SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'15 
MAR 17 P 2 :35 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2705 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO OUR NATION'S SCIENTISTS BY 
INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NEXT 
GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Sections 15, provides: 
SEC. 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to 
health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them. 
Research is an important part of our growth as a nation and represents our 
contribution to the expansion of knowledge. Moreover, it provides our country 
with competitive edge in the ever-changing landscape of global advancement. 
Not only do we need to make sure that we are competitive in terms of 
research, we also need to make sure that our efforts will be sustained for 
generations to come. 
This bill establishes a next generation research initiative that would ensure 
that our young researchers will benefit from the knowledge, wisdom and 
experience of our more seasoned scientists. 
d·.... 
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M'tRfAM'DEF1WsOR SANTl\GO 
~ 
1 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'15 
liAR 17 P 2 :35 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2705 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
TO DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO OUR NATION'S SCIENTISTS BY 
3 
INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NEXT 
4 
GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS 
5 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
6 
SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Next Generation 
7 
Research Act." 
8 
SECTION 2. Next Generation of Research Initiative. - There shall be 
9 
established within the Office of the Executive Director of the National Institutes of 
10 
Health, the Next Generation of Research Initiative (referred to in this section as the 
11 
'Initiative'), through which the Director shall coordinate all policies and programs 
12 
within the National Institutes of Health aimed at promoting and providing 
13 
opportunities for new researchers. 
14 
SECTION 3. Activities. -
The Executive Director of NIH through the 
15 
Initiative shall: 


1. promote policies and programs within the National Institutes of Health 
2 
that are aimed at improving opportunities for new researchers, including 
3 
existing policies and programs; 
4 
2. develop or modify policies, as needed, within the National Institutes of 
5 
Health to promote opportunities for new researchers, including policies to 
6 
strengthen mentorship programs between new and veteran researchers, 
7 
enhance workforce diversity efforts, and help to improve new 
8 
researchers' success in obtaining renewal funding; and 
9 
3. carry out other activities, as appropriate, to promote the development of 
10 
the next generation of researchers. 
11 
SECTION 4. Report. - The Executive Director of NIH shall conduct a 
12 
comprehensive study on policies affecting the next generation of researchers in the 
13 
Philippines. Such study shall include an evaluation of the legislative, 
14 
administrative, educational, and cultural barriers to providing for a successful next 
15 
generation of researchers. 
16 
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Executive 
17 
Director of NIH shall submit to the appropriate committees in the Senate and the 
18 
House of Representative, a report concerning the results of the study conducted 
19 
under the previous paragraph. Such report shall include: 
20 
I. an evaluation of the legislative, administrative, educational, and cultural 
21 
barriers faced by the next generation of researchers; 
2 


2. an evaluation of the impact of sequestration resulting from budget 
2 
constraints on the next generation of researchers; and 
3 
3. recommendations for the implementation of policies to incentivize, 
4 
improve entry into, and sustain careers in research for the next generation 
5 
of researchers, including proposed policies for agencies and academic 
6 
institutions. 
7 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
8 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
9 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
10 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
11 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
12 
contrary to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
13 
modified, or amended accordingly. 
14 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
IS 
days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/apm030920 15 
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