Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4053

Introduced by the Honorable ANIELA BIANCA D. TOLENTINO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution mandates 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” (Article 14, Section 10). Indeed, science and
technology are essential for the development and advancement of the nation.

This representation seeks to have a law which will promote the study of nuclear
science by providing scholarship to Filipino youth. Nuclear science and technology
promote sustainable development through varied applications such as medicine, food
preservation and safety, scientific research, and generation of electricity.

Countries such as France, Russia, and the United States of America use nuclear
power plants, with the USA using nuclear power plants to supply 19% of its total
electricity. Further, one of Russia’s biggest economic assets is nuclear technology.
According to the World Nuclear Association in 2016, Russia has foreign orders totaling
to USD133 billion. As such,

The proposed law herein aims to further inspire and urge our young students to

pursue a future in nuclear science and nuclear engineering by providing scholarship
grants in order to fully realize the potential and harvest the benefits of nuclear science.

Approval of the bill is earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

205
HOUSE BILL NO. 4053

Introduced by the Honorable ANIELA BIANCA D. TOLENTINO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
FOR STUDIES IN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Nuclear Science and
Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Act.”

Section 2. Deciaration of Policy. — Science and Technology is essential for
national development and progress. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote the development of the country’s science and technology by promoting and
enhancing the capabilities required in the areas of research, development, innovation as
well as their utilization. As such, it shall provide for scholarships, grants-in-aid, or other
forms of incentives to deserving science students and other specially-gifted citizens to
enable them to pursue higher education or training in areas of science and technology.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:

a) DOST- refers to the Department of Science and Technology;
b) Nuclear engineering — refers to the application of the breakdown of atomic
nuclei and/or other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear
physics. It includes, but is not limited to, the interaction and maintenance of


nudear fission systems and components, specifically, nuclear weapons,
nuclear power plants, and/or nuclear weapons. The field may also include the
study of nuclear fusion, medical and other applications of (generally ionizing)
radiation, nuclear safety, heat/thermodynamics transport, nuclear fuel and/or
other related (e.g., waste disposal) technology, nuclear proliferation, and the
effect of radioactive waste or radioactivity in the environment; and

©) Nuclear science - refers to the study of the atomic nucleus.

Section 4. In Genera/. — A National Scholarship Program for Studies in Nuclear
Science and Nuclear Engineering shall be created and spearheaded by the Department
of Science and Technology (DOST), in coordination with such government agencies and
institutions involved in fostering the development of nuclear science and nuclear
engineering in the country.

Section 5. Application. — An eligible undergraduate institution may receive a grant
upon proper application to the Secretary of the DOST. The application shall include a
cost effective proposal on how the scholarship grant shall be expended to attain the
objective of fostering the development of nuclear science and nuclear engineering in
the country including but not limited to proposed scholars willing and capable to
undertake comprehensive training on nuclear science and technology as well as the
institutions, locally or abroad, which will provide such training.

Section 6. Duration. - The National Scholarship Program for Studies in Nuclear
Science and Nuclear Engineering shall last for four years from the effectivity of this Act.
Thereafter, the program shall be evaluated according to criteria and measures to be
determined by the DOST.

Section 7. Report. - The DOST shall transmit a progress report to Congress every
year for the duration of the program.


Section 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury.

Section 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby

repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Fffectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,