Science and Technology Policy Making in the Philippines: A Review of Accomplishments and Needs

FORTUNATO T. DE LA PEÑA
Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology
Academician, National Academy of Science and Technology
Retired Professor, University of the Philippines Diliman

2024

Policy Insight Essay

Crafting and implementing science and technology (S&T) policies are crucial for a nation’s socioeconomic advancement. In the Philippines, while S&T-related institutions have a long history, formal policy development arguably began with the 1935 Constitution and evolved through subsequent versions, notably the 1987 Constitution which prioritized S&T across various domains. Philippine S&T policies are manifested in laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, national programs, and administrative issuances, reflecting a growing emphasis on S&T over the past six decades, starting with the pivotal “Science Act of 1958.” This growth continued through the establishment of key institutions and legislative acts in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, culminating in the creation of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The period from the 1990s to 2022 witnessed significant legislative activity in S&T, alongside sector-specific laws and administrative policies by agencies like the DOST, aimed at fostering innovation, technology transfer, and research and development. Despite this progress, urgent policy needs remain, including elevating regional research centers, enhancing public-private partnerships, and adopting a national action plan aligned with the long-term S&T foresight document, PAGTANAW 2050. Future policy efforts should focus on strengthening S&T governance, ensuring sustainable funding, accelerating technology transfer, and integrating industry, with the institutionalization of PAGTANAW 2050 as a guiding roadmap for the Philippines’ S&T trajectory towards national progress and global contributions.

Science and technology policy development; science and technology policies; PAGTANAW 2050

CHICAGO

Dela Peña, Fortunato. 2024. “Science and Technology Policy Making in the Philippines A Review of Accomplishments and Needs.” Philippine Journal of Public Policy: Interdisciplinary Development Perspectives 2024: Early View (2-10).

APA

Dela Peña, F. (2024). “Science and Technology Policy Making in the Philippines A Review of Accomplishments and Needs.” Philippine Journal of Public Policy: Interdisciplinary Development Perspectives 2024: Early View (2-10).