REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 925

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Government policies in the country have been inclined to vary from one administration to
another. Attached to this is merely the absence of systematic policy research that can
facilitate the formulation of government policies as well as the strategies necessary to
implement them.

In public governance, leaders should consider not only affairs that are confined within their
terms as elected public officials. More importantly, they must focus on long-term planning
and strategic concepts in relation to the country's welfare. Thus, there should be a special
group - a team of experts doing research work and formulating sound national policies -
assigned to carry out strategic studies for the benefit of the country.

The strengthening of policy research and strategic studies on the country is extremely urgent.
In anticipation of the remarkable changes the country is bound to experience, both nationwide
and worldwide, it becomes more necessary to define how our national and international
policies should advance.

This bill assigns the formulation of strategic policies to the Center for International Relations
and Strategic Studies. This bill also proposes for the expansion of functions of the said center,
by including researches on matters of national and economic security. In view of the
foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
irst Regular Session

925

House

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND
STRATEGIC STUDIES TO INCLUDE RESEARCH AND FORMULATION OF
STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SECURITY POLICIES

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

SECTION 1. Expansion of the Center for International Relations and Strategic
Studies. - The Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies is hereby expanded to
include research and formulation of strategic options for national and economic security

policies in its operational scope and activities.
SEC. 2. General Objectives. - The Center's general objectives are as follows:

1. To enhance understanding by the executive and legislative branches of
fandamental,current and emerging domestic and international issues by assisting
the government in formulating policy and strategic perspectives thereon;

2. To undertake studies of domestic and international, political, economic, military,
socio-cultural, and techno scientific significance in an inter-discipline and
integrative manner;

3. To carry out such other programs and projects as may contribute to the

attainment of its mission.

SEC. 3. Specific Objectives, —
1) Examine Philippine foreign and domestic policy issues and identity problems in

their conceptualization, formulation and implementation;


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2) Assess social, economic, political and security developments and trends in our
country and in various parts of the world and help formulate appropriate policy

responses and strategies.

3) To study the experience of other governments and ten (10) nations insofar as to

draw lessons from them and/or anticipate their repercussions on the Philippines.

4) To examine the global presence of Filipino nationals and their impact upon our

national development and foreign relations and help project constructive policies
in this regard.

5) To develop expertise in area studies as well as resource bases on international
relations, economic security and national development to serve the long-term
needs of our country.

6) To develop networks and information dissemination among various sectors in
Philippine society and counterpart organizations in the international community
for the above purposes and as a contribution to the enhancement of global

understanding and cooperation.

SEC. 4. Divisions. - The Center shall have the following Divisions under it:
1) The Strategic Studies Di

ion, which shall conduct -long-term and
comprehensive studies on major strategic global issues and their probable impact
on the Philippines;

2) The International Relations Division, which shall undertake studies on Philippine

bilateral and multilateral relations;

3) The National Policy Issues Division, which shall concentrate on studies dealing

with national concerns in the political, economic and security areas;

4) The Cultural and Scientific Policy Studies Division, which shall deal with studies

regarding ni

ional concerns in the socio-cultural and techno scientific fields; and


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5) The Library, which shall serve as the information repository of the Department

and the Institute.

SEC. 5. Research Fellows. - There shall be designated research fellows to conduct
and direct research work and strategic studies in the various functional/area programs
consistent with their disciplines and expertise individually or collegially. They are to be
commissioned by the Center to conduct studies or to serve as project directors/consultants for
in-house studies.

Depending on the nature and scale of the project, fellows recruited as consultants will
be paid monthly honoraria for the duration of the project. Alternatively, a memorandum of
agreement may be signed between the fellow or the agency he represents and the Center for
needed studies.

The Center shall hire research consultants and commission projects in special cases
where the in-house staff has no technical capability or where other individuals or institutions
have expertise.

SEC. 6. Council of Advisers. - The Center shall organize a Council of Advisers. It
will be composed of eminent scholars and practitioners from government and non-

government institutions/entities that maintain units engaged in policy research and strategic
studies.

The Council shall be consulted regularly by the Center on the research agenda. Its
member-entities will be entitled to copies of regular CIRSS publications and access to the
Center's library and data bank. In employing visiting research fellows, the Center shall give
priority to researches and analysts of the Council's member-entities if found qualified. In
return, the member-entities will link up with the CIRSS information network and grant the

Center's research fellows access to their indexed reference materials subject to clearance.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees and executive orders inconsistent

herewith are hereby modified or repealed accordingly.


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SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shal! not affect the validity and enforceability of other provisions

not affected thereby.

SEC. 9. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect upon its approval and publication in

the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,