Magna Carta for scientists, engineers, researchers and other S & T workers or also known as

Republic Act No. 8439 is a law in the Philippines that provides the rights and privileges of S & T
workers. Under this law, the S & T personnel are entitled to; hazardous allowance equivalent to
10 % or 30 % of their monthly basic salary depending on the extent of hazards involve;
subsistence allowance equivalent to 3 meals per their regular work day; laundry allowance of not
less than 150 pesos a month; housing and quarter allowance equivalent to live within the quarters
of the facility; longevity pay equivalent to 5 % of their monthly basic salary for every five years
of government service and; medical examination. The implementation of the law is one way to
say that our government recognizes and appreciates the value of our science and technology
workers.
Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan are some developed countries in Asia whose
economy is highly developed and technological and infrastructures are more advanced. And 70
percent of their economic growth was all contributed by their S & T workers, while it takes only
30 percent share to the underdeveloped countries and a number rising to 40 percent in the
Philippines. During 2011, the expenditures on Research and Experimental Development here in
our country have increased. Most of these research projects are science-based yet some of these
are still in need of funding. One of the agencies that help our fellow researchers is the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST). However, our extent of R & D level is still far
from the recommended benchmark of UNESCO (1% of GDP for developing countries.
Philippines gained 0.19% of GDP as of 2011). There is a need to encourage other sectors to
invest more on the R & D.
There are many factors that have contributed to the countrys low level of performance in the
fields of research and development, science and technology. One of them is our countrys
scientific and technological backwardness. Since our country is known for its rich natural
resources, we have an edge of exporting commodities. Thats a major role that our country plays,
but in terms of technology and capital we subordinate it to foreign countries such as importing
technology. Despite the achievement in agricultural, industry and health sectors through the
years, the problem still remains the same where we dont own manufacturing industries in
chemicals, pharmaceuticals, metals, electronics and automotive. Like for example, those who
work in laboratories and have insufficient chemicals would order from abroad and ordering of

chemicals would usually take long. Due to lack of materials, the process of experiment is being
delayed. If we have better strategies like investing and putting up our own manufacturing
industries then that wont be difficult for us to order locally or national. In general, the main
problem that may have caused the slow development of our country in terms of S & T fields is
the inadequate support from the government and lack of effective demand on these local
innovations.
The lack of support from the government has even worsened. Here in our country, the salaries of
our S & T workers such as scientists and researchers are not high enough to provide the needs of
their families. Some considered going abroad, study, work and live there for good due to the
inadequate importance of the government on them. Not only that, some of them even took MS or
MA and Ph.D in order to receive a higher salary. And the benefits under RA 8439 are not even
being provided for them. According to Ramon Agustin, President of Philippine Weatherman
Employees Association (PWEA), the law existed since 1998, but was funded only once. He said,
If the country loses its edge in science and technology and loses its S & T workers, the economy
will suffer. And the capabilities of S & T workers of creating innovations in dealing with
climate change, natural disasters such as typhoons, landslide, volcanic eruptions, and
earthquakes will no longer be available to help the government if no importance and attention are
given to them.
Its not yet too late for our country to invest more on science and technology. We just have to
start improving first the quality education given to the students, develop skills and mastery in
application of S & T by providing a lot of trainings and programs, provide funding for the
necessary laboratory apparatuses and equipment especially in state universities who cant afford
to buy them, supporting our own local innovations and have them exported instead of importing
foreign technologies, train our S & T workers according to international standards, provide the
benefits for our S & T workers under 8439 and most of all, promote and give its full support on
the Magna Carta of S & T workers in order to harness the full potential of S & T and help the
country gain optimum economic benefits. After all, no country has ever gained progress without
science, technology and human capital (Joy Lazcano, President of the S & T Information
Institute Employees Association).
Reference list:

Yukihide Hayashi.et.al (2015, September) Overseas Research Report Current Status on Science
and Technology in ASEAN countries. Retrieved from http://www.jst.go.jp/crds/pdf/en/CRDSFY2014-OR-02_EN.pdf
Olivia C. Caoili (2011, May 2011) Science and Technology in the Philippines: Present Condition
and

Future

Options.

Retrieved

from

http://sciencetechnologyandsociety.blogspot.com/2011/05/science-and-technology-inphilippines.html

Marvin Sy (2012, December 27) Miriam wants probe on non-payment of scientists benefits.
Retrieved

from

http://www.philstar.com/metro/2012/12/27/890310/miriam-wants-probe-non-

payment-scientists-benefits

Therese. T. Estella (2013, October 1-2) Results of the 2011 Survey of R & D expenditures and
human resources and updates on R & D indicators in the Philippines. Retrieved from
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ncs/12thncs/papers/INVITED/IPS-43%20Science%20and
%20Technology%20and%20Innovation%20Statistics/IPS-43_2%20Results%20of%20the
%202011%20Survey%20of%20R%20&%20D%20Expenditures%20and%20Human
%20Resources%20and%20Updates%20on%20R%20&%20D%20Indicators%20in%20the.pdf

2014-019774