INTRODUCTION

The Science and Technology Information Institute is the information and marketing arm of the Department of Science and Technology. It came into being by virtue of Executive Order No. 128, signed by President Corazon C. Aquino on January 30, 1987.

STII is mandated to (1) establish a science and technology databank and library; (2) disseminate science and technology information; and (3) undertake training on science and technology information.
These mandates on which the existence of the Institute is anchored appear simple, but crucial. Building the S&T information reservoir; promoting and propagating information; and strengthening our human resource infrastructure through training and other learning approaches are elements that never ceased to be a challenge for STII.

S & T information must compete with other information, which the public often consider to be more riveting or entertaining. The struggle is to be able to grab more S & T broadcast slots on television; to have more S & T issues discussed lengthily on the airwaves; and to see more S & T news landing on the front pages. Experience shows that it takes patience, networking and resources to achieve all these. But thanks to the Internet, STII’s clients have even increased because of this. It has also added visibility for the Department.

The first three chapters of this year’s report tackle what STII has done and accomplished to bring S & T closer to the people and how it made S & T information more available, accessible, and applicable to their lives. The last two chapters give a report on the linkages it has maintained and nurtured through the years as well as how it managed and improved its human and capital resources.