Pre-Colonial Period[edit]

The Banaue Rice Terraces

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 Laguna Copperplate Inscription shows the use of mathematics in precolonial

Philippine societies. A standard system of weights and measures is demonstrated by the
use of precise measurement for gold, and familiarity with rudimentary astronomy is shown
by fixing the precise day within the month in relation to the phases of the moon.

Shipbuilding showed geometric thinking and mastery of convexity, concavity, and the
proper proportion between ship breadth and length to ensure sailing efficiency. The
practice of constructing as much as twelve ships and boats to fit inside each other, not
unlike matryoshka dolls containing each other, can be interpreted as large three-
dimensional wooden demonstration of sets, subsets, volumes, and ordinality. [2]

The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-
Spanish era Filipinos.[3]

Spanish Colonial Period[edit]

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.[3]

Accounts by Spanish friars in the 1580s showed that astronomy was already known and
practiced. The accounts also give the local names of constellations, such as Moroporo
for the Pleiades and Balatik for Ursa Major among others.

In 1687, Isaac Newton included an explicit reference to the Philippines in his

classic Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica by mentioning Leuconia, the ancient
Ptolemaic name for the Philippines.[2]

The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the Spanish era, especially
in the later years. The Spanish also contributed to the field of engineering in the islands
by constructing government buildings, churches, roads, bridges and forts. [3] 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.[4]

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.[4] 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.[4]
American Period and Post-Commonwealth era[edit]

Angel Alcala is a national scientist noted for his work in marine and aquatic biology.

The progress of science and technology in the Philippines continued under American rule.
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.[3] The Bureau of Science became the primary research center of the
Philippines until World War II.[5]

Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing,
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.[5]

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 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.[5]
Marcos Era and Martial Law[edit]

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."[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

In his Fifth State of the Nation Address on January 26, 1970, he emphasized that the
upgrading of science curricula and teaching equipment is 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.[10]

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.[11]

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)[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] 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)[15]

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)[16]

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.[17]

In 1978, he created a Task Force on the formulation of a national action program on

science and technology to assess policies and programs of science and technology.
(Executive Order No. 512, s. 1978)[18] 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.[19]

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)[20]

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)[21]

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)[22] 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).[23] He enacted a law on the completion of
the National Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Complex at the University of the
Philippines at Los Baños. (Executive Order No. 840, s. 1982)[24]

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)[25]
Fifth Republic[edit]

Filipina food technologist Maria Y. Orosa (1893–1945) is credited with inventing banana
ketchup.[26][27]

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.[5]

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 STMP was for the Philippines to achieve newly industrialized country status
by the year 2000.[5] 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 fewest bills for deliberation.[5]
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.[5]

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.[28]

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.[29] Despite the abolishment of the
Philippine Inventors 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 its strategic nature. The grants for the
research and development programs was included in the Omnibus Investment Law.[1]

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.[30] 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 life expectancy from 67.5 years in 1992 to 69.1 years in
1995.[31]

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.[32]

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.[33]

In President Joseph Estrada's term, two major legislations that he signed were Philippine
Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749 [34]) 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)[35] 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 technologies. He also announced that Dole-outs 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.[36] 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 15-
year modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.[37] 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.[38]

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 [3]. 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.[4]
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 involve 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[4]

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.[5] On one had, drought-free rice was also highly encouraged to by used during her
term. This enables farmers to produce rice despite the environmental hazards that slows
or stops the production.[3]

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).[39]

In 2014, President Aquino conferred four new National Scientist for their contribution in
the Scientific field,[40] 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 extensives 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, secology 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.