SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY:

Trace the Development of Science and Technology in the Philippines and

Argue for Three Specific Directions that the State Must Undertake.

Kaylene Paula R. Rey

GE003: Science, Technology and Society

Professor Monchito Avila

July 4, 2018
 Science and Technology or S&T determines a part of the state of the socio-

economic progress of a country. It is a well-known fact that national progress is highly

associated to the capability of a country to produce local industrial goods for domestic needs.

The industrialization is very much dependent on the capacity of a country to use S&T to process

locally-found raw materials into high-tech products and tools. The Science and Technology of a

country should be given the utmost attention, it is an indispensable tool to improve and

modernize the way of living.

A measure of a country’s progress is determined through its advancement in

Science and Technology, an example of a progressive country in Asia is Japan. The S&T of

Japan is mostly focused and prominent in consumer electronics, robotics and in the automotive

industry. In the fields of scientific research, technology, machinery and medical research, Japan

is one of the leading nations with the world’s largest budget for research and development.

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) is one of the biggest priority of Japan, that is why for

a small country they are much more progressive and advanced as a nation. A developing country

like Africa has fallen behind in the S&T sector, despite their historical abilities in Science. The

more the Western World became more civilized through invention and innovation in the last

years, Africa in comparison remained more primitive and backward. It is hard to imagine life

especially now in the modern era without the modern everyday technology like electricity, cars,

telephones and other technology that makes life convenient, comfortable and economically

productive. But for millions of Africans, these inventions and innovations is still their daily

reality.
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The comparison of the two country’s just show that Science and Technology can

turn destinies as it should. It can dictate a country’s economic and social standing in the Global

scale. There is nowhere in this world that can move economy without Science and Technology

because prioritizing Science and Technology can liberate a country from the oppressive

dominance of Globalization. All developing countries should understand that no nation will

willingly transfer its technological know-how to others because that knowledge is the basis of

competitive advantage, as the saying goes “Knowledge is Power”.

The history of Science and Technology in the Philippines started way back before

the country gained its independence from the American colonizers. Before Spain colonized the

country, some indigenous technology already existed especially with regards to agriculture.

Technology was evident in the handicrafts, pottery, weaving, metal ware and boats used by

ancient Filipinos which just show that various people and communities already practiced

Science. Filipinos already invented tools and built structures, studied the medicinal uses of

plants, observed heavenly bodies to predict seasons and weather, and used indigenous science in

agriculture.

The Spanish colonization forever changed the lives of the native Filipinos. When

the Spaniards colonized the Philippines they brought with them their own culture and practices.

They established schools and introduced the concept of subjects and disciplines that led to the

beginning of the formal education of science and technology. History shows that the primary

reason for such colonization was for Spain to obtain sources of raw materials in which it will

then be used for international trade. The Philippines, being one of the centers of global trade in

Southeast Asia during that time, was considered to be one of the most developed places in the
region. The entire colonial government of the Philippines was then setup for easy extraction of

raw materials and for faster production of goods that shall be traded by the mother country. The

division of land, resources and people was created and designed for the colonial masters to

readily extract from the country any valuable resources it finds. The three hundred years that the

Philippines was under Spain, the country evolved into a colony largely exporting its raw

materials and importing those that it cannot produce. Local Technological innovation was by far

largely restrained by the importation of foreign manufactured goods.

The Americans influenced the development of Science and Technology in the

Philippines compared to the Spaniards. They established the public school system that improved

the engineering works and the health conditions of the people. They establishment of the

University of the Philippines and created more public hospitals than the previous colonial master.

The mineral resources of the country were also explored and exploited during the American

colonization. However the systems of the Spanish colonization were still maintained during the

American colonial rule but a farce trading system between the colony and its colonial master was

established. The Philippine raw materials of low technological value input were traded for

foreign finished products of high technological input value. The export products of the country

was less than that of the foreign finished products therefore making the trade between the

Philippines and the more advanced countries unequal. In order for a colonial power to maintain

its dominance in the world, it is essential that their colonies do not develop its own system of

manufacturing goods and services that will compete with their goods. This means that the

Philippines did not have a stable genuine program for scientific and technological advancement.
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World War II destabilized the development go the country in many ways.

Institutions and public facilities were turned into ashes, houses were burned, and many lives

were destroyed. The country had a difficult time to rebuild itself from the ruins of the war. The

human spirit to survive and build and to rebuild was strong but the capacity of the country to

bring back what was destroyed was limited. After the World War II and fifty years under the

American rule, the Philippines slid down in terms of technological advancement in South East

Asia.

The development of Science and Technology in the Philippines based on its

history was shaped by several factors and influences. The growth of Science and its development

as a field in the country is a hybrid of indigenous and foreign ideas. Spain and the United States,

being the former colonial masters of the country, played an important role in building the

foundation of the Science program in the Philippines. Like in the history of other countries, it is

always shaped by human and social activities, both external and internal.

Science and Technology has a significant impact in the lives of the people and in

the development of the Philippine society. Even after 120 years of independence, our country has

yet to rid itself of the systems first created by the colonial masters and later on adopted by the

succeeding Philippine governments. Until now the S&T technology agencies created by the

government still do not serve the needs of the Filipino masses. There has been little or no

contribution to agriculture, which is our country’s main production in which a considerable large

amount of our population is engaged in. It has done nothing to spur rural industrialization, which

is very much needed. To this day, we have yet to establish basic industries and have yet establish

to efficiently develop our infrastructure, energy generation, transportation, communication,

information technology and basic services like in utilities and healthcare. The little science and

technological innovation that can be made in the present situation is still in service of the old

system of exporting raw materials in exchange of importing high-input finished products. This

system is expected to continue if there will be no sincere effort to address the state of the

country’s S&T, and to seriously root out the problems of technological backwardness. Thus,

until the vicious cycle of poor science education, backward science and technology, trade

imbalance and economic subservience is stopped, the Philippines will become a technological

laggard in the modern era and will never compete with globalization.

The role or the direction for the Science and Technology in the

development plan of the country should be prioritized by the Philippine government.

Unfortunately, one of the most strategic issues facing the Philippines has not yet been addressed.

Science and Technology is now clearly accepted as key elements in an advancement of a

country. There is no country that has progressed without Science and Technology. Like Japan all

progressive countries in the world have put STI as a centerpiece of their strategy. The Philippine

government has failed to address this failure and they should correct this issue to achieve global

competitiveness and to be an innovative prime mover.

The Philippines faces multiple global and local challenges which require Science

and Technology. The country should improve its S&T in the field of Agriculture and the

Environment, Health and Nutrition and lastly Brain Drain and Science Education. The three

specific categories mentioned should be one of the primary focuses of the government to achieve

the sustained growth and development of the region.

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The first direction is Agriculture and the Environment. The Philippines is known

for its vast beauty of natural resources and Agriculture is the number one production of our

country which a lot of Filipinos are engaged in. The development of Agriculture has the greatest

potential to solve urgent national problem in the country particularly unemployment,

overpopulation in the cities and environmental degradation. By having a science and nature

based program a redirection in the agricultural production from single commodity to a farming

systems-oriented program. Rice sufficiency with food security will be the primary national goal.

Research and development can also help in the diversification and integration in the farms by

restricting the agricultural system. Another suggestion is by managing the land and water

resources to ensure food and security and the protection of the environment and by adopting a

whole industry approach to the coconut sector of the country, which includes agricultural

production, processing, health research and biofuels. What would the Philippines be without its

natural environment and resources that is why aside from the advancement in agriculture the

environment should also be kept in mind especially now that there is a world issue about climate

change. Investing in the Research in Development to continually develop reliable early warning

systems and appropriate measures to address the effects of climate change should also be ideal.

The second direction is Health and Nutrition. A sustain policy and operational

research to provide quality health care to all Filipinos should be the goal of the government. A

country aside from its wealth in the environment should have healthy citizens. By effectively

increasing the research and development in health research and development, upgrading the

testing facilities and strengthening and improving infrastructure and surveillance can greatly

improve the S&T of the country. By giving a more accessible and advanced healthcare facilities
in the country it can help not just grow the demand of work here in the Philippines but can also

help in the economic growth and control the brain drain problem of the country. By building and

improving more Philippine General Hospitals all over the country the government will not just

only create jobs but it will create a more approachable and more accessible healthcare in the

country.

The third direction is addressing the Brain Drain and Science Education in the

Philippines. The quote “Knowledge is Power” is greatly emphasized in this direction. The

government should take note to strengthen education in our country and to address the issue of

“Brain Drain” in the country. The government should provide additional incentives for scientists

and technologists. There are only few scientists and technologists in the country, the government

should treasure them and value them immensely and add more incentives to them because their

job is not that easy. Without these professionals we will remain lost in the Science and

Technology development. By increasing their incentives the government will not only attract

them to remain here in our country than leave for a much better or as they say greener pastures

overseas. In improving the education system in the Philippines particularly in Science many

students will be attracted to take or pursue a program and S&T. An adjustment in the

government hiring rules should also be formulated to make it easier for public and private

universities and research institutions to create new research positions, starting with designated

research universities. And also by developing regional and global academic linkages it can

strengthen the provision and support for mathematics and science education by adapting to local

schools the standards and best practices in more technologically advanced or progressive

countries in the region.

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These three directions suggestions though separate are mutually supportive and

reinforcing in the development of Science and Technology in the Philippines. Individually and

collectively they will promote inclusive growth and sustainable development. They are also

doable. A nation does not grow economically overnight. Proper education, information and

awareness should be the first step in order for economic growth and change to happen. We

should follow the order of love. Love of God, Country, Family and Self. The Philippines is our

mother land. It’s compared to a mother for a reason. She will give and take whatever you do to

her without complaint just like a mother. She will offer you all her resources even if it’s already

lacking to help you. We as a nation are all kids or children of the Philippines; we must never

forget that in order to achieve greatness we should work together as a team.

 References

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