EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez

House Bill No. 4572

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act 6969 mandated the establishment of Provincial Centers for Science and
Technology in all provinces of the Philippines. These Centers were tasked to:

a) Identify the needs and opportunities in science and technology in the
provinces;

b) Implement Department of Science and Technology programs/projects on the
delivery of science and technology services such as technology
demonstration and transfer, science and technology promotion and
information dissemination, and such other areas of concern that will benefit
the people in the provinces; and

©) Develop institutional linkages with provincial offices of other departments,
local government units, academe and nongovernmental offices for the
effective implementation of science and technology programs in the
Provinces.

While these Centers have been very effective in achieving their purpose, it has now come to
@ point where they have reached their full potential. We need to amend the law in order to
further strengthen these Centers and expand its coverage.

For the longest time, these Centers’ operations have not improved in terms of authority as it
is supervised by a rank and file employee with a salary grade of 19 and supported by 2-3
Plantilla staff. The DOST is lagging behind from other National Government Agencies
(NGAs) in terms of human resources complement of their respective provincial offices, which
in said NGAs, are headed by a Provincial Director. While DOST recognizes the impacts of
RA 6959 in the countryside, the Department believes that it is high time that the said law be
amended in order to strengthen the existing Centers by converting them into Provincial
Science and Technology Offices per CSC/DBM Index of Occupational Services (IOS),
thereby enabling these DOST Provincial Offices to empower more communities through
more efficient delivery of Science, Technology, and Innovation Services.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.
&

RUFUS B. ROORIGUEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 4572

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CENTERS ESTABLISHED
BY REPUBLIC ACT 6959 INTO PROVINCIAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY OFFIC
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Provincial Science and Technology
Office Act”.

‘SEC 2. Declaration of Policy.-It is the policy and duty of the State to fast track the transfer
of relevant and appropriate technologies and services to the rural areas particularly in the
enhancement and development of technology-based livelihood enterprises in the
countryside.

Pursuant to this policy, the Provincial Science and Technology Centers of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which are the principal instruments of
technology transfer and development of technology-based enterprises of the government in
the rural areas, are hereby converted to Provincial Science and Technology Offices.

SEC 3. Provincial Science and Technology Offices (PSTO). The Provincial Science and
Technology Office will have the following functions, as determined by the DOST secretary:

) Identify the needs and opportunities in science and technology (S&T) in the
provinces;

») Implement DOST programs and projects on technology promotion and transfer, S&T
human resource development, S&T promotion and information dissemination,
delivery of technical and consultancy services, and such other areas of concem that
will benefit the people in the provinces;

©) Develop institutional linkages with provincial offices of other departments both local
government units, academe and non-governmental offices for the effective
implementation of science and technology programs in the provinces;

SEC 4. Provincial S&T Director.-The present head of the PSTOs with the designation of
Provincial Science and Technology Officer and the position title of Senior Science
Research Specialist, with salary grade of nineteen (SG 19) shall be upgraded to the rank of
Provincial Science and Technology Director in each province with a salary grade
equivalent to a full-fledged Provincial Director position as determined by the DOST Secretary
in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Civil Service
Commission (CSC). The Provincial Science and Technology Director shall have the
following duties and responsibilities:


a) Formulate the provincial S&T plan, programs, and projects designed to promote
science and culture among the people in the province, consistent with and
supportive to the regional and national development S&T plans;

b) Implement and monitor the technology promotion, transfer, and commercialization

of projects of the DOST in the province;

¢) Promote the adoption of the appropriate technology by micro, small, and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) to improve operational efficiency and increase productivity to
hamess the result of scientific researches and innovations to produce new and
competitive products;

4) Disseminate S&T-related information and R&D result through the conduct of
trainings, symposia and/or other similar fora;

) Maintain effective liaison with the public and private academic institutions and other
government agencies engaged in scientific and technological research, education,
and training;

f) Coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) and academic institutions for the
promotion of scholarship programs aimed to attract the science-oriented students
to pursue basic and applied sciences in order to broaden the S&T human resource
in the province;

9) Coordinate with the DOST regional office and its regional development council for
the promotion all S&T activities;

h) Coordinate with public and private organizations in the implementation of human
resource and institutional development programs in the province;

i) Represent DOST in the inter-agency meetings, conferences, and other
coordinative activities in the province;

i) Responsible for the overall supervision and fiscal management of services and
‘operations of the PSTO;

k) Ensure that the quality of operational management system is in accordance with
the ISO quality management standards;

!) Enter into lawful contracts, memoranda of agreement, and other instruments
including the right to sue and be sued;

m) Authorize to enter agreements with the heads of the colleges or universities
designated as offices, which may include matters of reporting and payment of
honoraria to members of their faculty and staff; and

n) Perform other related functions as may be assigned by the higher authorities from
time to time.

SEC 5. Qualifications of Provincial S&T Director. - The DOST in consultation with
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Civil Service Commission (CSC)
shall formulate the necessary qualification standards and eligibility requirements
commensurate to the Provincial Science and Technology Director. The incumbent head of
the PSTO shall have preference and automatically be included in the selection for Provincial
Science and Technology Director position.


SEC 6. Remuneration and other Benefits of the Provincial Director. The remuneration
of the Provincial Science and Technology Director shall be equivalent to a full-fledged
Provincial Director position in the government service and shall be entitled to representation
and transportation allowance commensurate to his office and other benefits as prescribed by
law.

SEC 7. Staff of the Provincial Science and Technology Office. The PSTOs shall have at
least three (3) plantilla positions. In cases, when there is a need for additional staff, such
shall be determined by the Provincial S&T Director based on the population of the province
in consultation with and concurrence by the DOST Secretary. The DOST Secretary shall
determine the level of these positions, provided that prescribed qualifications shall be in
accordance with existing Civil Service laws and regulations.

SEC 8. Use of Funds. All fees and charges collected as a result of S&T services rendered
by the PSTOs is not only limited to metrological work, testing and calibration services but
shall be used by the PSTOs in the enhancement of PSTOs capabilities, development of
human resource and in the maintenance of their equipment and facilities.

SEC 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the budget of the DOST under the Annual General Appropriations Act

SEC 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOST, in consultation with
concerned agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and
regulation of this Act within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Act.

SEC 11. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or
invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force effect.

SEC 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, ordinances,
rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

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,