Science & Technology in Philippine Context

Science & Technology in Philippine Context

Science has been described as "the means of understanding the natural environment", while technology is "the means of controlling and managing it". Hence Science and Technology together cover the gathering and generation of information about the material world and the application of that information for the welfare of mankind.

Changes in science and technology cause changes in individual people that can make them look at their society differently, and sometimes, to improve it. The advanced countries of the world are where they are today primarily because of their ability to use science and technology as effective tools for achieving their national objectives. These countries have changed the life-styles of their peoples through the cultivation and application of science and technology. The developing countries have fallen behind primarily because of their backwardness in this respect.

The limitation of resources, shortage of skilled manpower in many areas, inadequate research facilities and skill development programmes, lack of coordination among scientific organizations, outmoded science curricula in the educational institutions, dependence on foreign technology, brain drain and emigration of trained manpower and poor social consciousness of the role of science and technology in national development-all of these factors have conspired to keep us backward.

It is now generally realized that the inherent strength of a nation lies in the skills of its people which can be acquired and enhanced through the practice of science and technology in every field. The promotion of scientific knowledge and development of technology, through their increasing application, create the necessary conditions for socio-economic uplift of a country. Technological progress is thus the crucial determinant in the realization of the twin objectives of eradication of poverty and acceleration of socio-economic development.

Philippines have been struggling to meet the basic needs of its people and to substantially raise the living standards throughout the country. In order to achieve these goals and to keep up with the rest of the world, Philippines, too, must harness science and technology