EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

~__ Introduced by Representative Rufus
3773

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The need for policy research and strategic studies could not be more compelling than
at the present time. Domestic and international. political, economic and other developments
of profound significance present tremendous challenges to the country.

Major technical advances especially in communications, information and
transportation have increased interdependence among nations.

While large-scale military confrontation has become more unlikely, competition for
resources is likely to develop more keenly. It is expected that the next arena of competition
could very well be the Asia-Pacific Region.

In many parts of Asia, outstanding territorial conflicts may fuel many interstate
tensions. Meanwhile, some states continue to build vast arsenals of weapons which may
bring about another arms race

Contending claims over the Spratly portion of the South China Sea by several states,
including the Philippines, may result in armed confrontation

Internally. the Philippines is beset by a continuing insurgency. The local communist
movement remains a clear and present danger to national security, with the Moro istamic
Liberation Front (MILF), together with terrorist organizations, like the Abu Sayyaf continually

disturbing the political stability of the country

There is clearly an urgency in conducting scientific and continuing policy research
and strategic studies as bases for addressing our fundamental and criticai national concems

Strategic studies have to be done by a group of selected scholar-members who,
among other things, shall

(1) Conduct strategic research on national and international concerns

(2) Formulate various poiicy options on various national concerns. and

(3) Recommend the appropriate actions to support such policies and strategies.

In view of the foregoing considerations early passage of this bill is earnestly sought

RUPUS B. RODRIPEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 3773

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Establishment of the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS). The Institute for
Strategic Studies, hereinafter referred to as the Organization is hereby created and
established as an institution to promote understanding of fundamental, current and emerging
domestic and international issues and to assist the government in formulating policies and
strategic perspectives on those issues. |t shall conduct research on fundamental national
concems in response to or in anticipation of the needs of policy-making, conduct studies on
matters of domestic and international poiitical, economic, military, socio-cultural and techno-
scientific significance in an interdisciplinary and integrative manner. identify strategies to
serve the ends of policy. design programs to effect coordinated and integrated work of other
research institutes engaged in strategic studies, undertake commissioned research work in
collaboration with outside entities/nstitutions consistent with its mandate. build and maintain
a resource facility and data bank: and carry out such other activities and projects which shail
enhance the mission of the organization

SECTION 2. Powers of the Organization. The Organization shall have the following
powers:

a) Adopt, alter and use a corporate seal;

b) Take and hold by bequest, devise, gift, purchase or lease, either absolutely or in
trust, for any of its purposes, any property, real or personal, without limitation as
to amount or value, to convey such property and to invest and reinvest any
principal of the said Organization in such manner as shall best promote its
objectives

¢) Collect, receive and maintain a fund or funds and to apply the income and
principal thereof to the promotion of its aims and purposes herein-before set out

d) Contract any obligation or enter into any agreement necessary or incidental fo the
proper management of its corporate powers

) Engage in any activity, and exercise aii the powers conferred by the faws upon
private or government-owned and controlied corporations, and

f) Exercise the general powers of @ duly incorporated entity as set out in the
Corporation Code.

SECTION 3. The Board of Trustees. The Organization shail be organized functionally with
the following components:

1 There shall be a Board of Trustees composed of the Executive Secretary,

Senate President, House of Representatives Speaker, Secretary of

Foreign Affairs, Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of Science and

Technology. President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and

Industry, an eminent representative from the private sector to be


appointed by the President of the Republic of Philippines and the
President of the Organization

2. The Trustees shall elect from among themselves the Chairman and Vice-

Chairman of the Board;
The Board of Trustees may create an executive committee coming from
the private sector composed of five trustees including its Chairperson,
which shail have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board of
Trustees in between the regular meetings of the said board. The Chair of
the Board shall head the executive committee. Decisions of the Executive
Committee shall be reported to the Board of Trustees at its meeting,

4 The trustees shall receive a per diem as may be authorized for every
meeting actually attended, in addition to reasonable transportation and
representation expenses,

5. The Board shall provide guidance to the Policy Council on the thrusts,
objectives, policies, researches, agenda, programs and other activities of
the organization.

SEC 4. Policy Council. There shall be a Policy Council, composed of an Executive Director
and five others as Members, all of whom shall be appointed by the President of Republic of
the Philippines from among the present members of the Strategic Studies Group of the
National Defense College of the Philippines, as presently constituted. for a term of six years
The Council shall have the following authority:
1 To formulate the thrusts, objectives. policies, research agenda. programs
and other activities;
2 To oversee, monitor and evaluate all research work and studies
3 To designate Research Fellows with notable scholarship to do and
or/direct research work and strategic studies in various functional/area
program of the organization that are relevant to their areas of expertise
4 To determine and fill up other positions in the Organization and fix the
salaries, honoraria, allowances and other emoluments of all officers and
members of the Organization.

‘SEC 5. Autonomy and Academic Freedom of the Organization. The Organization shall be an
autonomous and self-governing institution governed by the principle of academic freedom; it
shall neither be organic nor be part of any government instrumentality. It shall be attached
to the Office of the President to facilitate its budgetary and other administrative requirements
and for the purpose of policy coordination

SEC 6. Assistance from Government Departments and Agencies. To assist in its functions,
government departments. agencies, units or instrumentalities shall allow the Organization
access to their official files, records, data and other documents, provided such access is
Consistent with the requirements of confidentiality

SEC 7. Exemptions. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, appointments to
the research and administrative staff of the Organization may be on a fulltime basis and
shall be exempt from the requirements and restrictions of the Civil Service and retirement
laws, other laws, rules and regulations on position-classification and salary standardization
and Section Two Hundred Fifty Nine of the Revised Administrative Code; Provided, that any
goverment retiree employed in the Organization shall not be required to reimburse or
refund any gratuity received from the government nor shall any pension or annuity to which
he is entitied be suspended or reduced on account of his employment in the Organization.

SEC 8. Services of Outside Agencies and of Private Sector. The Organization may, for the
purpose of research, field work and other activities, obtain and pay for the services of the


personnel of any agency of the Philippine Government and/or private sector to perform
research or field work and such other activities as may be needed

SEC 9. Endowment Fund.

1 An Endowment Fund shall be created to provide for non-recurring
expenditures of the Organization. For this purpose, the amount of Five
Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from any
fund in the National Treasury. The Endowment Fund shail be
administered as a trust fund with the Board of Trustees thereof, provided
that the principal of said endowment shall not be subject to impairment
and provided further that the earnings thereof, shall constitute a trust fund
available for non-recurring and unprogrammed expenditures of the
Organization

Any or all savings of the Organization shat! form part of the trust funds provided in

Section 9, above

SEC 10. Appropriation. There is hereby appropriated the amount of Five Hundred Million
Pesos (P500,000,000.00) out of any unappropriated funds in the National Treasury for such
initial requirements as capital outlay and infrastructures of the Organization. Thereafter, the
Congress of the Philippines shall include as part of its budgetary appropriations the amount
of at least Fifty Million (P50,000,000.00) pesos to finance the recurring and operational
expenditures of the Organization.

SEC 11. Separability Clause. if any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain
in force and effect

SEC 12. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter
of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed
or modified accordingly

SEC 13. Effectivity Ciause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of this
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,