corn industry to fully harness it for the economy of
the country. (Presidential Decree No. 4, s. 1972). He established the Philippine
Council for Agricultural Research to support the progressive development of
agriculture, forestry, and fisheries for the nation. It was attached to the
Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for administrative
purposes. He provided further support for the promotion of scientific research and
invention with Presidential Decree No. 49, s. 1972. This decree contains details on
the protection of intellectual property for the creator or publisher of the work. He
established the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) under the Department of National Defense to provide
environmental protection and to utilize scientific knowledge to ensure the safety
of the people (Presidential Decree No. 78, s. 1972).

In 1973, he created the Philippine National Oil Company to promote

industrial and economic development through effective and efficient use of energy
sources. (Presidential Decree No. 334, s. 1973). In 1976, he enacted a law under
Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, s. 1976 to establish the National Academy of
Science and Technology, which is composed of scientists with "innovative
achievement in the basic and applied sciences," to serve as a reservoir of scientific
and technological expertise for the country. In 1978, he created a Task Force on the
formulation of a national action program on science and technology to assess

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 5

policies and programs of science and technology. (Executive Order No. 512, s.
1978).

In his Fourteenth State of the Nation Address on July 23, 1979, he said
that the government invested funds and time in organizations for scientific
research, such as the NSDB, the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research and
Resources, the Plant Breeding Institute, the International Rice Research
Institute, the Bureau of Plant Industry, and the Bureau of Forest Products.
While these projects have had breakthroughs, the market machinery did not adapt
and invest in this technology due to the high-risk front-end costs. In 1979, he
constituted the Health Sciences Center created by R.A. No. 5163 as an
autonomous member within the University of the Philippines System to improve
the internal organization and unity of leadership within its units. (Executive Order
No. 519, s. 1979). In 1980, he created the National Committee on Geological
Sciences to advise government and private entities on matters concerning
development in geological sciences. (Executive Order No. 625, s. 1980).

In 1982, he reorganized the National Science Development Board

and its agencies into a National Science and Technology Authority to provide
central direction and coordination of scientific and technological research and
development. (Executive Order No. 784, s. 1982). He granted salary increases to the
people with teaching positions in the Philippine Science High School due to their
necessity in the advancement of national science. (Executive Order No. 810, s.
1982). He enacted a law on the completion of the National Agriculture and Life
Sciences Research Complex at the University of the Philippines at Los Baöos.
(Executive Order No. 840, s. 1982). In 1986, he established the Mindanao and Visayas
campuses of the Philippine Science High School to encourage careers in science and
technology and to be more accessible to the talented students in the Mindanao and
Visayas areas (Executive Order No. 1090, s. 1986).

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 6

 Fifth Republic. In 1986, during Corazon Aquino's
presidency, the National Science and Technology Authority was
replaced by the Department of Science and Technology, giving
science and technology a representation in the cabinet. Under the
Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for the years 1987-
1992, science and technology's role in economic recovery and
sustained economic growth was highlighted. During Corazon
Aquino's State of the Nation Address in 1990, she said that science and technology
development shall be one of the top three priorities of the government towards an
economic recovery. On August 8, 1988, Corazon Aquino created the Presidential
Task Force for Science and Technology which came up with the first Science
and Technology Master Plan or STMP. The goal of ST MP was for the Philippines
to achieve newly industrialized country status by the year 2000. The Congress did
not put much priority in handling bills related to science and technology. The
Senate Committee on Science and Technology was one of the committees that
handles the least amount of bills for deliberation. Former DOST Secretary Ceferin
Follosco reported that the budget allocation for science and technology was
increased to 1.054 billion pesos in 1989 from the previous year's 464 million pesos.
However, due to the Asian financial crisis, budget allocation for the years 1990 and
1991 were trimmed down to 920 and 854 million pesos respectively. Budget
allocation were increased to 1.7 billion pesos in 1992. During her term, President
Corazon Aquino encouraged scientists and inventors to bring the Philippines to its
former position as second to only Japan in the field of science and technology. One
of the goals of her administration was to achieve the status as being an
industrialized country by 2000. She urged that the private research sector form a
stronger bond between public research to help jump-start the progress in the area
of Philippine Research and Development.
Ironically, it was during President Corazon Aquino's term and the
reorganization of Philippine bureaucracy that Executive Order No.128 abolished
R.A. No. 3859, also known as the "Philippine Inventors Incentive Act." This
Philippine Inventors Commission was under the Science Development board. It
gave assistance to Filipino inventors through giving financial aid, patent application
assistance, legal assistance, and to help inventors market their products
domestically and abroad. Despite the abolishment of the Philippine Inventors

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 7

Commission, her administration gave rise to new avenues for the government to
aid the progress of Science and Technology in the country. R.A. 6655 or the Free
Public Secondary Education Act of 1988 opened doors to free education up to
the secondary level, implemented in the education system together with this was
the "Science for the Masses Program" which aimed at scientific and technological
literacy among Filipinos. The Aquino administration recognized the importance of
science and technology in the development of the Philippines into a newly
industrialized country. Funding for the science and technology sector was tripled
from 464 million in 1986 to 1.7 billion in 1992. The Science and Technology Master
Plan was formulated which aimed at the modernization of the production sector,
upgrading research activities, and development of infrastructure for science and
technological purposes.
A Research and Development Plan was also formulated to examine and
determine which areas of research needed attention and must be given priority.
The criteria for identifying the program to be pursued were, development of local
materials, probability of success, potential of product in the export
market, and the its strategic nature. The grants for the research
and development programs was included in the Omnibus
Investment Law. There were noticeable improvements regarding
science and technology as stated in President Fidel Ramos' State
of the Nation Address.

In his third SONA, there was a significant increase in

personnel specializing in the science and technology field. At 1998, the Philippines
was estimated to have around 3,000 competent scientists and engineers. Adding
to the increase of scientists would be the result of the two newly built Philippine
Science High Schools in Visayas and Mindanao which promotes further
development of young kids through advance S&T curriculum. The government
provided 3,500 scholarships for students who were taking up professions related
to S&T. Schools were becoming more modernized and updated with the addition
of high-tech equipment for student improvement and teachers were getting
training programs to benefit themselves and their students. Health care services
were promoted through local programs such as "Doctors to the Barrio Program."
The health care programs were innovative and effective as shown by the change in

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 8

life expectancy from 67.5 years in 1992 to 69.1 years in 1995. Priority for S&T
personnel increased when Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel
(Republic Act No. 8439) was established. The award was published in order to
give incentives and rewards for people who have been influential in the field of
S&T. In the sixth SONA, education was one of the primary story-lines wherein
programs such as National Program for Gifted Filipino Children in Science and
Technology and enactment of a law creating a nationwide system of high schools
specializing in the field of science and engineering.

Fidel V. Ramos believes that science and technology was one of the
means wherein the Philippines could attain the status of new industrialized country
(NIC). During his term, he was able to establish programs that were significant to
the field of S&T. In 1993, Science and Technology Agenda for National
Development (STAND) was established. Among its priorities were: (1) exporting
winners identified by the DTI; (2) domestic needs identified by the President's
Council for Countryside Development; (3) support industries and (4) coconut
industry development. Congress, during his term, was able to enact laws that were
significant for the field. Among were: (1) Magna Carta for Science and Technology
Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439); (2) Science and Technology Scholarship Law of
1994 (Republic Act No. 7687) and (3) Inventors and Inventions Incentives Act
(Republic Act No. 7459). The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines
(Republic Act No. 8293) was enacted during Ramos' term. The law provides
industrial property rights, copyrights and related rights, and technology transfer
arrangements.

In President Joseph Estrada's term, two major

legislations that he signed were Philippine Clean Air Act of
1999 (Republic Act No. 8749) which was designed to protect
and preserve the environment and ensure the sustainable
development of its natural resources, and Electronic
Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792) which
outlaws computer hacking and provides opportunities for new
businesses emerging from the Internet-driven New Economy.
Aside from these, in his first State of the Nation Address,
President Estrada launched a full-scale program based on cost-effective irrigation

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 9

technologies. He also announced that Doleouts are out, which meant basic health
care, basic nutrition, and useful education for those who want, but cannot afford it.
Lastly, he said that they would speed up the program to establish one science high
school in every province. It was in his second State of the Nation Address that
President Estrada announced the passage of the Clean Air Act, and the decision to
pursue the 15year modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
His last State of the Nation Address pushed for the advancement of industries and
schools into the Internet age, as well as the announcement of the passage of the
e-Commerce Act.

In the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration,

the science and technology sector of the Philippines was
dubbed as the "golden age" of science and technology by then
Secretary Estrella Albastro. Numerous laws and projects that
concerns both the environment and science to push technology
as a tool to increase the country's economic level. This is to help
increase the productivity from Science, Technology and
Innovations (STI) and help benefit the poor people. Moreover,
the term "Filipinnovation" was the coined term used in helping the Philippines to
be an innovation hub in Asia. The STI was developed further by strengthening the
schools and education system such as the Philippine Science High School
(PSHS), which focuses in science, technology and mathematics in their curriculum.
This helps schools produce get more involved in this sector. Private sectors were
also encouraged to participate in developing the schools through organizing
events and sponsorships. Future Filipino scientists and innovators can be produced
through this system. Helping the environment was one of the focus in developing
technology in the Philippines.

One of the more known laws to be passed by her administration was

the R.A. 9367 or the "Biofuels" act. This act promotes the development and
usage of biofuels throughout the country. This potentially enables a cheaper
alternative to gasoline as a medium in producing energy. Also, this benefits the
environment since it boasts a cleaner emission compared to regular fuel. Yet,
setbacks such as lack of raw materials is holding the full implementation of the laws
since importing the necessary materials are imported more.

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 10

 On one hand, drought-free rice was also highly encouraged to be used
during her term. This enables farmers to produce rice despite the environmental
hazards that slows or stops the production. In an effort to improve the efficiency
of both land and water, the government imposes Republic Act 10601 which
improves the Agriculture and Fisheries Sector through Mechanization
(AFMech). RA 10601 covers research, development, and extension (RDE),
promotion, distribution, supply, assembling, manufacturing, regulation, use,
operation, maintenance and project implementation of agricultural and fisheries
machinery and equipment (Section 4).

In 2014, President Aquino conferred four new

National Scientist for their contribution in the Scientific field,
Academicians Gavino C. Trono, Angel C. Alcala, Ramon C. Barba,
and Edgardo D. Gomez was honored in their respective fields.
Trono's contribution helped a lot of families in the coastal
populations through the extensive studies he made on seaweed
species. On the other hand, Alcala served as the pioneer scientist
and advocate of coral reefs aside from his contribution in the
fields of systematics and herpetology. Barba's contribution changes the seasonal
supply of fresh fruits to an all year-round availability of mangoes through his
studies on the induction of flowering of mango and micropropagation of important
crop species. Lastly, Gomez steered the national-scale assessment of damage coral
reefs which led a national conservation.

Benigno Aquino was called the “Father of

Philippine Organic Farming” since his
administration passed RA 10068, also
known as Organic Farming Law. The
Republic Health Law (RA 10354) and the
implementation of K-12 program was also
under his administration. His support in
agriculture can be seen at the Agricultural
and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law
(RA 10601).

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 11

 Duterte Administration

The Balik Scientist Program (RA 11035) was

finally enacted by the Duterte administration.
This encourages scientist from abroad to
come back and serve the country, coupled with a
certain cash agreement. He also envisioned that
internet to be accessible to everybody through
The Free Internet Access in Public Places
Act (RA 10929) His administration also sought to
put up the country’s first Philippine Space
Agency (PhilSA) under RA 11363 (Philippine
Space Act). The launching of the first Filipino-made microsatellites, Diwata I and II
occurred on his administration.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Through the joint effort of the Department of Science and Technology

(DOST) and the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), the
country has managed to meet the standards of ASEAN 2015, specifically in the
fields of Science and Technology through several policies. These policies were
clustered into four, together with their subcomponents, namely:

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 12

1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies, and
Governance

• Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to the

curriculum: this can be achieved through downloadable lessons and video
presentations related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nation
(ASEAN). - Emphasizing teaching in the mother tongue: through the
• Department of Education (DEPED), the initiative was started during the
S.Y. 2012 -2013 through the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual
Education (MTB-MLE) under DEPED Order No. 16, s. 2012.
• Developing school infrastructure and providing for ICT (Information and
Communication Technology) broadband: specifically, in ICT broadband,
wherein through the Philippine Digital Strategy of 2011 – 2016, envisions
that 80 % of the elementary schools and 100 % of high schools will have
internet access as one of the beneficiaries
• Local food security: dealing with the issues of food availability, utilization,
and access and stability

2. Physics, Engineering and Industrial Research, Earth and Space

Sciences, and Mathematics

• Emphasizing on degrees, licenses and employment opportunities: This

includes scholarships offered by DOST on both undergraduate and
postgraduate studies, licensure examinations conducted by the PRC
(Philippine Regulatory Commission), and the Balik–Scientist Program to
name a few.
• Outright grants for peer monitoring: such as what are being offered by UP
and USAID (United States Agency for International Development)
• Review of RA 9184: Government Procurement Reform Act: to ensure that
necessary rules and regulations for the modernization, standardization, and
regulation of the procurement activities of the country will be met.
• Harnessing Science and Technology as an independent mover of
development: through R and D, poverty and other problems of the country
will be addressed.

3. Medical, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences

▪ Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms with ASEAN-
harmonized standards by full implementation of the FDA (Food and Drug

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 13

 Administration): the ASEAN Common Technical Requirements (ACTRs) of
2016 serves as a guide in providing supportive information on the
requirements for submission of application to implement a change to a
pharmaceutical product. ACTRs is like the Notice to Applicants (NtA)
Volume 2C Europe in Europe.
▪ Creating an education council dedicated to standardization of
pharmaceutical services and care: this is mandated by RA 5921, which was
amended in 2016 into RA 10918 or the Philippine Pharmacy Law
▪ Empowering food and drug agencies to conduct evidence-based research
as pool of information also given emphasis on RA 10918 - Allocating 2 %
of GDP (gross domestic product) for research.
▪ Legislating a law supporting the human genome project (HGP):
▪ this gave birth to The Newborn Screening Act of 2004, also known as RA
9288

4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and Forestry

▪ Protecting and conserving biodiversity by full implementation of existing
laws: includes RA 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection
Act) and EO 247 of 1995 that prescribes guidelines and establishes a
regulatory framework for the prospecting of biological and genetic
resources, their byproducts and derivatives, for scientific and commercial
purposes; and other purposes.
▪ Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN countries:
▪ through the efforts of DOST–PCAARRD (Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development) they came up
with the Development of a Framework for Harmonizing Biosafety
Guidelines and Research Protocols in the ASEAN Region in 2019 -
Promoting indigenous:
▪ knowledge systems, which was addressed by UNESCO’s (United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Declaration on Science
and the Use of Scientific Knowledge in 1999.
▪ people’s conservation, given leverage at RA 8371 (Recognizing the Rights of
Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous People)
▪ Formulation of common food and safety standards: as stipulated at RA
10611 (Food Safety Act of 2013).

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 14

There are also other programs set forth by the government in collaboration
with DOST, and other entities:

▪ RA 7687
▪ providing funds for basic research and patents by the
government and ODA
▪ additional PSHS system
▪ creating and developing Science and Technology parks in
academic institutions to encourage academe and industry
partnerships
▪ establishment of National Science Complex (NSC) and
National Engineering Complex (NSC) at UP Diliman. The
former aims to produce researches, while the latter is for the
development of manpower on these fields

The following capacity – building programs was identified by PAASE

(Philippine – American Academy of Science and Engineering) in 2008:

▪ founding of Centers of Excellence: Center of Excellence

(COE) means a department within a higher education
institution continuously exhibits excellent performance in the
following areas: instruction, research and publication,
extension and linkages, and institutional qualifications. The
aim of having such is to sustain/develop excellence of higher
education institutions (HEIs) by enhancing their teaching,
research and service programs to further nation building and
national development.
programs that are concerned with manpower and institutional
development: ESEP (Engineering and Science Education Program)
aims to produce more doctorate holders in the field of science and
engineering

In the field of (primary and secondary) education, refer to Chapter 1.

CHED also had a program tied up with the Philippine – California

Advanced Research Institute (PICARI) to allow several higher education institution

(HEI) in the country to work up with some US – based laboratories, research

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 15

institutes, and universities in terms of agriculture, engineering, health, science, and
technology. The goal of the said tie up is to boost the country’s competitiveness
in terms of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

The Philippines considers having further research and/or projects on the

following areas, namely:

1. climate change and global warming;

2. coping with natural disasters and calamities;
3. finding cure for various diseases and illnesses;
4. harnessing mineral resources;

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 16

 FILIPINO SCIENTISTS AND THEIR INVENTIONS

Dr. Arturo Alcaraz is a volcanologist

specializing in geothermal energy
development. In 1967, Arturo Alcaraz
and team powered an electric light
bulb using steam-powered electricity.
This was the first geothermal power
DR. ARTURO ALCARAZ generated in the Philippines.

Filipino chemist, Julian Banzon

researched methods of producing
alternative fuels. Julian Banzon
experimented with the production of
ethyl esters fuels from sugarcane and
coconut.
JULIAN BANZON (1908 - 1988)

Filipino scientist, Pedro Escuro is best

known for his isolation of nine rice
varieties, thus was renowned by
developing rice breeding in the
country. The Pedro Escuro rice
varieties are: Milpal 4, HBD-2, Azmil 26
PEDRO ESCURO
and C-22 and C-18, C4-63, C4-137, C-
168 and C-12.

Dr. Francisco Fronda is known as the

Father of poultry science in the
Philippines. Francisco Fronda has
DR. FRANCISCO FRONDA (1896 - 1986) improved methods of production for
the poultry and livestock industry.

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 17

 Felix Maramba built a coconut
oilfueled power generator. He also is
the developer of one of the world's
most profitable biogas systems.
FELIX MARAMBA

Filipino chemist, Luz Oliveros Belardo

researched the phytochemical
properties of plants in the Philippines
for natural products, essential oils, and
the medicinal qualities.
LUZ OLIVEROS BELARDO (1906 - 1999)

Filipino scientist Emerita De Guzman

researched the propagation of pure
macapuno trees. Her research led to
the faster propagation of pure
macapuno trees and increased
macapuno nut production from 3-5
macapuno nuts to 14-19 nuts (1980).
She also invented tissue culture
EMERITA DE GUZMAN techniques for the rapid propagation
of abaca and banana plants.

Filipino doctor, Fe Del Mundo is

credited with studies that lead to the
invention of an improved incubator
and a jaundice relieving device.
DR. FE DEL MUNDO (1911 - 2011)

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 18

 Famous Filipino Scientist, Gregorio
Zara invented, made improvements
to, or discovered the following:
invented the two-way television
telephone or videophone (1955)
patented as a "photo phone signal
separator network"; discovered the
physical law of electrical kinetic
resistance called the Zara effect
(around 1930); invented an airplane
engine that ran on plain alcohol as
fuel (1952)

Gregorio Zara (1902 - 1978)

THE IMPACTS OF SCIENCE ON SOCIETY

If social forces have an ongoing impact on science, it's equally true that
science, through its practices and outcomes, has an ongoing impact on society too.
Consider the following:

The role in advancing access to food and in supporting health outcomes

in the developing world; impacts on sustainable environments and biodiversity;
role in supporting a growing global human population; impacts on human health,
from nutrition to allergens to indirect environmental impacts; nature of economic
and legal landscape related to intellectual property and ownership of genetic
information; extent of increased pesticide use in support of pesticide-resistant
crops; potential for water-efficient and pesticide/ herbicide free crops; and extent
of impacts on non-target species.
For each of these areas, scientific research continues to lead to a changing
epistemic landscape in which scientific knowledge and local knowledge butt up
against each other. Despite epistemic claims from the scientific community that
genetically engineered food is safe for consumption and poses little threats to
traditional farming practices, the local epistemic context — informed politically,
socially, and ethically — does not allow for a reconciliation of that scientific

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 19

knowledge within the local context. Despite great potential for significant broader
impacts of science of society, most of the impacts to date have been indirect.

Environmentally, the implementation of genetically engineered species

stands at odds with the unknown risks to existing species and ecosystems directly
and to human health indirectly. Consideration of the diverse range of intersecting
issues and values at play in discussions about genetic engineering of organisms
can help to identify and examine such broader impacts of this research.

The Impacts of Technology on Society

Technology and human life cannot be separated; society has a cyclical co-
dependence on technology. We use technology; depend on technology in our daily
life and our needs and demands for technology keep on rising. Humans use
technology to travel, to communicate, to learn, to do business and to live in
comfort. However, technology has also caused us concerns. Its poor application
has resulted in the pollution of the environment and it has also caused a serious
threat to our lives and society. This calls for the proper use of technology. The
biggest challenge facing people is to determine the type of future we need to have
and then create relevant technologies which will simplify the way we do things.

POSITIVE IMPACTS

Agriculture. Modern agricultural technology allows a small number of

people to grow vast quantities of food in a short period of time with less input
which results into high yields and RIO "return on investment". The use of
technology in agriculture has also resulted in the manufacturing of genetic crops
which can grow fast and they can be resistant to many pests and diseases. Also,
farmers have access to artificial fertilizers which add value to the soil and boost the
growth of their crops and enable them to produce high-quality yields. Farmers in
dry areas have been in a position to grow healthy crops, they use advanced water
pumps and sprinklers which derive water from rivers to the farms, the all process
can be automated to save time.

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 20

 Transportation. Transportation is one of the basic areas of technological
activity. Both society and businesses have benefited from the new transpiration
methods. Transportation provides mobility for people and goods. Transportation,
like all other technologies, can be viewed as a system. It is a series of parts that are
interrelated. These parts all work together to meet a certain goal. Transportation
uses vehicles, trains, airplanes, motorbikes, people, roads, energy, information,
materials, finance and time. All these parts I have mentioned work together to move
and relocate people and goods. Technology has helped in advancing all the four
types of transportation and these include; (1) road transport used by automobiles
,(2) air transport which is used by airplanes, (3) water transportation which is used
by ships and speed boats and (4) space transportation used to go to the moon. The
most used of all these is Road transportation, this one facilitates the movement of
goods and people. Technologies like automobiles, buses, and trucks have improved
the way humans move and how they transport their goods from place to another.
Also, developing countries are getting funds from wealthy countries to improve
their road transport which has resulted in the development of rural remote areas.
Communication. Both society and organizations depend on
communication to transfer information. People use technology to communicate
with each other. Electronic media like radios, televisions, internet, and social media
have improved the way we exchange ideas which can develop our societies. In
many countries, radios and televisions are used to voice the concerns of the society,
they organize live forums where the community can contribute through mobile
phones or text service systems like tweeter. During political elections, leaders use
radio, television and internet media to reach the people they want to serve.
Communication technologies like Televisions, radios, and internet can be used to
persuade, entertain and inform the society. Small businesses have also used the
internet and mobile communication technology to grow and improve their
customer service.
Education and Learning Process. Education is the backbone of every economy.
People need well and organized educational infrastructures so that they can learn
how to interpret information. Many schools have started integrating educational
technologies in their schools with a great aim of improving the way students learn.
Technologies like smart whiteboards, computers, mobile phones, iPads, projectors,
and internet are being used in classrooms to boost student's moral to learn. Visual

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 21

education is becoming more popular and it has proved to be the best method of
learning in many subjects like mathematics, physics, biology, geography,
economics and much more. The business community has invested money in
various educational technologies which can be used by both teachers and their
students. For example, on iTunes, you will find many educational applications which
can allow students and teachers exchange academic information at any time, this
has made learning mobile. Also, programs like Long distance learning have opened
boundaries too so many scholars around the world.

NEGATIVE IMPACTS

Resource Depletion. The more demand for new technologies and advancement
of current technologies, the more pressure we put on earth's natural resources.
Look at the total number of mobile phones and computers being manufactured
today; our population is increasing every day and all these billion consumers
demand either a mobile phone or a computer in their homes or offices. This is good
news for the manufactures, like Apple or Samsung, the demand for their gadgets
is high, but to sustain this demand, they have to exploit Mother Nature for
resources like aluminum, once these resources are extracted from the earth plates,
they will never return back because it took these a billion years to mature. That
means that at one time, we shall be left with no natural resource which can be a
problem to the future generation and economy. Likewise, the intensive farming
practices will deplete the soil. This makes heavy applications of commercial
fertilizers necessary to yield healthy harvests, but also these fertilizers have
chemicals which are dangerous to the soil and human lives.

Increased Population. Technology has helped us live longer by improving health

facilities and aiding in the research for solutions for most health problems which
affect humans. This is good news for developed countries but is bad news for
developing countries which have not been in a position to access these health care
benefits brought by technology. In developed countries population growth is
controlled by advanced birth control methods, this has helped them balance their
population in relation to natural resources and other opportunities which come

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 22

with a planned population. This is different in developing countries, the rate at
which people produce is very high, the mortality rate is high, food is scarce and
health care is poor.

Increased Pollution. Pollution affects the land we grow crops on, the water we
drink and the air we breathe. The increased demand for new technologies and
advancement of technologies has resulted in many manufacturing and processing
factories. As they work so hard to create the best technologies for both society and
business, they release harmful chemicals and gasses which have polluted our
environment, and this has resulted in climate changes (global warming). So, the
more technology we enjoy, the more we harm our environment. Experts have tried
to implement ways of reducing this impact by encouraging factories to go green,
to a small extent, this has been achieved through the development of green
technologies like; green cars, green computers, but a great effort is still needed to
reduce the pollution of the air and the earth.

THE IMPACTS OF SOCIETY ON SCIENCE

One sense of the broader impacts of research is on what societal values and
social interests can have on the practice of science. More than we might regularly
recognize, the social norms under which we function in our cultural and political
settings impact the sorts of research that happens through funding, regulation, and
criticism. Public interest in genetically engineered organisms has already had just
such a significant impact on the research science in that area (Mortensen, Franklin,
Bruce, Matthew, & Smith, 2012).
From a social perspective, genetic engineering of organisms raises a
cross section of issues. These issues are relevant across technologies and
applications: such ethical issues prevalent in the public debates about genetic
engineering are not necessarily even specific to GE crops, but perhaps to questions
of crops more generally as well as to other GE organisms.
For example, if agricultural impacts on human health are ethically-relevant,
then they're relevant not only in the context of GE crops but also in "traditional"
food crops more generally which have their own significant impacts. The important
space for ethical work is in determining why and under what conditions GE crops
are uniquely relevant.

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 23

 Social concern has impacted the science of genetic engineering in at least
three ways: through concern about environmental and health risks, through
questioning epistemic reliability and access, and through institutional impacts on
the practice of science. Concern for environmental harms and risks to human health
stand as central themes and pose a central conflict value conflict in debates around
genetic engineering of organisms. Direct non-target effects, like on native organisms
who ingest pollen of GE plants, could be one example of potential environmental
harms. Indirect effects, such as potential decreased food availability for seed
specialists in a GE agricultural monoculture, can be another. Increased use of
pesticides coupled with pesticide resistant GE crops have been a major concern
(Mortensen et. al. 2012).
From a human health perspective, recombination and transference of genetic
materials by and through GE species open questions about the possibility of new viral
diseases. Given the variability and unexpected results of introduction of novel GE
species into ecosystems, other questions about risks to human health and
environmental wellbeing remain central in the debate about ethical issues in
genetic engineering.

In fact, these institutional inputs play a major role in the research process
and as social influences on scientific practice and research. Regulatory bodies
reflect both social concern and scientific interest in research practices and constrain
the ways in which research can be done.

LESSON IV: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING 24

References:

❖ Scribd. (n.d.). Science, Technology and Society Module | Psychoanalysis |

Science. https://www.scribd.com/document/429431394/Science-Technology-and-Society-Module.
❖ Issuu. (n.d.). Science, Technology and Society by Dr. David Cababaro Bueno - issuu.
https://issuu.com/davidcababarobueno/docs/sts_book_2_doc_dave_2018.
❖ https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Science-Technology-and-
Society.pdf

Lesson III: STS & Intellectual Revolution 25