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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative CARLITO S. MARQUEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is stated in Article II Section 17 of the Constitution that “the State shall give 
priority to science, technology and innovation to foster patriotism and nationalism, 
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.” 
In addition, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 
(UNESCO) recommends that developing countries should have at least one percent (1%) 
of gross domestic product (GDP) expenditure on research and development to make 
significant advances in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) which will result in the 
acceleration of the country’s progress. On top of that, there should be at least three 
hundred eighty (380) Researches, Scientists and Engineers per million populations. 
UNESCO also states that “creating knowledge and understanding through Science 
equips us to find solutions to today’s acute economic, social and environmental challenges 
and to achieving sustainable development and greener societies.” As the country 
experience the risks and limitations posed by the CoVid-19 pandemic, now more than 
ever, we should support the Department of Science and Technology as it endeavors to 
significantly accelerate STI through massive increase in investments on S&T, Human 
Resource Development (HRD) and Research and Development (R&D). 
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) offers solutions to the 
country’s perennial and most pressing problems brought by the pandemic as it provides 
science-based interventions oh how to safely get every Filipinos lives on track and reopen 
the country’s economy. It also guides us amid the uncertainties by providing opinions 
from the experts in the science community. 
It is with this mindset that the enactment of the Science for Change Program Act 
or the S4CP Act which aims to massively increase STI investments and permanently put 
a robust policy-making measure that yields towards the achievement of inclusive and 
sustainable development through enhanced innovation and creative capacity of the 
Filipinos is intensely pursued. 
The S4CP is consist of four (4) components namely: 
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1. Program Expansion in 7 years
2. New Programs in 6 years
3. Grand Plan for S&T Human Resource Development
4. Accelerated R&D Program for the Capacity Building of Research and
Development Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness
The significant increase in the budget will capture all the country’s R&D efforts 
spread through a 5-year period, as follows: 
1. Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) – total of 3.2 billion pesos
2. R&D Leadership Program (RDLead) – total of 6 billion pesos
3. Collaborative R&D to Leverage PH Economy (CRADLE) for RDIs and Industry
– total of 3.2 billion pesos
4. Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry – 14.25 billion pesos (25
industry sectors, at 50 to 100 million per sector times 75)
5. S&T HRD (STRAND, STAR, SRCUR)
The passage of this significant piece of legislation will further boost R&D and will 
accelerate the global competitiveness of Philippine products and services. 
In this light, the passage of this important measure is earnestly sought. 
ENGR. CARLITO “Lito” S. MARQUEZ 
Chairperson, Ctte on Science & Technology 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative CARLITO S. MARQUEZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 “Science for Change 
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Program". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Article XIV of the Philippine Constitution recognizes 
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that “science and technology are essential for national development and progress.” It 
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declares that “the State shall give priority to research and development, invention, 
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innovation, and their utilization; and to science and technology education, training, and 
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services”. Likewise, the State “shall support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant 
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scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the country’s productive 
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systems and national life “. 
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Towards these ends and in pursuit of excellence in the field of science, technology and 
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innovation (STI), the State needs to accelerate the development of STI in the country 
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through a massive increase in investment, expansion of existing STI initiatives, creation 
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of new programs, development of human resources in STI, and capacity building of 
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research and development institutions. 
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SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are as follows: 
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1. To achieve a higher standard of science, technology and innovation (STI) and
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contribute to the development of the economy and society;
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2. To improve the welfare of the nation by prescribing comprehensive and systematic
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policies for the promotion of STI; and
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3. To encourage innovation and creativity among Filipinos, and come up with new 
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products, technologies and solutions to pressing national problems, and gain a 
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competitive edge in the field of research and development. 
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Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
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a. Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) refers to an 
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outcome-based agenda which identifies all the research and development (R&D) 
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programs and projects to be undertaken and funded by the government to support the 
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attainment of the key result areas of the government's development objectives, 
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particularly those that aim to reduce poverty and empower the poor and vulnerable; 
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induce rapid, inclusive, and sustained economic growth; promote the integrity of the 
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environment, and enhance the country's climate change adaptation and mitigation 
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capability. 
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b. High-tech equipment refers to any equipment using the most advanced and developed 
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machines and methods. 
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c. National Innovation Council (NIC) refers to the policy advisory body, established by 
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virtue of Republic Act No. 11293, or the Philippine Innovation Act, mandated to 
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formulate, develop, implement and monitor the country's innovation goals, priorities, 
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and long-term national strategy. 
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d. Publicly-funded technology refers to any technology the development or generation 
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of which was funded, in part or in full, using government money or resources. 
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e. Research and development (R&D) refers to any systematic and creative work 
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undertaken in the physical, natural, mathematical, and applied sciences by using 
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methods in order to increase the stock of knowledge in these fields to devise new 
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applications. 
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f. Science, refers to the systematic way of acquiring knowledge through observation and 
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experimentation. 
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g. Technology refers to the practical application of science. 
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h. Innovation refers to the creation of new ideas that results to the development of new 
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or improved products, processes, or services which are then spread or transferred 
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across the market. 
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i. Technology licensing refers to a mode of technology transfer whereby a licensor such 
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as a technology generator or technology or intellectual property owner, authorizes a 
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licensee to use the technology under certain agreed terms and conditions. 
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SEC. 5. Science for Change Program (S4CP) and Utilization Policy 
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Framework. — The formulation of the S4CP is anchored on the HNRDA which shall be 
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regularly updated based on the needs of the time. 
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a. In order to achieve the objectives of this Act, the following science and 
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technology (S&T) programs of the DOST shall be expanded:  
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1. 
Health Self Sufficiency and Responsiveness to Public Health 
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Emergencies 
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2. 
Renewable Energy Systems & Bioenergy Technologies 
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3. 
Functional Materials for Alternative Energy Sources 
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4. 
Energy Conversion and Storage 
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5. 
Nuclear Science for Energy, Health, Agriculture and Industry  
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6. 
Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, and Genomics 
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7. 
Climate and Environment Sciences 
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8. 
Nutrition and Food Security and Safety 
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9. 
Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Productivity 
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10. Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Development 
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11. 
Transport Solutions 
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12. 
Industrial or Manufacturing or Mining Productivity 
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13. 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation 
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14. 
Science and Technology (Services for the Production Sector 
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15. 
Metrology, Calibration and Standards 
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16. 
Technology Transfer or Commercialization 
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17. 
Human Resource Development for Science Technology and Innovation 
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18. Nurturing a Culture of Science 
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b. The following new programs shall also be included in the Science for Change 
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Program: 
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1. 
Defense and Security Research and Development 
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2. 
Space Science and Technology 
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3. 
ICT Development, Electronics and Artificial Intelligence 
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4. 
Strengthening of Research & Development and Science Technology 
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Services in the Regions through Infrastructure and Human Resource 
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Development 
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5. 
S&T for the Creative, Tourism, and Services Industry 
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6. 
New and Emerging Technologies 
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SEC. 6. Major Strategies of the Science for Change Program. - The S4CP shall 
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focus on the Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of Research and 
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Development Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness which is composed of four (4) 
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programs namely: 
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a. Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER). The NICER Program 
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shall be implemented to address the discrepancy in access to R&D funding 
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among the regions. Through the program, qualified higher education 
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institutions (HEls) in the regions shall be provided with grants so they can 
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undertake quality research directed at promoting regional development with 
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their existing capabilities and resources. A proposed NICER should be a unique 
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and collaborative project between HEls, and must be duly endorsed by the 
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Regional Development Council (RDC). 
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b. R&D Leadership Program (RDLead). The RDLead program shall be 
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implemented to help develop and strengthen further the research capabilities 
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of the academe. research and development institutions (RDls), and other 
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government line agencies nationwide. To this end, RDLeaders who are local 
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S&T experts with strong leadership and innovative policy proficiencies shall be 
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engaged to train, direct, and support R&D goals. Academic institutions RDls, 
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and other agencies may engage the services of an RDLeader through a 
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screening and evaluation process to be conducted by the National Research 
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Council of the Philippines (NRCP) based on their respective needs and 
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specifications. The NRCP shall be the implementing agency of the RDLead 
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Program. 
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c. Collaborative R&D to Leverage the Economy (CRADLE) for RDIs 
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and Industry. The CRADLE Program shall be implemented to promote 
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technological advancement and innovation in local companies and to support 
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the growth of the Philippine innovation ecosystem. Through the program, the 
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academe or RDI in partnership with a Filipino company, shall undertake 
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research and development to improve the company’s products, processes, and 
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services to become more competitive in their respective industries. To ensure 
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that research outputs from the academe are commercially utilized by the 
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market, beneficiary-companies under this program must provide at least 
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twenty percent (20%) counterpart funding and commit to adopt the technology 
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that shall be developed by their R & D Partner. 
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d. Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry. The BIST 
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Program shall be implemented by the DOST to provide financial assistance to 
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Filipino private companies for the acquisition of strategic and relevant 
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technologies so they can undertake their R&D activities. The financial 
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assistance shall be used solely for the purchase of high tech equipment or to 
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secure technology licensing or patent rights and shall be refunded to the DOST 
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without interest. 
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SEC. 7. Formulation and Submission of the Science for Change Program 
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(S4CP) Plan. — The DOST shall formulate the five-year S4CP Plan in coordination with 
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other relevant government agencies, including state universities and colleges, and 
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representatives from the private sector undertaking R&D. The Secretary of DOST shall 
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submit to the President, for approval, the Science for Change Program Plan within ninety 
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(90) days from the effectivity of this Act. 
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A successor S4CP Plan shall be formulated and submitted to the President for approval at 
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least three (3) months prior to the expiration of the existing S4CP Plan. 
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SEC. 8. S4CP Program Management Office (PMO). — The Project Management 
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Office for the Science for Change Program (PMO-S4CP) shall be created and placed under 
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the supervision of the Office of the Secretary of the DOST. The PMO shall ensure the 
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effective and efficient implementation of the Science for Change Programs. It shall 
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perform coordinating and Secretariat functions and promote the various S4CP programs. 
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The Secretary of the DOST shall formulate the staffing pattern of the PMO in coordination 
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with the Department of Budget and Management and in accordance with rules and 
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regulations of the Civil Service Commission. 
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SEC. 9. The Harmonized National R&D Agenda. — The DOST shall, in 
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consultation with government research institutions and other agencies concerned, 
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formulate a HNRDA and a program for technology adoption for the government in 
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accordance with the priorities of the Philippine Development Plan. The proposed HNRDA 
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shall be submitted to the National Innovation Council for approval. The DOST shall 
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certify that all the publicly funded R&D projects form part of the HNRDA and included in 
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our Harmonized National R&D Agenda under the annual General Appropriations Act." 
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The DOST shall submit to the Department of Budget and Management, the Speaker of the 
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House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate of the Philippines, either in 
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printed form or by electronic document, a copy of the approved HNRDA. The Secretary 
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of Science and Technology and the agency's web administrator or an equivalent officer 
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shall ensure that the approved HNRDA is posted on the agency's website. 
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SEC. 10. Mandatory Adoption of Publicly-Funded Technologies. - All publicly-
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funded and generated technologies whenever feasible and practicable shall be utilized by 
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all government entities or instrumentalities. All national government agencies 
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government owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and local 
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government units conducting science and technology development projects shall adopt 
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publicly-funded technologies. 
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SEC. 11. Science for Change Program Fund (S4CPF). — All donations, 
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contributions, grants, bequests, or gifts, in cash or in kind, for the S4CP shall be placed 
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into a fund to be known as the Science for Change Program Fund: Provided, That, 
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acceptance of grants, bequests, contributions, and donations from foreign governments 
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shall be subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines, upon recommendation 
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of the Secretary of the DOST and the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. 
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SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The initial amount for the implementation of this Act shall 
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be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the DOST. Thereafter, such funds 
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as may be required for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the Annual 
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General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 13. Annual Report. - The DOST shall submit an annual report on the 
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implementation of the S4CP to the Office of the President and to the Committee on 
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Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Senate. 
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SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within One hundred eighty 
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(180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOST shall formulate rules and regulations 
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for its effective implementation. 
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SEC. 15. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain and in 
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full force and effect. 
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SEC. 16. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in the Ofﬁcial Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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