Science, Technology
and Society Science and Technology in the Philippines
The main managing agency responsible for science and technology (S&T) is the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The science department have consulting agencies for Forestry, Agriculture and Aquaculture,
Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and Nutrition, Health, Meteorological and the
Volcanology and Seismology.
History
Pre-Spanish Period
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 Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre
Spanish era Filipinos.
Spanish Colonial Period
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
American Period and Post-Commonwealth era
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 of the
islands.
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.
On December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the Philippines was established. The
Bureau of Science became the primary research center of the Philippines until World War
II.
Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing,
forestry, 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.
and Society Science and Technology in the Philippines
The main managing agency responsible for science and technology (S&T) is the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The science department have consulting agencies for Forestry, Agriculture and Aquaculture,
Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and Nutrition, Health, Meteorological and the
Volcanology and Seismology.
History
Pre-Spanish Period
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 Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre
Spanish era Filipinos.
Spanish Colonial Period
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
American Period and Post-Commonwealth era
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 of the
islands.
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.
On December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the Philippines was established. The
Bureau of Science became the primary research center of the Philippines until World War
II.
Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing,
forestry, 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.
