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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1668

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

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 significance present
tremendous challenges to the country

Major technical advances especially in communications, information and
transportation have increased interdependence among nations.

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 fuel 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,
with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), together with terrorist
organizations, like the Abu Sayyaf continually disturbing 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 concems.

Strategic studies have to be done by a group of selected 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
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MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

i668
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

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 domestic and international issues and to
assist the government in formulating policies 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 entities/institutions consistent with its mandate; build and maintain a
resource facility and data bank; and carry out such other activities and projects
which shall enhance the mission of the organization.

SECTION 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
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
herein-before set out;

Contract 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,

Exercise the general powers of a duly incorporated entity as set out
in the Corporation Code

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

te

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 the private sector to be appointed
by the President of the Republic of Philippines and the
President of the Organization;

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

The Board of Trustees may create an executive committee
coming from the private sector composed 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.

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

The Board shall provide guidance to the Policy Council on the
thrusts, objectives, policies, researches, 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 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 or/direct 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, allowances and other
emoluments of all officers and members of the Organization.

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 provision 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 and/or private sector to perform research or field work and such
other activities as may be needed

SEC 9. Endowment Fund.


1 ‘An Endowment Fund shall be created to provide for non-
recurring expenditures of the Organization. For this purpose,
the amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00)
is hereby appropriated from any fund in the National Treasury
The Endowment Fund shall be administered as a trust fund
with the Board of Trustees thereof, provided that the principal
of said endowment shall not be subject to impairment and
provided further that the earings 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 such initial requirements as capital outlay and
infrastructures of the Organization. Thereafter, the Congress of the Philippines
shall include as part of its budgetary appropriations the amount of at least Fifty
Million (P50,000,000.00) pesos to finance the recurring and operational
expenditures of the Organization.

Approved,