Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1025

Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the last six (6) years, the Philippines’ scientific and technological indicators, based
on UNESCO benchmark, has improved significantly. According to UNESCO, for a developing
country, there should be 380 Researchers, Scientists and Engineers per million population
(RSEs) and the percentage of GDP expenditure on R&D (GERD) should be 1%. The number
of RSEs in the country has increased from 180 in 2009 to 270 in 2013, while the budget of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has increased from P5.7B in 2009 to P20.8B
in 2017, with Research and Development (R&D) budget allocation increasing from PIB in
2009 to P5.8B in 2017.

For the DOST Human Resource Development (HRD), the Philippine Science High
School (PSHS) and the Science Education Institute (SEI) have significantly contributed to the
RSEs. The PSHS increased the number of regional campuses from 11 in 2010 to 16 in 2016,
therefore providing one PSHS campus per region. The number of students in PSHS will
increase from 1,840 in 2009 to 8,083 in 2017, and 9,500 in 2021. The Science Education
Institute (SEI) increase the freshman intake of scholars from 1,250 in 2010 to 5,590 in 2015,
and has crafted the Grand Plan for S&T Human Resource Development such that the
Philippines will achieve 380 RSEs by 2022.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) endeavors to significantly
accelerate Science, Technology and Innovation (ST!) in the country through massive increase
in investment on S&T HRD and R&D through the Science for Change Program (SCP)

SCP consists of 4 components: Program Expansion 7 areas, New Programs in 6 areas,
the Grand Plan for S&T Human Resource Development, and the Accelerated R&D Program
for Capacity Building of Research and Development Institutions and Industrial
Competitiveness,


The total R&D Budget for 2017 is at 5.8 billion pesos. The proposed and estimated
R&D budget for the 5-year period under the S4C Bill is as follows (R&D budget doubles
yearly):

Year| Budget
2017 | 21bn
2018 | 42bn
2019 84bn
2020 | 168bn
2021 | 336bn
2022 | 672bn

The program has a big budget capturing all R&D efforts for the above stated 5-year
period, as follows:
1, Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) - total of 3.2 billion pesos
2. R&D Leadership Program (RDLead) - total of 6 billion pesos
3. Collaborative R&D to Leverage PH Economy (CRADLE) for RDIs and Industry -
total of 3.2 billion pesos
4. Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry - 14.25 billion pesos (25
industry sectors, at 50 to 100M per sector X 75)
5. S&T HRD (STRAND, STAR, SRCUR)

The passage of this important piece of legislation will further boost innovation R&D
and as well as significantly global competitiveness of Philippine products and services.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earn



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1025

Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Titie. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Science for Change
Program (SCP) Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall give priority to science, technology
and innovation to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote
total human liberation and development.” It recognizes that “Science and technology are
essential for national development and progress.” Thus, “the State shall give priority to research
and development, invention, innovation, and their utilization”. It shall likewise give priority to
“science and technology education, training, and services. It shali support indigenous,
appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to
the country's productive systems and national life.”

SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this law are to achieve a higher standard of
science and technology; to contribute to the development of the economy and society; to the
improvement of the welfare of the nation through prescribing the basic policy requirements for
the promotion of Science and Technology (S&T) and comprehensively and systematically
promoting policies for the progress of S&T; and to be competitive and be at par or above with
other countries in the field of S&T.


In order to achieve this objective, the following S&T programs of the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) shall be expanded:
(a) Health Self Sufficiency
1) Drug discovery and development;
2) Diagnostics development;
3) Biomedical engineering
(b) Renewable Energy
1) Solar;
2) Ocean;
3) Wind;
4) Hydro;
5) Biomass;
6) Energy Storage
(c) Nuclear Science for Energy, Health, Agriculture and Industry
(d) Climate and Environment Sciences
1) Disaster risk reduction; Resilience in different sectors;
2) Models downscaled to specific locations
(e) Food and Nutrition
1) Innovative Food Products;
2) Affordable nutrition intervention,
3) Focus on first 1000 days of the young
(f) Agricultural Productivity
1) Farm mechanization;
2) High-yielding varieties;
3) Novel farming methods;
4) Disease prevention and control
(g) Biotechnology for industry, Agriculture, Heaith and Environment
(h) Technology Business Incubation
(i) Foreign scholarships for Science and Technology Information Institute (STII)

(j) Promotion of Culture of Science

The following new programs shall also be included in the Science for Change Program.
(a) Human Security R&D


(b) Strengthening of R&D and S&T Services in the Regions through Infrastructure
(R&D Centers), facilities, HRD and R&D funding

(c) Space Technology and ICT Development
1) New satellites (Apo, Mayon and Makiling after Diwata);
2) Rural communications (digital inclusion)

(d) S&T for Creative Industries, Tourism Industry and Services Industry

(e) Artificial Intelligence: From HRD to R&D to Industry

The whole-of-country approach in policy and decision making shall be used to
recognize the valuable inputs from the government, private sector and other stakeholders within

the country in the implementation of the program.

SEC. 4. The Science for Change Program (SCP) and Utilization Policy Framework. —
The formulation of the SCP is anchored on the following Research and Development (R&D)
Agenda:

4.1 R&D to Address Pressing Problems
(a) Health Self Sufficiency
1) Drug Discovery and Development
2) Diagnostics Development
3) Biomedical Engineering
4) Early Detection of Disease Outbreak
5) Malnutrition Reduction Program
(b) Food and Nutrition
1) Innovative Food Products
2) Complementary Foods
3) Affordable Nutrition Intervention
4) Focus on First 1000 Days of the Young
(c) Priority Agricultural Commodities (Crops, Livestock, Poultry, Marine
Resources, Inland Aquatic Resources, etc.)
1) Reinvigorating the Philippine Coconut Industry through Coconut
Somatic Embryogenesis Technology (CSET)
2) Varietal Improvement of Philippine Native Chicken, Ducks and Pigs
3) Varietal Improvement for Important Export Commodities


4) Disease Prevention and Intervention for Abaca, Banana, Coconut and
Papaya
5) Increasing Crop Resilience to Environmental Stresses
(d) Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
1) Conservation of Select Indigenous Forest Tree Species in Forest
Reserve
2) Mangrove Rehabilitation and Management
3) Coastal Sustainable Development / Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction
Research Program
(e) Transport and Mobility
1) Environmentally-sustainable Technology Altematives for Public
Utility Vehicles
2) Intelligent Transport System (ITS)
3) Small Interisland Transport
() National Security
1) National satellite technology towards:
(i) Research and development on military communication
satellite
(ii) Military navigations
(iii) Reconnaissance and intelligence gathering
(iv) Satellite mapping and imaging
2) ICT infrastructure to strengthen against cybercrime
3) Biosecurity

4.2 R&D for Productivity

(a) Technology Support for Agricultural Productivity
1) Farm Mechanization
2) Varietal Improvement
3) Novel Farming Methods
4) Disease Prevention and Control

(b) Technology Support for industrial/Manufacturing/Mining Productivity
1) Production of Gums, Resins and Oils from Local Plants Using New

Technologies

2) Green Chemistry Products and Technologies


3) R&D in Support of the Philippine Metals Industry
4) Responsible Mining Technologies and Processes for extraction and
product development for copper, nickel, iron, gold and chromite
including Service Facilities for Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining
5) Electronics Products Design and Development
(c) S&T for the Creative Industries, Tourism Industry and Services Industry

4.3 R&D to Tap, Manage and Store Renewable Energy Resources
(a) Renewable Energy Production
1) Solar
2) Wind
3) Hydro
4) Biomass
5) Ocean
(b) Energy Storage
1) Engineering Design, Modeling, Assessment Tools and Development
of Renewable Energy Systems
2) Fabrication of Solid State Rechargeable Batteries and Super capacitors

4.4 R&D to Apply New Technologies Across Sectors
(a) Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Genomics, ICT and Nuclear Science (for
agriculture, industry, energy, health and environment)
(b) Artificial Intelligence
(c) Space Technology

4.5 Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change
(a) Full implementation of the PAGASA Modernization Law
(b) Improvement of Weather, Climate and Flood Forecasting/Warning and
Other Related Activities

1) Development of Flood/Hazard/Resource Vulnerability Maps
2) Development of Flood Forecasting Model for Major River Basin
3) Development of Radar Software and Hardware
4) Development of Tropical Cyclone Forecasting Tools for Deterministic

or Consensus TC Forecast


5) Climate Monitoring and Prediction System (CLIMPS)

6) Severe Weather Forecasting and Warning

7) Automation of Flood Early Warning System

8) Advanced Data Collection, Enhancement of Web and Dissemination

including Mirror Forecasting

(c) Technical Advisory Services for Geologic and Geophysical Phenomena

1) Development of Real-time Physico-chemical Monitoring Network

2) Ground Deformation Monitoring and R&D of Active Volcanoes

3) Fault Finder App
(d) Disaster Preparedness

1) Improvement of Weather Prediction and Information for Disaster
Prevention
Voicano, Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Preparedness and Risk
Reduction

2

é

ReliefOps.Ph — a multi-stage and multi-user decision support system
for disaster preparedness and response
4

Municipal Level Risk Assessment and Incident Reporting and
Visualization
5

Development of Spatial Models for Comprehensive Land Use
Planning
6

Best practices for environmental planning, structural and architectural
designs and guidelines for residential structures and evacuation
centers.

7

Enhancing Cytogenetic Biological Dosimetry Capabilities of the
Philippines for Nuclear Incident Preparedness

8) Establishment of Real-time Environmental Radiation Monitoring

System
9) Emergency Food Development
10) Emergency Shelter Development

4.6 Maximize Utilization of R&D Results Through Technology Transfer and/or
Commercialization
(a) Inter-department Collaborations to roll out new beneficial technologies.
(b) Promotion of Commerciable Technologies to the Private Industry Sector


(c) Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST)
(d) Disaster Risk Management
1) Tumover of Flood/Hazard/Resource Vulnerability Maps to LGUs
2) Deployment of Early Waring Systems in Disaster-Prone Areas
3) Deployment of Weather Monitoring Devices

4.7 Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of Research and Development
Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness
(a) Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER)
(b) R&D Leadership Program (RDLead)
(c) Collaborative R&D to Leverage PH Economy (CRADLE) for RDIs and
Industry
(d) Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry

4.8 Assistance to the Production Sector
(a) One Lab / Metrology, Calibration and Testing - Networking of Laboratories
(b) One Expert - for S&T Services
(c) One Store - to assist in on-line marketing of technology-based products
(d) Packaging and Labeling Program
(e) Food Innovation Centers Program
(8) Food Safety and Quality Program
(g) Machine and Equipment Development
(h) Technology Assistance to Traditional/Indigenous Industries

4.9 Upgrading of Facilities and Improvement of S&T Services (Strengthening of
R&D and S&T Services in the Regions through Infrastructure, facilities, HRD
and R&D funding)

(a) Technology Business Incubation Program
(b) Product Development Centers

(c) Materials and Products Testing Facilities
(d) Research Centers in the Regions

(e) Disaster Risk Reduction Facilities


4.10 Human Resource Development for Science and Technology
(a) Foreign scholarships for PhD Scholars in S&T
(b) PhD by research
(c) MD/PRD scholarships
(d) Expanded MS/PhD S&T Scholarships
(ce) Expanded Undergraduate S&T Scholarships for Inclusive Development
(f) Expanded Secondary Level Scholarships at Philippine Science High School
(g) Innovative modalities for the delivery of HR interventions
(h) Promotion of Culture of Science
(i) Science and Technology Education for Ordinary Citizens

4.11 Capacitate and Utilize Institutions in the Regions - SUCs who do R&D and
Develop Human Resources in S&T
(a) S&T Regional Alliance of Universities for Inclusive National Development
(STRAND)
(b) Science Teacher Academy for the Regions (STAR)
(c) Strengthening of Research Centers in Universities in the Regions

4,12 Collaboration with industry, academe and international institutions
(a) Industry-Academe-Government Collaboration in R&D (Co-laboratories)
(b) International S&T Collaborations

SEC. 5. Formulation and Submission of the Science for Change Program (SCP). ~The
DOST shall formulate the five-year Science for Change Program in coordination with other
relevant government agencies including State Universities and Colleges and representatives
from the private sector undertaking R&D. The Secretary of DOST shall submit to the President
the Science for Change Program for approval within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of
this Act.

SEC. 6. Mandatory Adaptation of Publicly Funded Technologies by National
— Mandatory
adaptation of publicly funded and generated technologies whenever feasible and practicable,

government Agencies (NGAs) and State Universities and Colleges (SUC:

shall strictly be implemented by all government entities or instrumentalities utilizing public
funds for any purpose. All national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned-and
8


controlled corporations (GOCCS), state universities and colleges (SUCS), and local government
agencies (LGUs) performing science and technology initiatives are mandated to help develop
and implement critical and strategic technology development projects and adopt government
funded locally developed technologies.

For this purpose, all Research and Development (R&D) activities performed by NGAs,
GOCCs, SUCs and LGUs under their respective mandates shall be under the control and
supervision of the Department of Science and Technology.

The DOST, in consultation with government research institutions and other agencies
concerned, shall prepare a harmonized national research and development agenda for the
government covering all major research and development programs and projects or those
costing Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) and above. The proposed agenda shall be
submitted for approval by the Director General of NEDA.

‘The Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda shall be directly related
to the priorities under the Philippine Development Plan.

The DOST shall submit to the DBM, the Speaker of the House of the Representatives
and the President of the Senate of the Philippines, either in printed form or by way of electronic
document, a copy of the approved Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda.
The Secretary of Science and Technology and the Agency’s web administrator or his/her
equivalent shall be responsible for ensuring that the approved Harmonized National Research
and Development Agenda is posted on the Agency’s website.”

SEC. 7. Science for Change Program Fund (SCPF), ~ There is hereby created the
Science for Change Program Fund to be used exclusively for the implementation of the projects
and activities under the SCP. The SCPF shall be administered by DOST in accordance with
existing government budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Science for
Change Program Fund shall be sourced from the following:

a) The initial amount of twenty-one Billion pesos (P 21,000,000,000.00) to be taken
from the General Appropriation Act (GAA) and other utilized funds / savings from
GAA of the preceding year, in case the GAA was approval before this law is

9


enacted. The yearly budget for Science for Change Program shall double yearly for
the next four (4) years. Such amount shall be released to the DOST after the
effectivity of this Act.

Income produced by the SCP.

Loans, contributions, grants, bequests, gifts, and donations whether from local or

b)
©

foreign sources. Provided, That acceptance of grants, bequests, contributions and
donations from foreign governments shall be subject to the approval of the President
upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the DOST and Secretary of the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The Secretary of DOST with the approval
of the NEDA and subsequently the Department of Finance (DOF) is hereby granted
the authority to enter into loan agreements with foreign financial institutions. Said
fund obtained from various source shall be utilized from the different components
of the program.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. — The sum of Twenty-one Billion Pesos (PHP
21,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as initial operating fund for the projects and
activities under the SCP, taken from the current fiscal year’s appropriation of the Office of the
President. Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation of the SCP shall be included in the
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Annual Report. — The DOST shall annually submit a report on the
implementation of the SCP to the Office of the President and to the Committees on Science
and Technology in both Chambers of Congress.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The DOST shall formulate the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the effective implementation of this Act within
one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability clause. — Any portion or provision of this Law that may be
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or
provisions hereof as long as such remaining portion or provision can still subsist and be given
effect in their entirety.

10


SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

1