Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

° 441

H. B. No.

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The need for policy research and strategic studies could not be more compelling than at
the present time. Domestic and international, political, economic and other developments of
profound signficance present tremendous challenges to the country. Major technical advances
especially in communications, information and transportation have increased interdependence
‘among nations. © 5 86" sists

While large-scale military confrontation has become more unlikely, competition for
resources is likely to develop more keenly. It is expected that the next arena of competition
could very well be the Asia-Pacific Region.

In many parts of Asia, outstanding territorial conflicts may fue! many interstate tensions.
Meanwhile, some states continue to build vast arsenals of weapons which may bring about
another arms race.

Contending claims over the Spratly portion of the South China Sea by several states,
including the Philippines, may result in armed confrontation. Internally, the Philippines is beset
by a continuing insurgency. The local communist movement remains a clear and present
danger to national security, even as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), together with
terrorist orghnizations, like the Abu Sayyaf continues to disturb the political stability of the
country.

There is clearly an urgency in conducting scientific and continuing policy research and
strategic studies as bases for addressing our fundamental and critical national concerns.

Strategic study work has to be done by a group of select scholar-members who, among
other things, shall: (1) conduct strategic research on national and international concerns; (2)
formulate various policy options on various national concerns and (3) recommend the
appropriate actions to support such policies and strategies.

In view of the foregoing considerations early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

—
JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA
Representative

Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES _)
First Regular Session )

Pus 441

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC
STUDIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1, Establishment of the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS). The Institute
for Strategic Studies, hereinafter referred to as the Organization is hereby created and
established as an institution to promote understanding of fundamental, current and emerging
‘domesti¢ and international’ issued “and ‘to’ assist "the government in formulating policy and
strategic perspectives on those issues. It shall conduct research on fundamental national
concerns in response to or in anticipation of the needs of policy-making, conduct studies on
matters of domestic and international political, economic, military, socio-cultural and techno-
scientific significance in an interdisciplinary and integrative manner; identify strategies to serve
the ends of policy, design programs to effect coordinated and integrated work of other research
institutes engaged in strategic studies, undertake commissioned research work in collaboration
with outside entitieslinstitutions consistent with its mandate; build and maintain a resource
facility and data bank; and carry out such other activities and projects as shall enhance the
mission of the organization.

SEC. 2. Powers of the Organization. The Organization shall have the following
powers:

a) Adopt, alter and use a corporate seal;

b) Take and hold by bequest, devise, gift, purchase or lease, either and absolutely or in
trust, for any of its purposes, any property, real or personal, without limitation as to
amount or value, to convey such property and to invest and reinvest any principal of
the said Organization in such manner as shall best promote its objectives;

©) Collect, receive and maintain a fund or funds and to apply the income and principal
thereof to the promotion of its aims and purposes hereinbefore set out;


d) Contact any obligation or enter into any agreement necessary or incidental to the

proper management of its corporate powers;

) Engage in any activity, and exercise all the powers conferred by the laws upon
private or government-owned and controlled corporations, and

f) Exercise the general powers of a duly incorporated entity as set out in the corporate
code.

SEC. 3. The Board of Trustees. The Organization shall be organized functionally with
the following components:

1. There shall be a Board of Trustees composed of the Executive Secretary, Senate
President, House of Representatives Speaker, Secretary of Foreign Affairs,
Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of Science and Technology, President of
the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an eminent representative from

be appointed by the President of the Republic of Philippines and

the President of the Organization;

2. The Trustees shall elect from among themselves the Chairman and Vice-chairman of
the Board;

3. The Board of Trustees coming from the private sector may create an executive
committee of five trustees including its Chairperson, which shall have the authority to
make decisions on behalf of the Board of Trustees in between the regular meetings
of the said board. The Chair of the Board shall head the executive committee,
Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Board of Trustees at
its meeting

4. The trustees shall receive a per diem as may be authorized for every meeting
actually attended, in addition to reasonable transportation and representation
expenses.

5. The Board shall provide guidance to the Policy Council on the thrusts, objectives,
policies, research, agenda, programs and other activities of the organization.

SEC. 4. Policy Council. There shall be a Policy Council, composed of an Executive
Director and five others as Members, all of whom shall be appointed by the President of
Republic of the Philippines from among the present members of the Strategic Studies Group of
the National Defense College of the Philippines, as presently constituted, for a term of six (6)
years. The Council shall have the following authority:


1. To formulate the thrusts, objectives, policies, research agenda, programs and other
activities;

2. To oversee, monitor and evaluate all research work and studies;

3, To designate Research Fellows with notable scholarship to do and orldirect research
work and strategic studies in various functional area program of the organization that
are relevant to their areas of expertise;

4. To determine and fill up other positions in the Organization and fix the salaries,
honoraria, allowance and other emoluments of all Organizations.

SEC, 5. Autonomy and Academic Freedom of the Organization. The Organization
shall be an autonomous and self-governing institution governed by the principle of academic
freedom; it shall neither be organic nor be part of any government instrumentality. It shall be
attached to the Office of the President to facilitate its budgetary and other administrative
requirements and for the purpose of policy coordination.

SEC, 6. Assistance from Government Departments and Agencies. To assist in its
functions, government departments, agencies, units or instrumentalities shall allow the
Organization access to their official files, records, data and other documents, provided such
access is consistent with the requirements of confidentiality.

SEC. 7. Exemptions. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary,
appointments to the research and administrative staff of the Organization may be on a full-time
basis and shall be exempt from the requirements and restrictions of the Civil Service and
retirement laws, other laws, rules and regulations on position-classification and salary
standardization and Section Two Hundred Fifty Nine of the Revised Administrative Code;
Provided, that any government retiree employed in the Organization shall not be required to
reimburse or refund any gratuity received from the government nor shall any pension or annuity
to which he is entitled be suspended or reduced on account of his employment in the
Organization

SEC, 8. Services of Outside Agencies and of Private Sector, The Organization
may, for the purpose of research, field work and other activities, obtain and pay for the services
of the personnel of any agency of the Philippine Government andlor private sector to perform
research of field work and such other activities as may be needed.


SEC. 9. Endowment Fund.

1, An Endowment Fund shall be created to provide for nonrecurring expenditures of the
Organization For this purpose, the amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos
(P500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from any funds in the National Treasury
The Endowment Fund shall be administered as a trust funds with the Board of
Trustees thereof, provided that the principal of said endowment shall not be subject
to impairment and provided further that the earnings thereof, shall constitute a trust
fund available for non-recurring and unprogrammed expenditures of the
Organization.

2. Any or all savings of the Organization shall form part of the trust funds provided in
Section 9, above.

SEC 10. Appropriation. There is hereby appropriated the amount of Five Hundred

Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) out of any unappropriated funds in the National Treasury for

suich intial requirements as capital outlay and infrastructures of the Organization. Thereafter,

" beginning January 2011, the Congress of the Philippines shall include as part of its budgetary
appropriations the amount of at least Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) to finance the
recurring and operational expenditures of the Organization

Approved,