FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
396 
s. NO. _-"'-"'-=--_ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In a report by the United Nations Development Program's Human Development Index, 
Philippines is among developing countries that are "dynamic adopters" in terms of technological 
achievements and capacities. Moreover, 2003 World Competitiveness Yearbook of the IMD 
noted that the Philippines has been one of the few countries losing its technically trained people 
to the United States. It said that between 1994 and 1995, some 57,000 Filipinos who hold higher 
education degrees were "imported" by the U.S. The average is nearly a thousand highly skilled 
individuals per year. 
Every year, more than 800,000 Filipinos leave for jobs abroad and the share of persons with 
higher education or with sophisticated technical skills has been growing in recent years. The 
Philippine economy benefits substantially from these through dollar remittances of Filipinos 
employed abroad. However, although remittances are significant source of foreign exchange, the 
money is typically spent on consumer goods and adds little to an economy's productive capacity. 
The proposed bill aims to tap the expertise of the overseas Filipino professionals to help 
accelerate economic development of the country in order to meet the goals for the next 
millennium. It provides for the methodologies by which these overseas Filipinos may effectively 
assist in Philippine development, notably in the areas of transfer and exchange of technology. 
Moreover, it is worth mentioning that their desire to corne back to their land of birth is coupled 
with a desire to contribute their share in the development and progress of the country. Hence, by 
allowing them to practice in the Philippines, we give them an opportunity to render service to the 
country where their skills and expertise will be most needed and welcomed. 
Early cognizance of this bill is earnestly sought. 
, 
~'~ANESIV 
Senator 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. NO. ----'3:....::9:....::6'-· 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE TRANSFER IN THE PHILIPPINES OF SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLQY 
RELATED 
PROFESSIONS 
BY 
OVERSEAS 
FILIPINO 
PROFESSIONALS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES' 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Policy Declaration. - Science and technology is essential in national 
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development and progress. In pursuance of this objective, the government shall enlist the 
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participation of Filipinos overseas, particularly high- level scientists, engineers, information and 
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communications technology experts, and other professionals in various technical fields, and shall 
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provide proper incentives and programs so as to secure their services in priority development 
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areas of the public and private sectors, with the view of promoting information exchange and 
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contributing to the modernization and industrialization of the country. 
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SEC. 2. Incentives. - Given the significance of upgrading technologies and productivity 
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of the people in pursuit of national economic development, the Government shall develop and 
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provide adequate incentives to Filipino expatriates whose expertise and training can playa vital 
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role in the industrialization efforts of the country. Among the incentives to be provided shall be, 
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but not limited to, the following: 
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a.) Exemption from payment of the travel tax for grantee; 
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b.) Availment of the privilege granted under Section l05(g) of the Tariff and Customs 
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Code of the Philippines (TCCP) which provides for the conditionally-free importation 
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of wearing apparel, articles of personal adornment, toilet articles, portable tools and 
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instruments, theatrical costumes and similar effects which are necessary and 
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appropriate for the wear and use of such persons but not for barter, sale or hire; and 
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c.) Financial support for research and development projects approved by the Secretary of 
the Department of Science and Technology. 
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SEC. 3. Implementation. - The Department of Science and Technology and the 
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Department of Foreign Affairs shall develop and implement appropriate measures to ensure 
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attainment of this Act, to include the Balik Scientist Program under Executive Order No. 130, as 
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certified by the Department of Science and Technology. 
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SEC. 4. Practice of Overseas Professionals in the Philippines. - The Professional 
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Regulation Commission may, upon recommendation of the concerned Professional Regulatory 
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Board, authorize the registration without examination and the issuance of a certificate of 
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registration and a professional license to any Filipino, whether or not he has lost his citizenship 
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when he was overseas, who has been in the practice of his profession in a foreign country or 
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state, subject to the provisions of this Act. 
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The application for registration without examination and the issuance of a certificate of 
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registration and a professional license may also be granted to any Filipino who, prior to his 
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departure abroad, has already been granted certificate of registration and a professional license, 
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by appropriate Philippine professional regulatory board to practice his profession, but said 
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registration or license has expired while he was overseas. 
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, 
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SEC . .5. Qualifications. - For the registration without examination and the issuance of a 
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certificate of registration and a professional license under the Act, the applicant must submit 
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proof that: 
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a.) He is a present or former Filipino citizen, as shown by his birth Certificate or other 
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documentation as may be required; 
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b.) He is at least twenty seven (27) years of age; 
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c.) He is registered and holder of a valid certificate of registration andlor valid 
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professional license to practice his profession issued by the appropriate Philippine 
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regulatory commission prior to his departure abroad, or by a government body 
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concerned in a foreign country or state whose requirements for registration or licensing 
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are substantially the same as those required and contemplated by Philippine laws; 
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d.) He is a person of good moral character, he has not been convicted of any crime 
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involving moral turpitude nor sanctioned administratively by any government 
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instrumentality including the body that regulates the practice of his profession. 
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SEC. 6. Requirements. - The applicant shall file an application under oath stating his 
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personal circumstances, his intention to practice in the Philippines and the office address that he 
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will be using, and his undertaking to abide by all regulations pertaining to the practice of the 
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profession in the Philippines. 
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SEC. '7. Implementing Guidelines. - The Department of Science and Technology, 
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Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Professional Regulation Commission, in coordination 
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with other concerned government agencies, shall within ninety (90) days upon the approval of 
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this Act, promulgate the necessary guidelines to put into effect the purposes and provisions of 
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this Act. 
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SEC. 8. Appropriations. - the amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall 
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be sourced from the General Appropriation of Department of Science and Technology. 
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SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws which are inconsistent and contrary to the 
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provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended. 
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SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its complete 
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publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation, whichever 
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comes first. 
Approved, 
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