The Philippines' Department of Science and Technology (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Agham at Teknolohiya), abbreviated as the DOST, is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for the coordination of science and technology-related projects in the Philippines and to formulate policies and projects in the fields of science and technology in support of national development.
EXCELLENCE, RELEVANCE, COOPERATION and COST-EFFECTIVENESS
The logo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) consists essentially of four circles joined together side by side to form a square. The circles symbolize unit particles, the building blocks of nature which are the subject and substance of science and technology.
The circle design gives an illusion of movement signifying progress through Science and Technology.
The space in the center of the joined circles forms a four-pointed star symbolic of scientific creativity.
The logo' s three-color scheme represents the unknown(black), truth and enlightenment (white) and progress (blue).
The logo's four circles represent the four guiding principles in our S&T development: EXCELLENCE, RELEVANCE, COOPERATION and COST-EFFECTIVENESS.
The DOST was formed as the National Science Development Board in 1958, during the administration of Carlos P. Garcia. It was originally mandated to survey the state of science and technology development in the Philippines at the time. By 1982, during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, it became the National Science and Technology Authority, or NSTA.
In 1987, when Corazon Aquino rose to power and in a shake-up of the executive departments, the NSTA was elevated to cabinet-level status to become the present-day DOST to meet the demands of the burgeoning fields of science and technology and increased calls from various sectors of Philippine society for state intervention in the fields of science and technology for the sake of national development.