The Development of Social Technologies was the main topic of the Diamond Jubilee Lecture Series of the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Science Philippine Alpha Chapter. In partnership with the Department of Communication Research of the College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines Diliman, the lecture was conducted last 18 January 2008. Invited guest speaker was Dr. Cesar M. Mercado, founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Development Center for Asia Africa Pacific (DCAAP).
Social technologies, based on Dr. Mercado’s presentation, are systematically developed or reinvented, tested, refined and documented concepts, paradigms or techniques—tools designed to improve the effectiveness and performance of researchers, policy makers, managers, planners, and leaders. According to Dr. Mercado, the physical and biological sciences have overshadowed the social sciences. Though social technologies help lessen problems resulting from the rapid development of physical and biological technologies, social technologies have lagged behind because of the lack in established systems of technology generation, marketing and delivery. Some groups or organizations may have been using them in enforcing policies and strategies but these are not labeled as social technologies because they do not conform to the Western concepts. According to Dr. Mercado, technologies should not always follow the concepts of the developed countries for they may not be appropriate to the conditions or situations in the developing countries like the Philippines. Competitiveness and confidence in initiating innovations should be practiced in order to produce technologies applicable not only internationally but also locally. Social science researchers should also package their results in textbooks and other scholarly publications in order to contribute to higher learning and encourage further research.
Only a few organizations today label their inventions as social technologies. These are the Bureau of Social Technology of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Development Center for Asia Africa Pacific (DCAAP), the World Bank, and the Social Technologies. The hard work and dedication of Dr. Mercado have produced more than fifteen tried, tested and documented culturally adapted social technologies (CAST). He continuously shares these with other interested social scientists and researchers. According to Dr. Mercado, he initiated these technologies without special funding, motivated only by passion to continue helping developing countries.
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