Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to convert the existing Provincial Science and 
Technology Center (PSTC) in all provinces of the Philippines into 
Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) as part of the 
organisational structure of the Department of Science and 
Technology (DOST). 
Science and technology has long been recognized as one of 
the significant drivers of national development as explicitly stated 
under Section 10, Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. 
In 1991, pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 
6959 entitled “An Act Establishing Provincial Centres for Science 
and Technology in All Provinces of the Philippines And 
Appropriating Funds Therefor,” the Provincial Science and 
Technology Centers (PSTC) in all provinces in the country was 
established and operationalized serving as extensions of the 
DOST Regional Offices primarily for the purpose of implementing 
DOST’s programs and projects such as technology demonstration 
and transfer, science and technology promotion and information 
dissemination, and such other areas of concern that will benefit 
the people in the provinces, among others. 
As constant partners of the local government units, the 
PSTCs have made a difference in the lives of students, 
professionals, peoples’ organizations, cooperatives, civil society 
organizations, farmers and fisher folks, differently-abled citizens, 
senior citizens, and the private sector through the wide range of 
July 28, 2022
5:16 pm
2724


programs, projects, and services like technology transfer and 
commercialization, innovation system support, training 
programs, packaging and labeling assistance, technology clinics, 
and the likes effectively rolled-out in various parts of the regions 
and provinces. Being the implementing arm of the DOST in the 
provinces, PSTCs provide central direction, leadership, and 
coordination of scientific and technological efforts and ensure 
that the results therefrom are geared and utilized in areas of 
maximum economic and social benefits of the people in the 
respective localities they serve.  
However, for the longest time, the PSTCs’ operations have 
not been improved in terms of authority. It is worthy to note that 
based on its existing organisational structure under RA 6959, 
PSTCs are practically supervised by rank and file employee with 
a salary grade of 19, being the highest rank, and supported by 
measly 2-3 plantilla personnel. Glaringly, the DOST is lagging 
behind from other National Government Agencies (NGAs) in 
terms of human resources and complement especially in the 
respective provincial offices where most, if not all, NGAs are 
headed by a Provincial Director.  
Given the current status of technological advancement and 
trends, as well as the need for technology transfer in the 
countryside, it is high time that, through this bill, Republic Act 
No. 6959 be amended in order to strengthen the existing PSTCs 
by converting them into Provincial Science and Technology 
Offices per Civil Service Commission/Department of Budget and 
Management Index of Occupational Services (IOS), thereby 
enabling these DOST Provincial Offices to empower more 
communities through more efficient delivery of Science, 
Technology, and Innovation Services. 
In view thereof, early consideration and approval of this bill 
is earnestly sought.                                         
                                                ALFONSO V. UMALI, JR. 
 
 
                                     Representative  
 
 
 
 
     Second District, Oriental Mindoro 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI, JR. 
AN ACT CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY CENTER INTO PROVINCIAL SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY OFFICE IN EVERY PROVINCE, AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6959, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives 
of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the 
“Provincial Science and Technology Office Act of 2019.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy and 
duty of the State to fast track the transfer of relevant and 
appropriate technologies and services to the rural areas 
particularly in the enhancement and development of technology-
based livelihood enterprises in the countryside. 
SECTION 3. Provincial Science and Technology Offices 
(PSTO). - The Provincial Science and Technology Centers of the 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which are the 
principal instruments of technology transfer and development of 
technology-based enterprises of the government in the rural 
areas are, through this Act, converted into Provincial Science and 
Technology Offices (PSTO). 
2724


SECTION 4. Functions of the PSTO. - The Provincial 
Science and Technology Office shall perform the following 
functions: 
a. Identify the needs and opportunities in science and 
technology (S&T) in the provinces; 
b. Implement DOST programs and projects on technology 
promotion and transfer, S&T human resource 
development, S&T promotion and information 
dissemination, delivery of technical and consultancy 
services, and such other areas of concern that will 
benefit the people in the provinces; 
c. Develop institutional linkages with provincial offices of 
other departments both local government units, 
academe and non-governmental offices for the effective 
implementation of science and technology programs in 
the provinces; 
d. Perform other functions as may be determined by the 
DOST Secretary. 
 
SECTION 5. Provincial Science and Technology 
Director. - The present head of the PSTCs with the designation 
of Provincial Science and Technology Officer and the position 
title of Senior Science Research Specialist, with salary grade of 
nineteen (SG 19) shall be upgraded to the rank of Provincial 
Science and Technology Director in each province with a salary 
grade equivalent to a full-fledged Provincial Director position as 
determined by the DOST Secretary in consultation with the 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Civil 
Service Commission (CSC).  
 
The Provincial Science and Technology Director shall 
exercise the following duties and responsibilities: 
a. Formulate the provincial S&T plan, programs, and 
projects designed to promote science and culture among 
the people in the province, consistent with and 
supportive to the regional and national development S&T 
plans; 


b. Implement and monitor the technology promotion, 
transfer, and commercialization  of projects of the DOST 
in the province; 
c. Promote the adoption of the appropriate technology by 
micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to 
improve operational efficiency and increase productivity 
to harness the result of scientific researches and 
innovations to produce new and competitive products; 
d. Disseminate S&T-related information and R&D result 
through the conduct of trainings, symposia  and/or 
other similar fora; 
e. Maintain effective liaison with the public and private 
academic institutions and  other government agencies 
engaged in scientific and technological research, 
education, and training; 
f. Coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) and 
academic institutions for  the promotion of scholarship 
programs aimed to attract the science-oriented 
students to pursue basic and applied sciences in order 
to broaden the S&T human resource in the province; 
g. Coordinate with the DOST regional office and its regional 
development council for the promotion all S&T activities; 
h. Coordinate with public and private organizations in the 
implementation of human resource and institutional 
development programs in the province; 
i. Represent DOST in the inter-agency meetings, 
conferences, and other     coordinative activities in the 
province; 
j. Undertake overall supervision and fiscal management of 
services and operations of the PSTO; 
k. Ensure that the quality of operational management 
system is in accordance with the ISO quality 
management standards; 


l. Enter into lawful contracts, memoranda of agreement, 
deeds, and the likes, with the heads of the colleges or 
universities designated as offices, local government 
units, other provincial offices of the NGAs, and other 
entities, either public or private, which may include 
matters of reporting and payment of honoraria to 
members of their faculty and staff; and 
m.Perform other related functions as may be assigned by 
the higher authorities from time to time. 
SECTION 6.   Qualifications   of   Provincial   S&T 
Director. – The DOST in consultation with the Department of 
Budget and Management (DBM) and Civil Service Commission 
(CSC) shall formulate the necessary qualification standards and 
eligibility requirements commensurate to  the Provincial Science 
and Technology Director. The incumbent head of the PSTO shall 
have preference and automatically be included in the selection 
for Provincial Science and Technology Director position. 
SECTION 7. Remuneration and other Benefits of the 
Provincial Director. - The remuneration of the Provincial 
Science and Technology Director shall be equivalent to a full-
fledged Provincial Director position in the government service and 
shall be entitled to representation and transportation allowance 
commensurate to his office and other benefits as prescribed by 
law. 
SECTION 8. Staff of the Provincial Science and 
Technology Office. - The PSTOs shall have at least three (3) 
plantilla positions. In cases, when there is a need for additional 
staff, such shall be determined by the Provincial S&T Director 
based on the population of the province in consultation with and 
with concurrence of the DOST Secretary. The DOST Secretary 
shall determine the level of these positions, provided that 
prescribed qualifications shall be in accordance with existing 
Civil Service laws and regulations. 
SECTION  9.   Use of Funds. - All fees and charges 
collected as a result of S&T services rendered by the PSTOs is not 
only limited to metrological work, testing and calibration services 
but shall be used by the PSTOs in the enhancement of PSTOs 


capabilities, development of human resource and in the 
maintenance of their equipment and facilities. 
SECTION 10.  Appropriations. – The amount necessary to 
carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the 
budget of the DOST under the Annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
SECTION 11.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – 
The DOST, in consultation with concerned agencies and 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and 
regulation of this Act within ninety (90) days from effectivity of 
this Act. 
SECTION 12.  Separability Clause. – If any provision of 
this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force effect. 
SECTION 13.  Repealing Clause. –  Republic Act No. 6959 
as well as all other laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
ordinances, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts 
thereof which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen 
(15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,