By Jian Zharese Joeis Sanz 
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students and practitioners across more than eight different locations in the country protested last Nov. 14 to demand an end to corruption and to establish a better support system for the Philippine STEM sector.

As the day also marked STEM Day Against Corruption, Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (AGHAM) Diliman held a “creative experiment” protest where they poured chemicals over styrofoam portraits of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, and resigned party-list representative Zaldy Co. They called for immediate support for affected post-graduate students and urged the UP administration to grant a tuition waiver to nearly 80 scholars affected by the Department of Science and Technology–Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (DOST-ASTHRDP) scholarship budget cut. 

During the Black Friday Protest against corruption, Jenna Rodriguez of AGHAM decried the yearly decrease in governmental funding to support STEM professionals. “The issue of corruption is personal and closely tied to the reality of every scientist, especially now, in the face of the very small budget allocated each year for research and development.”

Underfunded scientists

In an online statement supporting the scientists’ protest at the DOST-ASTHRDP-Diliman scholarship cut off, Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA)-STEM said that while corrupt officials squander public funds, programs meant to advance research and support of scientists remain underfunded. “Putting this in perspective, one P150 million ($2.5 million) bogus flood control project could have supported almost 750 scholars for this semester alone, or 150 doctorate students or 225 master’s students for the entire program,” the organization added. 

The cut-off was confirmed following DOST’s Oct. 29 announcement of the ASTHRDP accepted scholars—this instantly drew criticisms from people’s scientists, considering that in the past few years, 100 percent of the applicants were accepted. 

After conducting a series of interviews and widespread consultations, AGHAM reported that nearly 80 students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees have been affected. The organization said that the cut in the scholarship budget means that dozens of graduate students and future Filipino scientists have to pay tuition of around P22,500 ($382) every semester and would no longer receive any stipends. Some of these students are from as far as Mindanao and have made significant sacrifices to relocate to Manila. Many even quit their jobs to pursue graduate studies full-time based on the promise of financial support.

Meanwhile, in a public post of the DOST last Nov. 7, following a talk with AGHAM, said that budget cuts made it difficult for them to reach their annual goal to accommodate 50,000 scholars. From a proposed budget of P49.253 billion ($837.976 million) for 2025, only P28.772 billion ($489.518 million) was approved for the DOST in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Future scientists affected

Aeshi Pangilinan of AGHAM Youth-UP Diliman told Bulatlat in an interview how STEM students also experience the lack of support and even a delay in stipends. “Personally, I felt its weight. Stipend delays have become a real struggle, especially now that my mother, a single mom, can barely sustain my daily needs.” 

For her, stipends are not just a form of support but serve as a monetary source for rent and even research expenses such as reagents, materials, and equipment. In the past, STEM students did not have to shoulder laboratory-related expenses but as laboratories continue to be defunded, the burden is then transferred to young scholars.

She said that even if scholarships are provided, young scholars like her still face other pressing issues, particularly the lack of jobs for scientists, the government’s poor appreciation for people-centered research and development, and low salaries. These problems, she said, force scientists to go abroad. 

Pangilinan also rooted these issues on corruption and capitalism. “Our country ends up exporting brains and skills that could have driven our own development. At the core of it all is corruption, and a system that continues to serve capitalist interests instead of the people.” 

Despite the Philippines ranking 37th out of 133 countries in the number of science, engineering, construction, and manufacturing graduates, it only ranked 86th in researchers per million population. The country has shown no growth since 2022.

Moreover, from 1990 to 2015, 3.7 million Filipinos earned science-related bachelor’s degrees, but 80.4 percent of them ended up in unrelated fields or even migrated abroad. 

A call to support people’s scientists 

Pangilinan said that science and technology must always be for the masses. “The Philippines can only truly progress if science uplifts communities from poverty and oppression, instead of serving the greed of corporations that destroy our environment, displace livelihoods, and take lives.”

She stressed that the rise of scientists and engineers who choose to serve the people is key to transforming society and forging a genuinely progressive nation.

Despite the country having great minds and passionate scientists, the decade-long corruption and neglect of scientists for officials’ self-interest hold back the country from reaching its goal of being truly scientific and mass-oriented. 

In relation to this, Pangilinan challenged the Marcos Jr. administration to invest instead in scientists and demanded accountability for the government’s plunder. “If you truly want a ‘science-based’ nation, then value your scientists.” (AMU, DAA)