Prometheus and Science & Technology

Banaba, Juliana L.
part 2
Moving slowly and with difficulty, that is the state of Science and Technology in the Philippines.
I learned about Prometheus, a titan punished by Zeus because he taught the mortals how to use
fire. He is known for his wily intelligence, and he wanted to share it with humankind, but he
suffered instead. Just like most of the Filipinos who have the capacity to help for the betterment
of Science and Technology here in our country. Many have the capacity, but only few are able to
get a degree regarding science and technology because of many factors including poverty and
there are only few scientists and technologists. Aside from that, most of them move abroad
because of the economic state here, knowing that they can earn a lot more when they practice
their professions abroad. One of the reasons for the country’s economic state is that foreigners
are the ones who benefit from our natural resources and the big industries in the country are
commonly owned and operated by foreigners, especially the oil industry and those who are
producing consumer goods. Also, companies in the Philippines would rather bring in technology
and products from abroad to the domestic market instead of cultivating science and technology in
our own country. And these all rooted from the colonization of different countries in the
Philippines. I think there is misuse of power happening locally and globally. That’s one of the
reasons for the backwardness of Science and Technology here in the Philippines. Our country
has been free from the colonization of foreign countries but it is evident that we still cannot
spread our wings because they still have power over us by means of them having the large
industries in our country. There is really a need to empower Filipinos for the advancement of
Science and Technology in the country because if fully developed, and if the more fundamental
obstacles, mainly economic and political in nature, currently confronting the country are
completely addressed, the Philippines can benefit from its own resources and there is no more
need for tons of imports from other countries, especially on rice.
As of the moment right now, compared to the documentary Prometheus Bound released a few
years ago. Our government is continuing and improving one of its solutions to the problem of
Science and Technology. The government is investing on its youth members therefore the
government launched Republic Act No. 8496, an act to establish the Philippine science high
school system and providing funds therefor. The State shall give priority to Research and
Development, invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to Science and Technology
education, training and services. It shall support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant
scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the country's productive systems
and national life. To achieve these, the State hereby establishes a PSHS System that will assume
a leadership role in secondary level science and technology education. This act enables the
indigent students to have a proper high school education, integrated with science, technology,
mathematics, and research subjects. These students are given stipends like an allowance every
month that ranges from Php 500-3,000. By this, aside from helping the students financially, this
aims to encourage young people to engage with science and technology as early as in their
secondary level. Also, this also aims to gear them and push them to take courses in college
regarding Science and Technology. The Science and Technology Undergraduate Scholarships
Program aims to stimulate and entice talented Filipino youths to pursue lifetime productive
careers in science and technology and ensure a steady, adequate supply of qualified Science and
Technology human resources which can steer the country towards national progress. Under
Republic Act No. 7687, also known as the “Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994”,
provides for scholarships to talented and deserving students whose families’ socio-economic
status do not exceed the set cut- off values of certain indicators. Qualifiers must pursue priority
fields of study in the basic sciences, engineering, other applied sciences, and science and
mathematics teaching. Recipients of DOST scholarships are obliged to work and practice their
professions here in the country for 5 years and are not allowed to work abroad in those years.
This is to help our country to be self-reliant and primarily for the betterment of it. By these
efforts of the government, the ratio of scientists in the Philippines will improve. But of course,
these professionals must do their duty for holistic development not just for their own sake. If
other countries can make it, we can also do it. Solidarity is what our country needs. It is true that
we can break free from the chains like Prometheus.

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Banaba, Juliana L.

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