HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Regional Offices are the S&T implementing arms of DOST carrying out laws, rules, regulations, policies, plans, programs and projects. They provide effective and efficient S&T services to the people and coordinate with other government agencies and local government units in the region and S&T matters.

Regional Offices were established on March 17, 1982 when NSDB was reorganized and became National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA). DOST Regional Office 02 then had seven provinces as its service areas namely Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Kalinga Apayao, and Batanes.

On January 30, 1987 NSTA was elevated to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) under executive Order No. 128. DOST's functions and responsibilities were expanded to enable it to effectively pursue the declared state policy of supporting local scientific and technological efforts, developing local capability to achieve technological self reliance, promoting public and private sector partnership in science and technology activities thus encouraging private sectors to take greater role in research and development activities. In view of the creation of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ifugao and Kalinga Apayao were turned-over to DOST CAR by virtue of Executive Order No. 36.

On July 31, 1990 pursuant to RA 6959 Provincial Science and Technology Centers (PSTC) were created. DOST 02 established PSTC's in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and Batanes. They are housed in either a state college/university or in Provincial Government Campuses.

In 1997, DOST 02 adopted the Congressional Distict as its smallest operating unit. The district offices are hosted by State Colleges and Universities and are manned by Science Research Specialist designated as District Science Technology Officers (DSTOs). The arrangement is institutionalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DOST and the SCUs. Through the MOA the SCU also designates a co-manager of the center from its Senior R&D personnel.