This article is part of the seminar on “Science Technology Policies in the Philippines" jointly sponsored by PIDS and DOST on May 5, 1989. It briefly discusses the benefits derived from S&T planning, its basic features and the variables involved in it. It also identifies the problem areas in the present planning system.science and technology

del Rosario, Ernesto

English

Research Papers in Economics

p_ JournalofPhilippir_Dcuelopment P_IIIS
Number Twenty-Nine, VolXVI, No.2,1989
PLANNINGFORSCIENCEAND TECHNOLOGY*
Ernestodel Rosario**
TheadvancementofScienceandTechnology(S&T)isapfioritythrust
inthe presentnational developmentplan. S&Tprograms,therefore, forma
prominentpart of the overallnationaldevelopmentefforts.Recently,the
Presidential Task ForceonS&T wascreatedto formulatea strategicS&T
planwhich will hopefullycatapultthe countryto the statusof a newly
industrialized country(NIC) bythe year2000.
S&T Planning
NationalS&Teffortsrequirecarefulplanning.Awell-developedplan
is vitalin any S&T organization becauseit providesthe organizationits
directionand ensuresthat organizational objectivesare maintainedand
pursued.
PlanningIs an Interactiveprocessof anticipation;it providesthe
blueprintforachievement.A planisbotha communicationdeviceand a
precalculatedcourseof action. It involvesthese three dimensionsthat
differentiate itfromgoals,standards, forecasts,and decisions:
I. Itimplicatesthe future,
2. Itinvolves action,and
3. Theactionwillbedonebythe plannerora persondesignatedin
the organization.
In most respectsthe plan providesthe detail and the means for
achievingthe objectives with theleastexpenditureof resources.
*This paper was presented during thePIDS*DOST Seminar onS&T Polioies, 5May
1989, NEDA saMakatl Bldg., MakatJ, Metro Manila.
**Chief, Planning &Evaluation Service, Department ofScience andTechnology
(DOST).192 JOURNAL OFPHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT
•VariablesInvolved in S&T Planning
Planning forscienceandtechnologyisvery sensitive tomanyinternal
andexternalvariables.Technology,community pressures, andpolitics are
examplesofexternalinfluences affectingS&Tplanning.
Thestateoftheartoftechnology actsasa significant variablethatcan
drasticallyaffectS&Tplans.The failureto anticipatethe directionoftech-
nologicalchange and the rateby whichitadvances,forinstance,places
the•Research and Developmentinstitution(RDI) in a very weak position.•
Emergingtechnologicaldevelopments can alsomakeexisting programs,
facilities, and evenpersonnelredundantand obsolete.
The communityconstitutesan externalforce exertingpressurefor
goodS&T planning.SinceRDIstillformsa part ofthe communityit cannot
simplyignorethisdemand.Thus,thetransferofappropriate andsuccessful
technologythatcouldimprovethe people'sway oflifeisalwaysanexpec-
tationofthe communityfromtheRDI.
Political factors also exert a strong influenceon $&T planning.
Nationalconcernsmustbeaddressed inplanningS&Tprograms,projects,
and activities,specificallyalongareasrelatedto vitalstateproblemssuch
as the needto provideshelter,to eradicatedisease,or preventhunger
situations. Internal politicalforcesatwork,affecting differentS&Tinstitutions
invaryingdegrees,mustalsobe recognized intheplanningprocess.Some
oftheseconcernpersonnelresources,people'smorale,and the capability
of managementand/orqualityof leadership behavior.
Resourceconstraint actsasa limitinginternalfactor.Nodoubtsome
physicalresourcesarereadilyprocurred.However,othersmaynotbe so
easytoacquire,owingtohighcostandlongleadtime. Moreover,plansare
oftenmoreconstrained bythenumberandskillsofthe personnel available,
especiallytechnical people. To achieve an optimumcombinationand
integrationof peopleand physicalresourcesistherefore an objectiveof
S&Tplanning.
Moralein the organizationis anintangiblebut importantfactor in-
fluencing $&T planning.InanS&Torganization, moraleaffectsproductivity.
Leadersof S&Torganizations mustearnthe respectoftheirpeershereand
abroad. Membersof S&T organizations shouldbe esteemedbythe com-
munity.Respect and esteem are reflected in the confidencegiven to
management; theyalsodependinpartoninteresting projectsandadequacy
of resources.
Managementisprobablythesinglemostcriticalfactorinthesuccess
or failureof S&T organizations, sinceitprovidesthe vision,the capability,
the energy,andthe philosophy behindS&Tplanning.DELF_O-'SARIO: PLANNING FOR S&T 193
Basic Featuresof S&T Planning
S&T planningisa lessthan idealworkingconcept. It may be an
imperfecttool.ButItisinfinitely betterthannotoolat all.Withoutplanning,
responsibilities can be assumedand hence, cannot be fulfilled.Current
commitmentsmay alsobe abortedbecauseresourcerequirementswere
notpredetermined.Inthe end,the resulting confusionandcommunication
failurewillbreedinefficiency andlowmorale.Thus,organizational cohesion
suffers.
SinceS&T planning requires an extensive •interplay of interdependent
factors, it must be establishedon a comprehensivebasisand withina
frameworkof a technologyplan.Furthermore, itmustguaranteethatS&T
effortscatertothe identifiedpriorities of the economy.
Becausetechnologychangesarevery unpredictableand are fre-
quentlyradicalin R&D,the managementof an S&Torganizationmustbe
awareof basicfactorswhichcreatechangeandmustincorporate flexibility
intothe planningmechanism.Plans must be open to modificationor
changeat anytime,particularly whentheactualperformanceisnot within
expectation, orifexternalorinternal factorsarisewhichwerenotanticipated.
•To havean effectivescientificand technological organization, there-
fore,itisnecessarythatawell-planned programoforganizedanddisciplined
S&Teffortsshould beinplace,designed tomeetnational needsandpriorities
bothinthe shortandthelongterm.
In thisrespect,the NationalScienceandTecP,,_ology Planprovides
thedirectionforthe countryto becomean NIC bythe year2000.Itfocuses •
onthe harnessing of S&Tinthe economicsectors,principally throughthe
useof leading edge technologies. The planIdentified13leadingsectors
thatwouldprovidemaximumsocioeconomic benefits.
At present,the country is stillan agriculturalnation.To attain in-
dustrialization and sustained acceleratedgrowthbythe year2000, itmust
adopta developmental strategybasedonthe effectiveandaggressiveuse
of technologies.The problemat hand,therefore,liesinthe formulationof
effectiveS&T developmentalstrategiesthat would optimallyharnessthe
availableS&T resourcesof the countryin addressing,among others,the
problemofscarceforeignexchange,shortageofrawmaterials, lowproduc-
tivity,and uncompetitive productsand services.Scientificand technologi-
cal effortspursued and applied with singlenessof purpose must be
undertaken to contributeto the solutionof the currentproblemsthatcon-
frontthe nation.194 JOURNALOFPHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT
The Council System in S&T Planning
In the DOST, planning for S&T is mainly done through the council
system.To illustratethis process,we willdiscussthe planningsystem ofthe
Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development
(PCIERD).
The DOST,throughone of its researchplanningand policymaking
bodies,the PCIERD,was tasked to pursuea scienceand technology
developmentpackagefor industry,energyand utilities,housingand in-
frastructure,communication, andtransportation sectorsin supportof the
country's socioeconomicdevelopmentefforts. The PCIERDwas then
instrumental inpreparing theNationalS&TPlan,beingtheSecretariat ofthe
TaskForce.
Specifically, the PCIERDis mandatedto serveasthe leadingarm of
thegovernment inthe planning,monitoring, andpromotionofscientific and
technologicalR&D and its applicationsin industry,energyand utilities,
housingand infrastructure, communication,and transportationsectors.
PCIERD is a_soinchargeof developinga hardcoremechanismfor the
harmoniousformulationof S&T policiesand programsin researchand
developmentinthe abovementioned sectors.In brief,the PCIERDhasthe
followinggeneralfunctionsandpowers:
1. Formulateresearchplansand programs;
2. Identifypriorityresearchareasandtargets;
3. Allocateresourcesaccordingto priorities; and
4. Direct,coordinate,and m_nitorR&Dactivitiesin industryand
energy.
Inits desireto putintomoreproductiveand meaningful activitiesthe
country's limited resources allocated to technological research and
developmentprojects,the PCIERDhaslongrecognizedthe needtocome
upwith an S&T plan particularly for industryand energy,that would be
responsive tothe nationaldevelopmentefforts.
A systemof planningwas thereforedevelopedthroughwhichthe
Counciltranslates itsstrategies. Theplanningsystemwasdesignedinsuch
a way asto ensurethe maximumparticipation of allsectorsconcernedIn
thedecision-making process forindustrial development. PCIERD'sstanding
policyistoestablishitsscientific andtechnologicalprogramsandpriorities
onthe basisof broadconsultations involvingindustry,governmentagen-
cies,researchinstitutes, andtheacademe.
Informulating itsyearlyS&Tpriorities planfortheindustryandenergy
sectors,the Council organizesconsultativemeetings,workshops,and
seminars with thedifferentsectorsofindustryaswellaswith othergovern-DELROSARIO: PLANNING FOR S&T 195
ment research institutes.These meetings focus on various technical
problemsconfronting industryandtheirpossiblesolutions; theyalsoseek
to identifythe technicalInput requirementsofthe sectorand the applied
researchprioritiesneededto upgradeproductivity and developindustrial
self-reliance.These meetingsalsotry to matchgovernmentand private
sectorresourcesforresearchand development activitiesbeneficial tothe
varioussectorsoftheeconomy.
ThefollowinggroupsareInvolved inthe consultation process forS&T
planningInindustryandenergy:
1. DOSTResearchInstitutes:
a. Industrial TechnologyDevelopmentInstitute
b. ForestProductsResearch & DevelopmentInstitute
c. PhilippineNuclearResearchInstitute
d. Technology Acquisition and PromotionInstitute
e. Philippine Atmospheric, Geo-Physical &Astronomical
ServicesAdministration
f. Philippine InstituteofVolcanologyandSeismology
g. Philippine TextileResearchInstitute
2. GovernmentDepartments:
a. Officeof EnergyAffairs
b. DepartmentofAgriculture
c, DepartmentofTradeand Industry
d. Departmentof Environment and Na,uralResources
e. DepartmentofTransportation and Communication
f. DepartmentofPublicWorksand Highways
3. OtherGovernmentAgencies/Corporation:
a. NationalPowerCorporation
b. NationalProductivityCommission
c. Philippine CottonCorporation
d, NationalFoodAuthority
4. PrivateSector:
Theprivatesectorgroupsinindustryandenergyareasfollows:
a. FoodProcessingIndustry
- Crop-based
- Livestock
- Fishery-based
b. ElectricalandElectronicsIndustry
- Electrical&MachineryApparatus
- ElectricalAppliances196 JOURNAL OFPHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT
- Semi-conductor
ElectronicsCommunication
c. Textile& GarmentIndustry
d. Woodand Wood-Basedindustry
Pulpand PaperIndustry
- FurnitureIndustry
WoodMaterialsfor Housing&ConstructionIndustry
e. Ironand SteelIndustry
Primary Iron& Steel
Engineering& MetalworkingIndustry
f. ChemicalIndustry
Pharmaceutical
•. Resins& Plastic
•- BasicIndustrial Chemical,Fertilizer,&Pesticides
g. Mining. and Mineral-Based
Non-Metallic Minerals
Metallic
h. •Rubber and Leather.
i. MajorEnergySourceSector
CoalResources
HydroResources
GeothermalResources
j. EnergyConservation Sector
Building&Transport
Industry
k. Non-Conventional EnergySector
Dendrothermal & MinihydroResources
Spoale&WindResources
AlcogasResource
5. Academe:
a. Universityof thePhilippines at LosBaRos
b. University of thePhilippines-Diliman
c. AdamsonUniversity
d. University of Sto.Tomas
e. DonBosco
f. Others
Basedonthe outcomeof the meetingswith the consultative andthe
specializedworkinggroups,the PCIERDExecutiveStaffdraftsthe PCIERD
. S&T PrioritiesPlan for industry.and energy. The PriorityPlan is then
matchedwith the NationalDevelopmentPlanofthe NEDAto ensurethat itDELROSARIO:PLANNINGFORS&T 197
is consistentwith and guided bytheneedsof the othersectorsincludedin
the overallplan.
The finalS&T PriorityPlanfor industryand energyissubmittedfor
approvalto the GoverningCouncilwhichIs the highestdecision-making
bodycomposedof the DOSTSecretaryaschairman;theCouncil'sExecu-
tive Director;the undersecretaries ofTradeand Industry,Energy,Public
Worksand Highways,and Transportation and Communications; and three
representatives fromthe privatesector.Uponapproval,the planis given
backtothe ExecutiveStafffor implementation.
PCIERDalsodevelopeda systemof criteria fordetermining preferred
researchareasof S&Tdevelopmentin industryand energy. Theapproval
ofresearchproposalsforfinancialsupportunderthe PCIERDGrants-in-Aid
depends ontheircommercialfeasibility, socioeconomic developmentim-
pact,contribution to upgradingS&Tmanpowercapability,and highprob-
abilityof successor lowriskfactor.
RegionalThrust
In linewiththe regionalization thrustof the government, PCIERD is
now stressing the nationaleffortto bring the benefitsof scienceand
technology tothe regions.Inpursuingitsresearchprogramontechnology
development, particularlytoward promoting regional industrialization,
PCIERDhastappedthe supportofthe DOSTregionalofficesin-
i. Identifyingstrategic raw materials which, based on tech-
noeconomiccriteria,havea higheconomicpotentialand pro-
videPhilippineindustrythe maximumcomparativeadvantage.
Thesearchforstrategicrawmaterialsarefocusedon- -
_a. Rawmaterialsubstitutes;
b. AbundantIndigenousrawmaterials thatcanbe processed
to higher value industrialproducts and-whose tech-
noeconomicpossibilities havenotbeenexploited;and
c. Agriculturalwastes that canbe converted into usable
products.
2, Determining industrlai projectsorproductsthatcouldplaya lead
,roleinthetechnological transformation andgrowthofthe region.
3. Determining researchand development programsandtechnical
facilitiesthat would be supportive of regionaldevelopmen t
plans.198 JOURNAL OFPHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT
4. Assisting cottage,small-andmedium-scaleindustries inattaining
self-sufficiency andself*reliance intheadoptionorImprovement
ofindigenous or existingtechnology.
5. Delivering technologypackages tothecountryside tocontribute
totheformationofviablelivelihood projectsinthe regions.
6. Promotingtechnologytransferto cottage,small-andmedium-
scaleindustriesthroughbrochures,feasibility study,technical
information materials,prototypes andothersthatwouldpromote
countrysidedevelopment.
It must be stressedherethat to be effective,such a programfor
industrial development mustbeviewedwithintheframeworkoftheNational
S&T planwhich integratesall S&T developmentschemes,maximizethe
utilization of availableresources and technologies, andspreadthebenefits
of S&T developmenteffortsthroughall sectorsof the economy. These
effortsareallalignedtowardmakingthe countryan NIC bythe year2000
throughthe aggressiveand wise use of leading edge technologiesIn
improving enterpriseproductivity andinexpanding the productionsectors.
Theplanningsystems forthe othersectoralcouncilsaremoreor less
similar tothatofPCIERD's.ThesectoralCouncilSystemensures thatallthe
viewsof participantsand actorsIneach sectorare heardand considered
beforeanydecisionismadeor implementedinthe S&T sector.
ProblemAreas
Problemareasin S&Tplanningincludethefollowing:
1. Witha newNationalS&T Plan,an assessment of the capability
of DOST agencieshasto be done, particularlyto gaugetheir
abilityto respondtothe planningrequirements of the newplan
andtheircapacityto meetthe challengesof leadingedge tech-
nologiesforthe 13topprioritysectors.
2. Amorerelevant system of performance Indicators foreachDOST
agencyshouldbe developed.
3. ThereIsaneedforasystemofimpactindicators forS&Tactivities
aswellasbetterevaluation and monitoring ofS&Tprogramsand
projects_.
4. A moresystematiccriteriaor planningstandardsfor S&T plan-
ningshouldalsobe established.

Planning for Science and Technology

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Planning for Science and Technology

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