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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES By G
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS = __S1LLS AND INDEX SERVICE
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1156

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Government policies in the country have been inclined to vary from one administration to
another. Attached to this is merely the absence of systematic policy research that can facilitate
the formulation of government policies as well as the strategies necessary to implement them.

In public governance, leaders should consider not only affairs that are confined within their
terms as elected public officials. More importantly, they must focus on long-term planning and
strategic concepts in relation to the country’s welfare. Thus, there should be a special group ~ a
team of experts doing research work and formulating sound national policies — assigned to carry
out strategic studies for the benefit of the country.

The strengthening of policy research and strategic studies on the country is extremely urgent. In
anticipation of the remarkable changes the country is bound to experience, both nationwide and
worldwide, it becomes more necessary to define how our national and international policies
should advance.

This bill assigns the formulation of strategic policies to the Center for International Relations and
Strategic Studies. This bill also proposes for the expansion of functions of the said center, by
including researches on matters of national and economic security.

This measure was filed by the Magdalo Party-List in the 16th Congress and was subsequently
referred to the Committee on Economic Affairs.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is eamestly sought.

IN. G. C. ALEJANO


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND
STRATEGIC STUDIES TO INCLUDE RESEARCH AND FORMULATION OF
STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SECURITY
POLICIES
Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Expansion of the Center for International Relations and Strategic
Studies. — The Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies is hereby

expanded to include research and formulation of strategic options for national and

economic security policies in its operational scope and activities.

SEC. 2. General Objectives. ~ The Center’s general objectives are as follows:

1) To enhance understanding by the executive and legislative branches of
fundamental, current, and emerging domestic and international issues by assisting the
government in formulating policy and strategic perspectives thereon;

2) To undertake studies of domestic and international, political, economic,
military, socio-cultural, and techno-scientific significance in an inter-discipline and

integrative manner;


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3) To carry out such other programs and projects as may contribute to the

attainment of its mission.

SEC. 3. Specific Objectives. -

1) Examine Philippine foreign and domestic policy issues and identify problems
in their conceptualization, formulation and implementation;

2) Assess social, economic, political and security developments and trends in our
country and in various parts of the world and help formulate appropriate policy responses
and strategies.

3) To study the experience of other governments and ten (10) nations insofar as to
draw lessons from them and/or anticipate their repercussions on the Philippines.

4) To examine the global presence of Filipino nationals and their impact upon our
national development and foreign relations and help project constructive policies in this
regard.

5) To develop expertise in area studies as well as resource bases on international
relations, economic security and national development to serve the long-term needs of
our country.

6) To develop networks and information dissemination among various sectors in
Philippine society and counterpart organizations in the international community for the
above purposes and as a contribution to the enhancement of global understanding and

cooperation,

SEC. 4, Divisions, - The Center shall have the following Divisions under it:
1) The Strategic Studies Division, which shall conduct long-term and
comprehensive studies on major strategic global issues and their probable impact on the

Philippines;


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2) The International Relations Division, which shall undertake studies on
Philippine bilateral and multilateral relations;

3) The National Policy Issues Division, which shall concentrate on studies dealing
with national concerns in the political, economic and security areas;

4) The Cultural and Scientific Policy Studies Division, which shall deal with
studies regarding national concerns in the socio-cultural and techno-scientific fields; and

5) The Library, which shall serve as the information repository of the Department

and the Institute.

SEC. 5. Research Fellows. — There shall be designated research fellows to
conduct and direct research work and strategic studies in the various functional/area
programs consistent with their disciplines and expertise individually or collegially. They
are to be commissioned by the Center to conduct studies or to serve as project
directors/consultants for in-house studies.

Depending on the nature and scale of the project, fellows recruited as consultants
will be paid monthly honoraria for the duration of the project. Alternatively, a
memorandum of agreement may be signed between the fellow or the agency he
represents and the Center for needed studies.

The Center shall hire research consultants and commission projects in special
cases where the in-house staff has no technical capability or where other individuals or

institutions have expertise.

SEC. 6. Council of Advisers. — The Center shall organize a Council of Advisers.
It will be composed of eminent scholars and practitioners from government and non-
government institutions/entities that maintain units engaged in policy research and

strategic studies.


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‘The Council shall be consulted regularly by the Center on the research agenda. Its
member-entities will be entitled to copies of regular CIRSS publications and access to the
Center’s library and data bank. In employing visiting research fellows, the Center shall
give priority to researches and analysts of the Council’s member-entities if found
qualified, In return, the member-entities will link up with the CIRSS information network
and grant the Center's research fellows access to their indexed reference materials subject

to clearance.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees and executive orders inconsistent

herewith are hereby modified or repealed accordingly.
SEC. 8. Separability Clause, — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall uot affect the validity and enforceability of other

provisions not affected thereby.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect upon its approval and publication

in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,