EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. *^9^^
O
in date:
[CP
I time:.
9:45 a.m.
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES AND INCENTIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARKS (STPs) IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article XIV, Section 10, states that:
Science and technology are essential for national development and 
progress. The State shall give priority to research and development, 
invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to science and technology 
education, training, and services. It shall support indigenous, appropriate, 
and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their 
application to the country's productive systems and national life.
The Philippine innovation performance has been continuously rising as 
evidenced by the country's continuous climb in the Global Innovation Index (GII), 
from rank 100 in 2014 to rank 50 in the GII 2020 Report. 2019 was the most 
notable year as the Philippines country's GII position jumped 19 notches from 73rd 
to 54th, due to big improvements seen in its scores for business sophistication, 
institutions, knowledge, and technology and creative outputs. Similarly, in 2020, the 
country ranked high in high-tech imports and exports, ICT services, creative exports, 
e-participation, and knowledge. According to the GII 2020 report, in terms of 
innovation, the Philippines performed above expectations for its level of economic 
development for the second consecutive year. With the enactment of Republic Act 
No. 11293, or the Philippine Innovation Act, and Republic Act No. 11337, or the


Innovative Startup Act, the country's GII position is expected to progress further in 
the coming years.
Leveraging on the momentous improvement of the Philippines GII ranking, it 
is now imperative to sustain efforts to continuously boost our economy's innovation 
performance. In support of this, this measure proposes the establishment of Science 
and Technology parks (STPs) nationwide to largely promote the culture of 
competitiveness and innovation through tech-based enterprises and knowledge- 
based institutions.
Further, this bill seeks to ensure the development of an ICT ecosystem that 
will lead towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 9 or the Industry, 
Innovation and Infrastructure through the following:
(a) 
Grant of subsidy and incentives for the development of STPs;
(b) 
Promote, develop, and support capacity building activities;
(c) 
Provide technical assistance, policy advice and support for the 
establishment of centers for science park development;
(d) 
Develop, promote, encourage, and ensure mechanisms and platforms 
for the integration of a developmental approach into science, technology 
and innovation, organizing capacity building, providing policy advice, 
facilitating the exchange of experience and best practices, and 
conducting research and problem solving.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. '^944
E-FILED
Dec 09 2020 m
C/>
LU date:
t/>
time;
9:45 a.m.
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES AND INCENTIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARKS (STPs) IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Science and
2 
Technology Parks Act of 2020".
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. - The State recognizes science and
4 
technology as essential for national development and progress and shall give priority
5 
to research and development, invention, innovation and their utilization, and to
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science and technology education, training, and services. It shall support indigenous,
7 
appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their
8 
application to the country's productive systems and national life. Towards this end,
9 
the State shall develop a national strategy for, and incentivize the building of a
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knowledge-based economy anchored on a national workforce that is well-equipped
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with 21st century skills, through the establishment of Science and Technology Parks
12 
throughout the country.
13 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms as used in this Act shall
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mean:
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(a) Digital Transformation means the strategic adoption or use of digital
16 
technologies to transform services or businesses, through replacing non-
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digital or manual processes with digital processes, tools and solutions in


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order to improve productivity, deiiver better user experiences, manage 
business risk, and controi costs;
(b) 
E-readiness (electronic readiness) is a measure of the degree to which a 
country is prepared to partake in eiectronic activities and, thus, benefit 
from ICT in education;
(c) 
Innovation refers to the creation of new ideas using new or existing 
technologies that results in the development of new or improved 
products, processes, or services, which are then spread or transferred 
across the market;
(d) 
Research Parks are master planned property and buildings designed 
primarily for private and public research and development facilities, high 
technology and science-based companies, and support services;
(e) 
Science Park refers to all property development that is designed to 
support the clustering of knowledge-based enterprises in order to 
commercialize science and technology. Science parks aim to foster the 
development and growth of knowledge-based economies by bringing 
together scientific research with governmental organizations and their 
business support and development programs in one physical location;
(f) 
Science and Technology Park (STP) encompasses any kind of high 
technology cluster such as technopolis, science park, science city, cyber 
park, industrial park, innovation center, research and development 
(R&D) park, university research park, research and technology park, 
science and technology park, science city, science town, technology 
park, technology incubator, technology park, technopark, technopole 
and technology business incubator run by an organization managed by 
specialized professionals whose main aim is to increase the wealth of its 
community by promoting the culture of innovation and the 
competitiveness of its associated businesses and knowledge-based 
institutions;
(g) 
Technology Business Incubator is a facility designed to help startup 
technology-based businesses by providing them with the necessary 
resources, services and support needed during the development stage.


1 
ARTICLE II
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DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES
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SEC. 4. Development of a National Ecosystem. - To leverage science,
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technology and innovation (STI) which are the major pillars of developing economies
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in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the State shall ensure the development of a
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national ICT ecosystem that will lead towards the Sustainable Development Goal
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(SDG) 9 which is the building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and
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sustainable Industrialization, and fostering innovation by 2030. To achieve the
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foregoing goai, the State shall:
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(a) Promote, develop, and grant subsidy and incentives for the development
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of science and technology parks or science parks, which shall have
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research and development centers, technology business incubators and
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other innovation centers;
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(b) Promote, develop, and support capacity buiiding activities to upgrade
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the knowledge of managers of science and technology parks across the
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country;
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(c) Provide and make available technical assistance, policy advice and
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support for the establishment of centers for science park development
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around the country;
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(d) Develop, promote, encourage, and ensure mechanisms and platforms
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for the integration of a developmental approach into science, technology
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and innovation, organizing capacity building, providing policy advice,
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facilitating the exchange of experience and best practices, and
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conducting research and problem solving in science park and technology
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incubator development.
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SEC. 5. Government Support for Science and Technology Park Projects. - In
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the identification of science and technology park projects that can be qualified for
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government support, the following essentiai precursory conditions must be in place:
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(a) The key tenants or the anchor tenants, such as national research
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institutes which are committed to staying in the STP;
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(b) A management team with all the skills necessary for managing the STP
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can be assembled;


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(c) A strong science base in the surrounding areas of the STP is already
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available;
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(d) The city or area where an STP is located is attractive to talented people
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and students;
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(e) An entrepreneurial culture is available in the city or country where an
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STP is to be located;
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(f) Finance, especially seed and venture capital, is available in the city or
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country where an STP is to be located.
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SEC. 6. Incentives and Support for the Creation of Science and Technology
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Parks. - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of
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Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Information and Communications
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Technology (DICT), the Department of Finance (DOF), and the Department of Public
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Works and Highways (DPWH) shall 
collaborate to create specific mechanisms 
to
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identify the extent of incentives and support for the creation of STPs, which can be
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under any of this model:
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(a) Fully-government owned either through the national government or any
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of its agency, or a local government unit, a state university, or a
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government corporation;
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(b) Publicly owned or majority of ownership pertains to government with
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private sector counterpart at less than fifty (50) percent;
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(c) Privately-owned or more than fifty (50) percent with government
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counterpart or subsidy;
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(d) Fully owned by private sector with assistance from government in
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various forms such as seed money, technical support, and others.
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SEC. 7. Technologies for Business Commercialization Through the Science
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and Technology Parks. - The DOST in consultation with the DTI and the DICT shall
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identify, list, and recommend for prioritization of the technologies that are ideal and
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desirable for business commercialization through the STPs.
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SEC. 8. Design and Plans of Science and Technology Parks. - The DOST,
30 
DICT, and DPWH shall prepare the design and plans of the proposed science and
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technology parks in every location and shall propose project timelines for each.
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ARTICLE III


1 
DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARKS
2 
SEC. 9. Regional Science and Technology Parks. - The DOST in consultation
3 
with DTI and DICT shall design, prepare, develop, and recommend various
4 
components of a science and technology park in every region, subject to the
5 
following:
6 
(a) Effectiveness of the incubation and innovation programs to be offered by
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an STP, ideal for the generation of innovative business ideas, growth of
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entrepreneurial spirit, and responsiveness to global market demand;
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(b) List of potential key anchor tenants of the STP which shall eventually
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constitute the backbone of the STP and help ensure that the STP can
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deliver its most important designated functions;
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(c) Possibility of clusters and spin-offs of universities into science and
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technology parks.
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SEC. 10. Proof of Social Benefits. - If the national government or any local
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government unit, or through a government corporation or state university, finances
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the development of an STP or provides other incentives such as tax exemption or
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reduction, the said STP shall sufficiently prove that it provide social benefits such as
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advanced research and development (R&D) or boosts economic development in the
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region, province, city or municipality where it shall be located.
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The economic or social contribution of an STP should be measured and
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monitored by a framework to be developed by DOST in consultation with the
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National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
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ARTICLE IV
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INCENTIVES
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SEC. 11. Incentives. - A qualified science and technology park (STP)
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developer and/or locator, whose activities may form part of the Strategic
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Investments Priority Plan, shall be entitled to such fiscal and non-fiscal incentives,
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including but not limited to income tax holiday, special corporate income tax,
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enhanced deductions and such incentives as may be provided under the National
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Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
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Local government units are encouraged to provide for their own set of
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incentives according to their taxation power.


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ARTICLE V
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DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS
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SEC. 12. Promotion of Science and Technology Parks. - The DOST and DICT
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shall regularly develop, guide, assist or spearhead programs, projects and activities
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to promote science and technology parks.
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ARTICLE VI
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SUPPORT ECOSYSTEM
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SEC. 13. Linkages to Existing Projects and Initiatives Anchored on
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Innovation. - The DOST, DTI, and DICT shall ensure appropriate linkages between
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existing projects and initiatives anchored on innovation and science and technology
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parks closest to their location or area of interest and shall assist stakeholders in
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pursuing linkages.
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ARTICLE VII
14 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOST, DICT, DTI, DOF,
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and DPWH, in coordination with other industries concerned, shall issue the
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necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within a
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period of ninety (90) days after its effectivity. The non-promulgation of the
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implementing rules and regulations shall not prevent the implementation of this Act
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upon its effectivity.
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SEC. 15. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to effectively carry out the
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provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the
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concerned government agencies. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
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continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
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Appropriations Act.
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SEC. 16. Repeating Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
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rules and regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the
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provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 17. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be
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declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are
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not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.


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SEC. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,