CONTRIBUTIONS OF PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTS
President Joseph Estrada
- RA 8749: The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 and RA 9792: Electronic Commerce Act
of 2000 are both signed and mandated. Implemented cost - effective irrigation
technologies and providing basic health care services for those who could not afford.
President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo
- The term Filipinnovation was coined to refer to the Philippines as an innovation hub in
Asia. She promulgated RA 9367: Biofuels Act, to utilize indigenous materials as sources
of energy. However, the act was not able to produce positive outcomes because of the
lack of technology to source raw materials. Farmers were encouraged to use rice that
can withstand environmental hazards. RA 10601: Agriculture and Fisheries
Mechanization (AFMech) Law also passed to modernize agricultural and fisheries
machinery and equipment.
President Benigno Aquino III
- In 2014, he named new National Scientists: Gavino C. Trono - Marine Biology, Angel C.
Alcala - Biological Science, Ramon C. Barba - horticulture, and Eduardo D. Gomez -
Marine Biology
President Rodrigo Duterte
- The focus of DOST is to put the results of R&D into commercialization in order to gain
new intellectual properties. Currently, the Philippines has the Philippine Space
Technology Program which launched Diwata - 2 in 2018 after the launch of Diwata - 1 in
2016 that displayed the Philippine flag in space. The administration gives importance to
agriculture and disaster preparedness.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTS
PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA
RA 8749: The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
● Mandated to reduce air pollution through various measures.
“RA 8749, the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, aimed to reduce air pollution nationwide. This
law sets strict regulations on emissions from vehicles and industries, promoting cleaner
technologies to protect the environment and public health."
RA 8792: Electronic Commerce Act of 2000
● Facilitated the development of e-commerce in the Philippines.
"RA 8792, the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000, laid the foundation for e-commerce in the
Philippines. It provided legal recognition to online transactions, helping to modernize the
economy and support the growth of digital businesses."
Irrigation and Health Care Initiatives
● Implemented cost-effective irrigation technologies.
● Provided basic healthcare services for those who could not afford them.
"President Estrada also made strides in agriculture and healthcare. He introduced cost-
effective irrigation technologies to boost farming productivity and expanded basic health
care services for those who couldn't afford them, ensuring wider access to essential medical
care."
PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL - ARROYO
Filipinnovation:
● Coined the term to position the Philippines as an innovation hub in Asia.
● Aimed to foster a culture of creativity and technological advancement.
"President Arroyo introduced the term 'Filipinnovation' to establish the Philippines as an
innovation hub in Asia, promoting technological advancement and creativity."
RA 9367 - Biofuels Act:
● Promoted the use of indigenous materials as energy sources to reduce dependence on
imported fuels.
● Faced challenges due to the lack of technology for efficiently sourcing and processing
raw materials.
"She also enacted RA 9367, the Biofuels Act, aimed at reducing reliance on imported fuels by
utilizing indigenous energy sources. However, the law struggled due to technological limitations
in sourcing raw materials."
Agricultural Initiatives:
● Encouraged the use of rice varieties that could withstand environmental hazards,
improving food security.
● Passed RA 10601 - Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law to
modernize agricultural and fisheries machinery, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
"In agriculture, President Arroyo encouraged the use of resilient rice varieties and passed RA
10601, the AFMech Law, to modernize farming and fishing equipment, boosting productivity
and efficiency."
PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III
In 2014, President Aquino honored four distinguished individuals by naming them as new
National Scientists of the Philippines. This recognition celebrated their exceptional contributions
to their respective fields. The newly appointed National Scientists were:
● Gavino C. Trono, renowned for his work in Marine Biology.
● Angel C. Alcala, celebrated for his achievements in Biological Science.
● Ramon C. Barba, recognized for his pioneering research in Horticulture.
● Eduardo D. Gomez, acclaimed for his contributions to Marine Biology.
"These appointments not only honored individual achievements but also aimed to inspire future
generations in the fields of science and technology. President Aquino’s support for scientific
advancement remains a significant part of his legacy."
PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE
● DOST Focus:
○ Commercialization of R&D results in creating new intellectual properties.
● Philippine Space Technology Program:
○ Diwata-1: Launched in 2016, displayed the Philippine flag in space.
○ Diwata-2: Launched in 2018, furthering space technology.
● Administration Priorities:
○ Agriculture: Enhancing practices and productivity.
○ Disaster Preparedness: Improving readiness and response to natural disasters.
"Under President Duterte, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has emphasized
turning research and development (R&D) results into commercial products to create new
intellectual properties.
A key achievement is the Philippine Space Technology Program:
● Diwata-1 was launched in 2016 and proudly displayed the Philippine flag in space.
● Diwata-2, launched in 2018, continued to advance our space technology capabilities.
The administration also places high importance on:
● Agriculture: Focused on improving agricultural practices and productivity.
● Disaster Preparedness: Enhancing the country’s readiness and response to natural
disasters."
"These efforts reflect a commitment to leveraging science and technology to drive progress and
address national needs."
