HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) was originally established as the National Science and Technology Development Board (NSDB) on 13 June, 1958. It was later reorganized on 17 March, 1982 to become the National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA) vested with broader policy-making and program implementing functions in order to be more effective and responsive to the scientific and technological needs of the country. Regional Offices were established with the reorganization. The Department of Science and Technology Region IV (DOST IV) is one of the 14 Regional Offices in the country tasked to carry out DOST's policies, plans, programs and projects in the countryside.

NSTA became a full-pledged Department on January 30, 1987 under Executive Order No. 128. Three years after, the Provincial Science and Technology Centers (PSTCs) were created through RA 6959 on 31 July 1990 establishing PSTCs in the provinces of Aurora, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Quezon, Rizal and Romblon. PSTC sco-implement programs and projects in the provinces.

The logo of the Department of Science and Technology is essentially four circles joined together side by side to form a square. The circle design gives an illusion of movement signifying progress through Science and Technology.

The logo's four circles represent the four guiding principles in our S&T development: Excellence, Relevance, Cooperation and Cost-Effectiveness.

The space in the center of the joined circles forms a four-pointed start symbolic of scientific creativity.

The logo's three-color scheme represents the unknown (black), truth an enlightenment (white) and progress (cyan).

A competent and competitive science and technology community with a social conscience.

Under Executive Order No. 128, DOST-IV shall

• provide central direction, leadership and coordination of S and T efforts in the region, and ensure that the results therefrom are geared and utilized in areas of maximum economic and social benefits for the people.
• assist the Science Department or DOST in formulating and implementing policies, plans, programs and projects for S and T development for both public and private sectors, and ensure that the results of S and T activities are properly applied and utillized to accelerate economic and social development.

THRUSTS

• Technology transfer leading to more employment opportunities and higher rural income
• Provide comparative advantage in the form of raw materials, and science and technology skills

FUNCTIONS

• Identify S&T needs and opportunities in the region
• Formulate a regional S&T plan consistent with and supportive of national plans
• Plan and implements S&T delivery services
• Monitor programs and projects of the DOST Councils, R&D Institutes, and other DOST
  agencies in the region
• Develop institutional linkages with national, regional government and non-government
  offices
• Grant GIA for projects on technology transfer/commercialization, research and
  development, and S&T infrastructure

• Forge more active partnerships in technology development and utilization
• Pursue more active partnerships in defining directions and priorities
• Adopt a strong client-orientation in research and development
• Increase private sector participation in S&T activities
• Aggresively acquire and adapt technologies from domestic and foreign sources
• Upgrade S&T services
• Develop and upgrade S&T manpower
• Strengthen international S&T linkages
• Promote S&T culture
• Improve the welfare of researchers, scientists and technologists

The S&T Master Plan seeks to contribute substantially to the attainment of the country's development goals as stated in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP).

• Alleviation of poverty
• Generation of more productive employment
• Promotion of equity and social justice
• Attainment of sustainable economic growth
• Protection and enhancement of environmental quality