Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

=, NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

House BILLNO?__7219
OP OI eer newer e ) S ee eee

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Introduced by Representative daviD “Jay-Jay” C. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the importance of science and technology
for national development and prioritizes it by mandating the state to support research and
development, invention, innovation, and their applications. It also requires the state to provide
science and technology education, training, and services and promote self-reliant scientific and
technological capabilities.

Additionally, the state is responsible for regulating the transfer of technology from all
sources for the benefit of the country and promoting the participation of private groups, local
governments, and community-based organizations in the generation and utilization of science
and technology.

During the recent National Science and Technology Week, President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. expressed his support for research and development and urged the Department of Science
and Technology to provide more support to students through scholarships. The administration
has also pledged to retain and support the country's scientists and experts in the field through
funding.

While there are currently various sources of funding through the DOST and international
and private groups, the proponents of the bill aim to drive more opportunities to students in
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This will incentivize the youth to pursue their ideas and
foster a research-based and data-driven culture in tertiary education. Unfortunately, research
and development is not a popular or attractive option for many students, and the bill aims to
encourage them to become important innovators and contributors to society.


Through the Development Research Fund that this bill seeks to establish, we are putting
the resources firmly in the hands of deserving students and enable them to pursue and realize
their projects. In addition, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will be given an opportunity to
strengthen their research programs through this much needed funding.

Lastly, support for worthwhile causes must be made more accessible and easier,
especially in cases where a study seeks to address pressing issues whether local or national in
nature, be it food security, improving transparency in governance, water shortage, or even
climate change. This bill will also allow local government units and Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) to guide these learners in identifying problems that need particular attention.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

_, NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Biase e og
HOUSE BILL NO. 7219
sree
4
Introduced by Representative DAVID “Jay-Jay” C. SUAREZ

ANACT
TO IMPROVE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEIs) THROUGH THE CRITERIA OF A
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH FUND 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 "Higher Education Institutions’
Development Research Fund Act of 2023".

Sec. 2. Objectives. - It shall be the objective of this Act to provide Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) with the necessary resources to improve their facilities, services, and
research capabilities for the betterment of the students, faculty, and the wider community, and to
prioritize state universities and colleges in the grant of research funds by the Philippine
government.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act:

a. Higher Education Institution (HE!) refers to an educational institution designed for
instruction, examination, or both, of students in many branches of advanced learning,
conferring degrees in various faculties, and often embodying colleges and similar
institutions.


b. Development Research Fund refers to the fund established by this Act to finance the
development, improvement, and upgrading of HEI's research facilities.

Sec. 4. Creation of the Development Research Fund. - The Development Research

Fund is hereby created which shall be taken from the annual budget of the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) in the General Appropriations Act of the current year.

Sec. 5. Use of the Development Research Fund. - The Development Research Fund

shall be used to finance the following:

a. Upgrading and improvement of existing HEI's facilities and services.
b. Development of new HE''s facilities and services.

c. Expansion of HEI's research capabilities.

d. Improvement of HE''s faculty and staff training programs.

e. Any other purpose that will contribute to the improvement of HEI's as determined by
the CHED, DOST, DPWH, DENR, DoE and DA.

Sec. 6. Grant of Research Funds. - The Philippine government shall prioritize state

universities and colleges in the grant of research funds. The CHED shall submit an annual list of
private and state universities and colleges with research capabilities in each development area
to the government for consideration.

Sec. 7. Protocol for the grant of the Research Fund. - HEIs’ in need of funds for its

Research and Development shall course its request to the DOST’s Special Projects Division
(SPD). The SPD shall then endorse the proposal to the appropriate Sectoral Council for
evaluation and approval aligned with the National R&D Agenda.

Sec. 8. Criteria in Assessing R&D Protocols. - Proposals on R&D projects and/or

activities selected by the Sectoral Council shall be based on the following criteria:

. Time Frame - project, program or activity shall be within a reasonable time limit;
. Adopters - Utilization Plans - inclusion of plans on how the results will be utilized by the

a. Capacity of the Proponent - the competence of the HE! to undertake the project;
b.

Scientific Merit - the commitment of the HEI to create new knowledge or innovatively
apply existing ones;

. Feasibility - the tenability of the undertaking, project, program or activity both, financially

and technically;

. Implementation Strategy - the efficiency of the design, methodology, or strategy in

implementing the project, program or activity to attain its objective;

. Socio-economic Impact - capability to provide employment, increase income, or address

any current national problem;
Environmental Impact - the project, program, or activity should not have any adverse
effect to the environment;

target end users;
Institution Capacity - commitment to upgrade S&T facilities and database infrastructures;
and


j. Cultural Sensitivity - adaptability of the project to Philippine culture and tradition

Sec. 9. DOST Sectoral Council - The Sectoral Council, which shall evaluate and
approve endorsed R&D proposals of the HEI, shall be composed of:

a. Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD) - The PCAARRD is aimed to strengthen the development of
research and development (R&D) in the agriculture, forestry, aquatic, and natural
resources sectors, as well as optimize human and physical resources to develop these
sectors;

b. Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Council (PCHRD) - the
lead council that creates and sustains an enabling environment for health research in the
country; and

c. Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and
Development (PCIEERD) - the central agency in the development of policies, plans and
programs as well as in the implementation of strategies in the industry, energy, and
emerging technology sectors.

Sec. 10. Monitoring and Evaluation of R&D Activities. - The DOST-SPD shall maintain
a database of the projects approved for funding. The database shall have complete information
including but shall not be limited to the expected outcomes of the R&D project, program or
activity.

Sec. 11. Alignment with Economic Agenda - The Development Research Fund shall
fund research priorities that are in line with the development and economic agenda of the
current administration, particularly in the areas of:

. Agriculture and Food;
. Disaster Mitigation and Management;
. Environment and Natural Resources;
|. Health and Health Products;
. Energy; and
Information and Communications Technology

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Sec. 12. Development-Oriented and Impactful Research - The CHED, DOST, DPWH,
DENR, DoE and DA shall ensure that the research projects funded by the Development
Research Fund are development-oriented and have the potential to have a positive impact on
the economic, scientific, and social concerns of the country.

Sec. 13. Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation of this Act - The CHED, DOST,
DPWH, DENR, DoE and DA shall conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of the utilization of
the Development Research Fund to ensure that the Fund is being used efficiently and
effectively.

The DOST, CHED, DPWH, DENR, DoE DA and other concerned agencies in
consultation with all HEls shall within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, shall
promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.


Sec. 14. Annual Report. - The CHED, DOST, DPWH, DENR, DoE and DA shall submit
an annual report to Congress on the status of the Development Research Fund and the
utilization of its resources.

Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - \f any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional,
the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,