Science and Technology during the Estrada Administration

In President Joseph Estrada's term, two major legislations that he signed were Philippine
Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749) which was designed to protect and preserve
the environment and ensure the sustainable development of its natural resources, and
Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792) which outlaws computer hacking
and provides opportunities for new businesses emerging from the Internet-driven New
Economy. Aside from these, in his first State of the Nation Address, President Estrada
launched a full-scale program based on cost-effective irrigation technologies. He also
announced that Dole-outs are out, which meant basic health care, basic nutrition, and useful
education for those who want, but cannot afford it. Lastly, he said that they would speed up
the program to establish one science high school in every province. It was in his second State
of the Nation Address that President Estrada announced the passage of the Clean Air Act, and
the decision to pursue the 15-year modernization program of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines. His last State of the Nation Address pushed for the advancement of industries
and schools into the Internet age, as well as the announcement of the passage of the e-
Commerce Act.
Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (R.A. 8749)
This act establishes a comprehensive air pollution control policy for the country by
preserving and protecting air quality, establishing an air quality management system,
prohibiting certain forms of waste disposal, and regulating emissions. The Act consists of 7
Chapters and 51 sections: General Provisions (1); Air Quality Management System (2); Fuels,
Additives, Substances and Pollutants (3); Institutional Mechanism (4); Actions (5); Fines and
Penalties (6); Final provisions (7).
Chapter 1 defines the terms, principles, policies, rights, and responsibilities related to air
quality management and protection in the Philippines including, among others, the right to
breathe clean air and the principle that polluters must pay.
The chapter on Air Quality Management System (Chapter 2) establishes the framework,
plans, standards, techniques, and funds for monitoring, regulating, and improving the
ambient air quality in the country. It also designates airsheds, nonattainment areas, and
emission quotas for pollution sources.
Chapter 3 sets the specifications, standards, and prohibitions for fuels, additives, substances,
and pollutants that may affect air quality. It also regulates the importation, manufacture,
distribution, and sale of such products. The Department of Environment is mandated to
phase out ozone-depleting substances in accordance with international agreements.
The Department of Environment shall be designated as the primary agency for implementing
and enforcing the Air Quality Act (Chapter 4).
Chapters 5 and 6 provide for the procedures, remedies, and sanctions for violations of the
act, and mandates the conduct of environmental education, information, and public
awareness campaigns on air quality issues and solutions.
Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (R.A. 8792)
Approved on June 14, 2000, this is an act providing for the recognition and use of electronic
commercial and non-commercial transactions, penalties for unlawful use thereof, and other
purposes.
This law generally recognizes the use of ICT in official transactions of the public and of the
government. This law allows the legal recognition of electronic documents and digital
signatures. There are also penalties for hacking, piracy, and for other violations of this law.
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 (R.A. 6657)
On June 10, 1988, Corazon Aquino passed an act instituting a comprehensive agrarian reform
program to promote social justice and industrialization, providing the mechanism for its
implementation, and for other purposes.
The welfare of the landless farmers and farmworkers will receive the highest consideration
to promote social justice and to move the nation toward sound rural development and
industrialization, and the establishment of owner cultivatorship of economic-size farms as
the basis of Philippine agriculture.
The Estrada administration widened the coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP) to the landless peasants in the countryside, distributing more than 266,000
hectares (660,000 acres) of land to 175,000 landless farmers, including land owned by the
traditional rural elite. (Total of 523,000 hectares to 305,000 farmers during his 2nd year as
president). In September 1999, he issued Executive Order 151, also known as Farmer's Trust
Fund, which allows the voluntary consolidation of small farm operation into medium and
large-scale integrated enterprise that can access long-term capital. Estrada launched the
Magkabalikat Para sa Kaunlarang Agraryo or MAGKASAKA. The Department of Agrarian
Reform forged into joint ventures with private investors into agrarian sector to make FBs
competitive.
In 1999, a huge fund was allocated to agricultural programs; one of these is the Agrikulturang
Maka Masa, through which it achieved an output growth of 6 percent, a record high at the
time, thereby lowering the inflation rate from 11 percent in January 1999 to just a little over
3 percent by November of the same year.
Others
1. The launching of the Mobile Information Technology Classroom in Mindanao to
provide students hands-on training in IT lessons.
2. “Jeep ni Erap: Ang Pasada ng Pangulo” is a radio-TV program that aims to help the
government “feel the pulse” of the people by providing a direct line of communications
between the President and ordinary Filipinos. The Estrada Administration’s programs to
boost science and technology int the country to make these more responsive to the
challenges of globalization and its thrust towards agricultural modernization.
3. The setting up of Regional Food Microbiology Laboratories to ensure the quality and
safety of local food products and exports.
4. The implementation of the Climate Information Monitoring and Prediction Services
to make weather forecasting more useful in managing agriculture and water resources.
Climate change monitoring is a system integrated satellite observation, ground-based
data and forecast models to monitor and forecast changes in the weather and climate.
Weather information is playing an increasingly instrument role in the evolving field of
agriculture. The details of weather information can help grow a business decision in
planning efficiency and minimize its cost.