This document discusses the state of science and technology in the Philippines and advocates for a pro-people approach. It finds that while there have been advances in areas like information technology, the needs of most Filipinos are not being met, as seen in issues like hunger, poverty and environmental destruction. The Philippine S&T system is underdeveloped, underfunded and dependent on other countries. Most resources go to profit-driven private industry rather than public needs. The document calls on S&T workers to advocate for science and technology that genuinely serves the Filipino people through areas like food security, public utilities and national industrialization.

1. The State of Science andThe State of Science and
Technology in theTechnology in the
PhilippinesPhilippines
andand thethe
Advocacy for a Pro-Advocacy for a Pro-
People S&TPeople S&T

2. What is Science and Technology?What is Science and Technology?
 Science is…Science is…
is the systematic body of knowledge coveringis the systematic body of knowledge covering
truths or the operation of general lawstruths or the operation of general laws
especially as obtained and tested through theespecially as obtained and tested through the
scientific methodscientific method
 Technology is…Technology is…
the application of sciencethe application of science

3. Advances and challengesAdvances and challenges
 Great and exciting advancesGreat and exciting advances
 Information technologyInformation technology
 AutomationAutomation
 Genetics and medicineGenetics and medicine
 Greatest challengesGreatest challenges
 Famine and hungerFamine and hunger
 Rapid ecological destructionRapid ecological destruction
 Breakdown of health systemsBreakdown of health systems
 Social decay and disintegrationSocial decay and disintegration
one billion people
are hungry
160 million more
malnourished
every day world
wide: 70,000 persons
join hungry and
starving masses
Despite the advances in science andDespite the advances in science and
technology, why is it unable to answer thetechnology, why is it unable to answer the
needs of the people?needs of the people?

4. Science and historyScience and history
 Man interacts with natureMan interacts with nature
 Produce goods for everyday livingProduce goods for everyday living
 Relations in historical epochRelations in historical epoch
 Shape knowledge and toolsShape knowledge and tools
 Dominant economic and politicalDominant economic and political
segmentsegment
 Decides and allocates resourcesDecides and allocates resources
 Current dominant modeCurrent dominant mode
 Favors profit over people’s interestFavors profit over people’s interest
 Monopoly capitalMonopoly capital

5. Science and technology for profitScience and technology for profit
 New products and processesNew products and processes
 Better and more efficientBetter and more efficient
 Survive intense competitionSurvive intense competition
 Ultimate objective: gaining profitsUltimate objective: gaining profits
 S&T under control of monopoly capitalS&T under control of monopoly capital
 Hunger, poverty, environment, healthHunger, poverty, environment, health
 Lesser focusLesser focus
 DoublespeakDoublespeak
 Hunger and genetically engineered foodHunger and genetically engineered food
 Priority: marketing and commercial releasePriority: marketing and commercial release
 Resolve safety and health concernsResolve safety and health concerns
 Profits, not hungerProfits, not hunger

6. Concentrated Capital and TechnologyConcentrated Capital and Technology
 Industrial countriesIndustrial countries
 Tight hold on high techTight hold on high tech
 70% global market: consumer durables70% global market: consumer durables
 Top 5 MNCsTop 5 MNCs
 50 % of the world’s total productive output50 % of the world’s total productive output
 Top 5 in auto, airline, aerospace, electrical,Top 5 in auto, airline, aerospace, electrical,
electronic and steel industrieselectronic and steel industries
 40 % of global sales40 % of global sales
 Top 5 MNCs in oil, PC and mediaTop 5 MNCs in oil, PC and media
 Foreign affiliates of 23 MNCsForeign affiliates of 23 MNCs
 80 % of total sales in electronics80 % of total sales in electronics
 70 to 80 % of R&D70 to 80 % of R&D
 80 to 90 % of technology payments80 to 90 % of technology payments

7. Third world science and technologyThird world science and technology
 Third world industriesThird world industries
 Cheap labor for reassembly of partsCheap labor for reassembly of parts
 Consumer goods Consumer goods
 More underdeveloped countriesMore underdeveloped countries
 Use older production equipmentUse older production equipment
 Marked disadvantageMarked disadvantage
 International financeInternational finance
 Stimulate production and sale ofStimulate production and sale of
consumer goodsconsumer goods
 Cover debt service burden andCover debt service burden and
budgetary deficitsbudgetary deficits
 Prescriptions of the IMF and the WBPrescriptions of the IMF and the WB

8. State of science and technologyState of science and technology
 Philippine science and technologyPhilippine science and technology
 UnderdevelopedUnderdeveloped
 StuntedStunted
 DependentDependent
 StatisticsStatistics
 EducationEducation
 industriesindustries

9. Education: teacher competenceEducation: teacher competence
1992 up institute of science and mathematics education survey1992 up institute of science and mathematics education survey
mathmath
generalgeneral
sciencescience
biologybiology
physicsphysics
chemchem
71 %
40 % 41 %
21 %
8 %

10. Education: student performanceEducation: student performance
 Filipino 13 year oldsFilipino 13 year olds
 40 out of 41 in science40 out of 41 in science
 37 out of 39 in math37 out of 39 in math
 Poor science and mathPoor science and math
educationeducation
1996 Third International Mathematics and Science Study

11.  Low manpower in S&TLow manpower in S&T
 PhD’s per millionPhD’s per million
 UN:380UN:380
 Singapore:2800Singapore:2800
 South Korea:South Korea:
33003300
 Taiwan:4300Taiwan:4300
 Philippines: 155Philippines: 155
 Average number ofAverage number of
R&D personnelR&D personnel
 14,41114,411
South
Korea
Singapore
TaiwanUN
standards
Research &Research &
development:development: ManpowerManpower

12. Research&development:Research&development:
resourcesresources
 low expenditures on R&Dlow expenditures on R&D
 DOST budget decreasingDOST budget decreasing
 UN standards for LDCUN standards for LDC
 1% of national budget1% of national budget
 19921992
 Japan/US: 2.8%Japan/US: 2.8%
 Korea: 1.8%Korea: 1.8%
 Taiwan 1.1%Taiwan 1.1%
 Philippines:Philippines: 0.22 %0.22 %
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
94 95 96 98 99 '00 '01

13. Research&development:Research&development:
resourcesresources
 No research laboratoriesNo research laboratories
 No extensive S&T libraries/information networkNo extensive S&T libraries/information network
 No support for R&D workersNo support for R&D workers
 Low output in scientific publicationLow output in scientific publication
 Share of total int’l scientific publications: phil. 0.035%Share of total int’l scientific publications: phil. 0.035%
 51st in world51st in world
 Below singapore, thailand, malaysia and indonesiaBelow singapore, thailand, malaysia and indonesia

14. Allocation of budgetAllocation of budget
Higher Education
Government
Non-Government
Private Industry
Basic
Research
Applied
Research
Experimental
Development

15. Patents ratio: nationals/foreignersPatents ratio: nationals/foreigners
CountryCountry Patents GrantedPatents Granted Patents GrantedPatents Granted
to Nationalsto Nationals to Foreignersto Foreigners
19761976 19861986 19941994 19761976 19861986
PhilippinesPhilippines 108108 8282 3939 767767 755755
19761976 19861986
USAUSA 169%169% 116%116%
KoreaKorea 92%92% 32%32%
PhilippinesPhilippines 14%14% 11%11%

16. IndustryIndustry
Agriculture
Industry
Services Major Industry GroupMajor Industry Group TotalTotal
PhilippinesPhilippines 30,11930,119
AgricultureAgriculture 11,14611,146
Agriculture, hunting, andAgriculture, hunting, and
forestryforestry
10,01210,012
FishingFishing 1,1341,134
IndustryIndustry 4,5604,560
Mining and quarryingMining and quarrying 9898
ManufacturingManufacturing 2,7672,767
Electricity, gas, and waterElectricity, gas, and water 117117
ConstructionConstruction 1,5781,578
ServicesServices 14,41414,414

17. AgricultureAgriculture
Crops
Livestock
Poultry
Fishery
SubsectorSubsector Gross ValueGross Value
TotalTotal 617.9617.9
CropsCrops 305.4305.4
LivestockLivestock 110.8110.8
PoultryPoultry 88.688.6
FisheryFishery 113.1113.1
P 617.9 billion
exportsexports $ 1.30 billion$ 1.30 billion
importsimports $ 2.10 billion$ 2.10 billion

18. R&D in agricultureR&D in agriculture
Research expenditureResearch expenditure 19851985 19951995
1,000 1995 U.S. dollars1,000 1995 U.S. dollars
Agricultural machineryAgricultural machinery 305305 Unknown,Unknown,
butbut
smallsmall
Agricultural chemicalsAgricultural chemicals 1,6571,657 2,5622,562
LivestockLivestock 708708 1,4801,480
Plant breedingPlant breeding 2,2422,242 1,8001,800
PlantationsPlantations 1,6101,610 4,6804,680
Total private researchTotal private research 6,5226,522 10,52210,522
Public research expenditurePublic research expenditure n.a.n.a. 37,00037,000
Private research as a percentagePrivate research as a percentage
of total researchof total research
n.a.n.a. 22%22%
Agricultural gross domestic productAgricultural gross domestic product 11,054,00011,054,000 16,319,00016,319,000
Private research as percentage ofPrivate research as percentage of
agriculture gross domestic productagriculture gross domestic product
0.06%0.06% 0.06%0.06%
Types of
agricultural
firms with
RD
activities.
TypeType NumNum
berber
Agrichemical producerAgrichemical producer 99
Animal breederAnimal breeder 77
Banana fruit producerBanana fruit producer 55
Poultry integratorPoultry integrator 44
Seed producerSeed producer 44
Organic fertilizersOrganic fertilizers
producerproducer
44
Animal health productAnimal health product
producerproducer
44
Feed producerFeed producer 33
Hog growerHog grower 33
MachineryMachinery
fabricators/assemblerfabricators/assembler
11
Grain producerGrain producer 11
Ornamental plant growerOrnamental plant grower 11
Research foundationsResearch foundations 44

19. Research & development: outputResearch & development: output
 PhilippinesPhilippines
 42 out of 4842 out of 48
 Thailand (31st)Thailand (31st)
 Malaysia (33rd), china (26th), singapore (10th)Malaysia (33rd), china (26th), singapore (10th)
 Technology indexTechnology index  -0.1-0.1
 Patents and registration of new designsPatents and registration of new designs
 Technology tradeTechnology trade
 Value added in manufacturingValue added in manufacturing
 Export of technology intensive goodsExport of technology intensive goods
 Low level of technology in manufacturingLow level of technology in manufacturing
 Federation of Philippine Industries from 1988-1996: no R&DFederation of Philippine Industries from 1988-1996: no R&D
 Local companiesLocal companies

20. Historical contextHistorical context
 Pre-spanishPre-spanish
 Handicrafts, pottery,Handicrafts, pottery,
weaving, blacksmithing andweaving, blacksmithing and
boat building/wet and dryboat building/wet and dry
rice agriculturerice agriculture
 Banawe rice terracesBanawe rice terraces

21. History:Spanish RuleHistory:Spanish Rule
 SpanishSpanish
 EncomiendaEncomienda
 Hacienda system,Hacienda system,
cigar manufacturing,cigar manufacturing,
abaca rope making,abaca rope making,
telegraphtelegraph

22. History:American RuleHistory:American Rule
 AmericanAmerican
 Slight processing ofSlight processing of
agricultural productsagricultural products
 Sugar millsSugar mills
 Export of raw materialsExport of raw materials
 mineral oresmineral ores
 Unequal trading systemUnequal trading system
between Philippines andbetween Philippines and
USUS
 Import-dependent,Import-dependent,
export-oriented economyexport-oriented economy
 What is left for theWhat is left for the
scientist?scientist?

23. Current situationCurrent situation
• No program for ruralNo program for rural
industrialization, agriculturalindustrialization, agricultural
modernizationmodernization
• No basic industriesNo basic industries
• No infrastructure in energy,No infrastructure in energy,
transportation,transportation,
communications, informationcommunications, information
technology and basic servicestechnology and basic services

24. Role of S&T workersRole of S&T workers
 Key players in industrializationKey players in industrialization
 S&T workersS&T workers
 Lifeblood of research, innovationLifeblood of research, innovation
 Have important roles in the industry andHave important roles in the industry and
manufacturing sectormanufacturing sector
 Scientists must become advocatesScientists must become advocates
 science and technology for the peoplescience and technology for the people

25. Patriotic Science and TechnologyPatriotic Science and Technology
 Pro-people developmentPro-people development
 National industrializationNational industrialization
 Genuine Agrarian ReformGenuine Agrarian Reform
 United with otherUnited with other
progressive sectorsprogressive sectors

26. Science and technology for theScience and technology for the
peoplepeople
 Committed to people’s interestsCommitted to people’s interests
 science for people’s requirements and needsscience for people’s requirements and needs
 responsive and constantly plansresponsive and constantly plans
 Development and managementDevelopment and management
 science, technology and natural resourcesscience, technology and natural resources
 consciously linked on people’s needsconsciously linked on people’s needs
 Greatest and continuing challengeGreatest and continuing challenge
 progress for benefit of the peopleprogress for benefit of the people
Make science and technology serve the people

27. AGHAMAGHAM
 organization of patriotic, pro-organization of patriotic, pro-
people science and technologypeople science and technology
advocatesadvocates
 promoting science andpromoting science and
technology that genuinely servetechnology that genuinely serve
the interest of the Filipino peoplethe interest of the Filipino people
 direct technical service todirect technical service to
communities through researchescommunities through researches
 advocacy through various formsadvocacy through various forms
not only limited to research,not only limited to research,
education, fora and discussioneducation, fora and discussion
groupsgroups

28. Five concernsFive concerns
 Food Security and Self-sufficiencyFood Security and Self-sufficiency
 Scientific and Mass CultureScientific and Mass Culture
 EnvironmentEnvironment
 Pubic UtilitiesPubic Utilities
 National IndustrializationNational Industrialization

29. Man can find meaning in life. Short andMan can find meaning in life. Short and
perilous as it is, only through devotingperilous as it is, only through devoting
himself to society.himself to society.
––Albert Einstein, in “Why Socialism”Albert Einstein, in “Why Socialism”

30. Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham atSamahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at
Teknolohiya Para sa SambayananTeknolohiya Para sa Sambayanan