Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._38876

INTRODUCED BY HON. ANGELO B. PALMONES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Studies point to substantial contribution of science and technology to
economic development. A 2005 report said that 70% of economic growth in
developed countries has been contributed by $ & T, 50% in ASEAN tigers;
but only 40% in the Philippines. Among others, one of the factors identified
affecting this situation is the low number of $ & T manpower.

The UNESCO recommended level of trained personnel in S & T for
developing countries is 308 per million population. In 2005, the Philippines
has 165/million population.

Republic Act No. 7687, also known as the Science and Technology
Scholarship Act of 1994 has been implemented for about a decade now; yet
the country’s S & T manpower is still below the UNESCO recommended level
because of the increase in population. Furthermore, the existing policy needs
changes and revisions to make it responsive to the need of the country.

The bill being proposed seeks to continue, amend and expand the
provisions of the present S & T scholarship program to ensure the needed $ &
T manpower that will push the country in the line of developed countries
through wide application of science and technology.

ANG] B. PALMONES
Representative, AGHAM Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Regular Session
3676

House Bill no.

INTODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ANGELO B. PALMONES

AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF
FUNDING, AND AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUCLIC ACT 7687(AS

AMENDED BY R.A 8248) 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 “Science and Technology
Scholarship Program Act of 2010”

Section 2. Section. 3 of Republic Act No. 7687, otherwise known as the Science
and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994 (as amended by RA 8248), is hereby further
amended by adding the following provisions.

Section 3. Section 4 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 4. Science and Technology Scholarship Fund. There is hereby created a Science
and Technology Scholarship Fund, hereinafter known as the Fund, to be administered by
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is hereby amended as follows:

“The Fund shall be administered by the DOST through Science Education Institute. Such
Fund shall not be covered by laws, circulars, and orders on reversion of funds to the
National Treasury since it will be used to finance the education of the underprivileged but
deserving students,”

Section 4. Section 5. of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:


Sec. 5. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current Fiscal Year Appropriations of the
Department of Science and Technology.

In order to provide funds necessary for the continuous implementation of the program for
every year following the initial implementation, the budget of the DOST shall be
increased in the amount of Sixty million pesos (P6OMillion) per year until it eventually
reaches the amount of Three hundred million pesos (P300Million) to sustain the
recipients of the scholarship during the duration of study.

“Augmentation of the Scholarship Fund from the GAA shall be provided by the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in the amount of Fifteen
million pesos (PISMillion) per month which sum shall be generated from its net income;
Provided that such amount shall be strictly used to subsidize the beneficiaries’ expenses
while studying under the scholarship program herein provided

Further, all interests and income earned by the Scholarship Fund shall automatically form
part of the Fund: Provided, however, that such earnings shall be used solely for
scholarship benefits.”

Section 5. Section 8 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 8. Qualifications - In order to qualify for the scholarship program, the applicant,
must be:

a) a member of the top five percent (5%) of the high school graduating class,
regardless of gender, religion and cultural affiliation;

1)

a resident of the municipality for the last four (4) years prior to availing of the
scholarship, as attested by the school records; and

©) of good moral character and in good health

“Qualifications ~ In order to qualify for the scholarship program (technical and
baccalaureate), the applicant must satisfy all the qualification requirements under RA
7687. In addition, the applicant must be:

a) a graduate from a science high school or special science class or science
oriented high school regardless of gender, religion and cultural affiliation; or,
a member of the top five percent (5%) of the high school graduating class,
regardless of gender, religion and cultural affiliation;

b) a resident of the municipality for the last four (4) years prior to availing of the
scholarship, as attested by the school records;

©) of good moral character and in good health,

d) Qualify in the DOST-SEI scholarship examination.”


Section 6. Section |! of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 11, Place of Study in the Country. The recipient of the scholarship privileges
under this Act shall be required to pursue their degree program and/or the vocational,
technical and other courses specified under this Act at any academic or training
institutions duly accredited by the DECS and the DOST and in private schools accredited
by Federation of Accrediting Agencies in the Philippines.

“The recipients of the scholarship grants under this Act shall be required to pursue their
technical, undergraduate, graduate programs and high-end specialized trainings in state
colleges/universities with high quality training standards and those tertiary institutions
identified as CHED Centers of Excellence, DOST recognized R & D institutions and in
nationally and internationally recognized institutions as determined by the Advisory
Committee created under Sec. 15 of the same Act.”

Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations ~ The Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this
Act within 90 days from its approval

Section 8. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders rules and regulations or
portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,