EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E
s. No. 
4 0 4
ST'rn: :
’19 
J U L ll 
P4 -18
Introduced by Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino
AN ACT
TO 
IMPROVE 
THE 
EFFICIENCY 
OF 
NATIONAL 
RESEARCH 
AND 
DEVELOPMENT
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Research and development (R&D) is a crucial field in the science and 
technology as well as any other industries to allow the prospering of knowledge, 
productivity, innovation and competitiveness which are then translated into new 
products, services and processes relevant to various aspects of life. Basically, it plays 
a critical role in the development of the society.
The Constitution even stipulated the prime importance o f R8iD in the economic 
development of the nation. Article 14, Section 10 provides:
SEC. 10. Science and Technology are essential for national development 
and progress. The State shall give priority to research and development, 
invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to science and technology 
education, 
training, 
and 
services. 
It 
shall 
support 
indigenous, 
appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and 
their application to the country's productive systems and national life.
Researchers and relevant agencies in the Philippines aspire to make the country 
a 
home 
to 
high-end 
R&D. 
Although 
important, 
this 
field 
is 
considered 
underappreciated due to the bureaucratic processes that hamper the creative.


systematic and scientific efforts of the experts. According to a 2015 report published 
by the Department of Budget and Management, the country lags behind its 
neighboring Southeast Asian countries in terms of the number of professionals and 
scientists involved in R&D activities. Moreover, the low number o f researchers in the 
country has partially resulted in fewer graduates in science and engineering and 
doctorate degree holders in science, engineering and technology where R&D usually 
flourishes.
With these in mind, this bill seeks to create the Research and Development 
Support Committee which will be under the Office of the President. It will be 
responsible for reviewing all regulations related to research and research institutions.1
frAn c is ^
o l" n . t o l e n t in o
Senator
1 This was lifted from  a bill filed by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago in the Sixteenth Congress, First 
Regular Session and is now refiled during the Eighteenth Congress in her honor.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
s. No. 
4 0 4
p( i : '  
■ <■:
*19 
JUL11 
P4 -18
Rtcivc^i:,
Introduced by Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino 1 1
AN ACT
TO 
IMPROVE 
THE 
EFFICIENCY 
OF 
NATIONAL 
RESEARCH 
AND 
DEVELOPMENT
Be it  enacted b y die Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as "Research and Development
2 
Efficiency Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It shall be the policy of the State to ensure that
4 
all efforts towards research and development shall be efficient and effective.
5 
Sec. 3. Research and Development A udit Committee. -  There shall be
6 
established under the Office of the President a Research and Development Support
7 
Committee (RDSC) who shall be responsible for reviewing regulations affecting
8 
research and research universities and making recommendations on how to:
9 
a. harmonize, streamline and eliminate duplicative regulations and reporting
10 
requirements; and
11 
b. minimize the regulatory burden on institutions o f higher education
12 
performing government funded research while maintaining accountability
13 
for expenditures.
14 
Sec. 4. Stakeholder In p u t -  In carrying out the responsibilities under Section
15 
3, the RDSC shall take into account input and recommendations from stakeholders,
16 
including national and local government funded researchers, institutions of higher
1


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3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1
education, scientific disciplinary societies and associations, nonprofit research 
institutions, industry, including small businesses, government funded research and 
development centers, and others with a stake in ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, 
and accountability in the performance of scientific research.
Sec. 5. Report. -  Not later than 1 year after the date o f enactment of this Act, 
and annually thereafter for 3 years, the Director shall report to the appropriate 
committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives on what steps have been 
taken to carry out the recommendations of the working group established under 
Section 3.
Sec. 6. Term. -  The term of RDSC shall be three (3) years.
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
Sec. 8. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Adopted,