Raon, Glishel P.

BS- ENTREP 2-4

Major Development Programs and Personalities in Science and Technologies in

the Philippines
Philippine science and technology has a long history, dating back to the early American colonial
period during which the Bureau of Science was created.

The Philippine Development plan also acknowledges several fundamental weaknesses in terms
of competitiveness. The plan emphasizes that strategies shall therefore be pursued to help raise
the competitiveness of industries by improving the business environment, raising productivity
and efficiency, and inculcating quality consciousness among manufacturers and producers to
offer quality goods and services comparable to global brands. Furthermore, the plan identifies a
number of economic sectors to be prioritized.

The Philippine STI policy gained a new momentum during the government of President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo (2004-2010), whose ten-point agenda stated “technology is the foundation
of future economic development” and the current Philippine STI policies build on its legacy.

The Philippine STI policy is guided by the National Science and Technology Plan (NSTP) 2002-
2020. The NSTP identifies 12 priority areas for S&T development (the sectors are listed in no
particular order): (a) agriculture, forestry and natural resources; (b) health/medical sciences; (c)
biotechnology; (d) information and communications technology; (e) microelectronics; (f)
materials science and engineering; (g) earth and marine sciences; (h) fisheries and aquaculture;
(i) environment; (j) natural disaster mitigation; (k) energy; and (l) manufacturing and process
engineering. These area thrusts were identified to serve as a resource allocation guide for
scarce S&T resources.

Alongside the National Science and Technology Plan, the Philippine Innovation Strategy
“Filipinnovation” (2007) provides a broad framework for innovation policy and is the main
national initiative to boost innovation in the country. As the National Science and Technology
Plan, it had specific support from President Arroyo and was built upon a public-private
partnership. Filipinnovation calls for action in four strategic areas: 1) Strengthening human
capital; 2) supporting business incubation and acceleration; 3) regenerating the innovation
environment; and 4) upgrading the Philippine mind-set.
The strategy development was headed by the Philippine’s Department for Science and
Technology (DOST) and the committee developing the strategy was later re-organised into a
Filipinnovation Network. In the process, 10 sectors were defined as of priority and the
subsequent process came up with more than 100 priority initiatives, later reduced to 87 and
then to 28. However, these initiatives were never officially adopted and the necessary
supportive budget was cut, leaving the strategy and its network to play a smaller role than
initially envisaged. The strategy is relevant in the Philippine’s policy system, but needs
commitment and better integration into national policies.

To better focus STI programmes and other initiatives, DOST has launched an 8-point action
agenda (initially in 2006), much in line with Filipinnovation and LED

This includes:

1) Science-based know-how and tools that enable the agriculture sector to raise productivity to
world-class standards.

2) Innovative, cost-effective and appropriate technologies that enable MSMEs to develop and
produce competitive products that meet world-class standards.

3) State-of-the-art facilities and capabilities that enable local industries to move up the value
chain and attain global competitiveness.

4) Idea of the Philippines as a global leader in Information Technology - Business Process

Management Services generating direct employment of 1.3mio (520,000 of which in the
countryside).

5) ICT-based transformation of governance broadening access to government services (i.e.

health and education) for those in the countryside (to bring the Philippines in the top 50 global
ranking of e-government by 2016)

6) Improved quality healthcare and quality of life thru science, technology and innovation

7) Highly skilled and globally competitive S&T human resources in support of the national S&T
programs (Philippine Science High School/PSHS to be the leading science high school in ASEAN
by 2015 and every town to have at least one DOST scholar by 2016)
8) Science-based weather information and climate change scenarios with associated impact
assessments that enable concerned agencies to develop appropriate mitigation strategies for a
disaster and climate change resilient Philippines (please see more here).

REFERENCE :

https://sea-eu.archiv.zsi.at/facts/sea/philippines.html

Paraphrase ,:

Science and technology in the Philippines has a lengthy history, extending back to the early
American colonial period, when the Bureau of Science was established.

In terms of competitiveness, the Philippine Development Plan acknowledges a number of

fundamental flaws. The plan emphasizes that strategies must be pursued to help industries
become more competitive by improving the business environment, increasing productivity and
efficiency, and instilling quality consciousness among manufacturers and producers so that they
can provide quality goods and services comparable to global brands. In addition, the strategy
highlights a number of priority economic sectors.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's (2004-2010) ten-point strategy declared that "technology
is the foundation of future economic development," and current Philippine STI policies build on
that legacy.

The National Science and Technology Plan (NSTP) 2002-2020 guides Philippine STI policy. The
National Science and Technology Policy lists 12 priority areas for S&T development (listed in no
particular order): Agriculture, forestry, and natural resources; health/medical sciences;
biotechnology; information and communications technology; e) microelectronics; f) materials
science and engineering; g) earth and marine sciences; h) fisheries and aquaculture; I
environment; j) natural disaster mitigation; k) energy; and l) manufacturing and process
engineering The goal of identifying these area thrusts was to use them as a resource allocation
guide for scarce S&T resources.

The Philippine Innovation Strategy "Filipinnovation" (2007), which complements the National
Science and Technology Plan, provides a comprehensive framework for innovation policy and is
the country's principal national endeavor to stimulate innovation. It was built on a public-
private cooperation and got particular support from President Arroyo as the National Science
and Technology Plan. Filipinnovation encourages action in four key areas: 1) enhancing human
capital; 2) promoting company incubation and acceleration; 3) revitalizing the innovative
ecosystem; and 4) changing the mindset of the Philippine people.
The Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) led the strategy formulation, and
the strategy committee was eventually reorganized into the Filipinnovation Network. During
the process, ten key areas were identified, and more than 100 priority initiatives were
identified, which were later cut to 87 and then to 28. These initiatives, however, were never
officially embraced, and the essential supporting budget was decreased, resulting in the
strategy and its network playing a smaller role than originally planned. In the Philippine policy
framework, the strategy is significant, but it requires more commitment and integration with
national policies.

DOST created an 8-point action agenda (originally in 2006) to better focus STI programs and
other activities, similar to Filipinnovation and LED.

This includes the following:

1) Science-based know-how and equipment that allow the agricultural sector to achieve world-
class production.

2) Cutting-edge, cost-effective, and relevant technologies that allow MSMEs to create and
manufacture competitive products that meet world-class standards.

3) Cutting-edge facilities and capabilities that enable local businesses to progress up the value
chain and compete globally.

4) The Philippines' vision of being a global leader in information technology - Business Process
Management Services.

5) ICT-based governance change that expands access to government services (e.g., health and
education) for persons living in rural areas (to bring the Philippines in the top 50 global ranking
of e-government by 2016)

6) Science, technology, and innovation have improved the quality of healthcare and the quality
of life.

7) Highly educated and globally competitive scientific and technology people resources to
support national science and technology programs (Philippine Science High School/PSHS to be
the premier science high school in ASEAN by 2015, and every town to have at least one DOST
scholar by 2016).

8) Science-based weather data and climate change scenarios with associated impact
assessments that allow relevant authorities to implement suitable mitigation policies for a
disaster- and climate-resilient Philippines.
The Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) primary highlights for 2017 are research
and technology assistance. Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Pea described the DOST's five
major achievements in 2017 to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).