EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
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SENATE 
S. No. 2328
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Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM (S4CP)
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Now more than ever, we depend on science to direct our decisions on how to 
carefully proceed with the New Normal amid the limitations and risks posed by the 
ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We rely on science to determine the best interventions 
to confront the health emergency. We turn to science-based interventions on how to 
safely reopen the economy and get people's lives back on track. We seek expert 
opinion of the scientific community in order to guide us amid the uncertainties and to 
appreciate the developments about the novel Coronavirus.
It is with this mindset that we are filing this Science for Change Program or the 
S4CP, which aims to harness and optimize science, technology, innovation and 
research at the domestic level in offering solutions to the country's perennial and most 
pressing problems. In line with the recent Congressional action of passing laws such 
as Republic Act 11293 or the "Philippine Innovation Act;" RA 11312 or the Act 
Strengthening the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and Other 
Science and Technology Personnel in the Government; RA 11363 or the "Philippine 
Space Act;" RA 11337 or the "Innovative Startup Act," this bill continues to give priority 
to science and technology as agents of change and propellers of national development.
This bill is also among the priority measures of the Department of Science and 
Technology (DOST), as identified in the updated Philippine Development Plan 2017-


2022. As stated therein, the proposed S4C Act "aims to expand various science and 
technology programs of the DOST, prescribe the research and development areas to 
be considered, and require government instrumentalities to adopt publicly funded and 
generated technologies whenever feasible and practicable."
As progress has been made over the years, with the steady increase of 
Researchers, Scientists and Engineers per million population, and percentage of GDP 
expenditure on R&D, there is a need to harmonize the research agenda, further 
accelerate the capacities for R&D, and utilize the outputs towards progress.
In this light, the passage of this bill is hereby recommended.
RAMOI^ONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
SENATE 
S. No. 2328
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT-
ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM (S4CP)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 'Science for Change
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Program (S4CP) Act of2021."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall give priority to science,
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technology and innovation to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social
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progress, and promote total human liberation and development. It recognizes that
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science and technology are essential for national development and progress. Thus,
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the State shall give priority to research and development, invention, innovation, and
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their utilization. It shall likewise give priority to science and technology education,
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training, and services. It shall support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant
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scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the country's
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productive systems and national life.
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Sec. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are as follows:
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a) To achieve a higher standard of science, technology, and innovation (STI)
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to contribute to the development of the economy and society and to the
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improvement of the welfare of the nation through prescribing the basic
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policy requirements for the promotion of SIT and comprehensively and
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systematically promoting policies for the progress of STI; and


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b) Through R&D, to come up with new products and technologies, solve 
pressing national problems, increase productivity, generate new 
knowledge and improve capability in new and emerging technologies. 
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:
a) 
Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA)~ an 
outcome-based agenda where all research and development (R&D) 
programs and projects to be funded by the government are envisioned to 
contribute to the attainment of the majority of government's key result 
areas, particularly responding to poverty reduction and empowerment of 
the poor and vulnerable; rapid, inclusive, and sustained economic growth; 
and integrity of the environment and climate change adaptation and 
mitigation;
b) 
High-tech Equipment - any equipment using the most advanced and 
developed machines and methods.
c) 
Publicly-funded Technology - any technology the development or 
generation of which was funded, in part or in full, using government 
money or resources;
d) 
Research and Development - any systematic and creative work 
undertaken in the physical, natural, mathematical, and applied sciences 
by using methods in order to increase the stock of knowledge in these 
fields to devise new applications;
e) 
Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) - Science is the systematic 
way of acquiring knowledge through observation and experimentation 
whereas technology is the practical application of science. Innovation is 
the creation of new ideas that results to the development of new or 
improved products, processes, or services which are then spread or 
transferred across the market;
f) 
Technology licensing - a mode of technology transfer whereby a licensor 
(technology generator or owner) authorizes a licensee to use the 
technology under certain agreed terms and conditions;


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g) 
National Innovation Council (NIC) - a policy advisory body, established by
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virtue of the Philippine Innovation Act, mandated to formulate, develop,
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implement and monitor the country's innovation goals, priorities, and
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long-term national strategy.
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Sec. 5. The Science for Change Program (S4CP) and Utilization Policy
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Framework. -The formulation of the S4CP is anchored on the Harmonized National
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R&D Agenda that is regularly updated based on the needs of the time.
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a) In order to achieve the objectives of this Act, the following S&T programs
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of DOST shall be expanded;
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i. 
Health Self Sufficiency and Responsiveness to Public 
Health
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Emergencies
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ii. Renewable Energy (RE) Systems & Bioenergy Technologies
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iii. Functional Materials for Alternative Energy Sources and 
Energy
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Conversion and Storage
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iv. Nuclear Science for Energy, Health, Agriculture and Industry
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V. Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, and Genomics
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Vi. Climate and Environment Sciences
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vii. Nutrition and Food Security and Safety
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viii. Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Productivity
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ix. Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Development
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X. Transport Solutions
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xi. Industrial/Manufacturing/Mining Productivity
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xii. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
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xiii. S&T Services for the Production Sector
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xiv. Metrology, Calibration and Standards
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XV. Technology Transfer and/or Commercialization
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xvi. Human Resource Development for STI
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xvii.Nurturing a Culture of Science
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b) The following new programs shall also be included in the Science for
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Change Program:
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i. 
Defense and Security R&D
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ii. Space Science and Technology


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iii. ICT Development, Electronics, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity
iv. Strengthening of R&D and S&T Services in the Regions through 
Infrastructure and Human Resource Development
V. S&T for Creative, Tourism, and Services Industries 
vi. New and Emerging Technologies
Sec. 6. Major Strategies of the Science for Change Program. - There shall be 
Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of Research and Development 
Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness.
a) 
Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER). - The NICER Program shall 
be implemented to address the discrepancy in access to R&D funding 
among the regions. Through the program, qualified Higher Education 
Institutions (HEIs) in the regions shall be provided with grants so they can 
undertake quality research directed at promoting regional development 
with their existing capabilities and resources. A proposed NICER should 
be unique, a collaborative project between HEIs, and must be duly 
endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) to ensure its socio­
economic impact in the region.
b) 
R&D Leadership Program (RDLead). - The RDLead program shall be 
implemented to help develop and strengthen further the research 
capabilities of the academe, research and development institutions 
(RDIs), and other government line agencies nationwide. To this end, 
RDLeaders who are local S&T experts with strong leadership and 
innovative policy proficiencies shall be engaged to train, and direct and 
support their R&D goals. Depending on the R&D needs of the academe, 
RDIs, and line agencies, an RDLeader shall be engaged through 
application, screening, and evaluation by the National Research Council of 
the Philippines (NRCP). NRCP shall be the implementing agency of the 
RDLead Program.
c) 
Coiiaborative R&D to Leverage the Economy (CRADLE) for RDIs and 
Industry. - The CRADLE Program shall be implemented to enable 
technological advancement and innovation of local companies and to 
support the growth of the Philippine Innovation ecosystem. Through the


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program, the academe and/or RD, in partnership with a Filipino company, 
shall undertake research and development to improve the company's 
products, processes, and services to become more competitive in their 
respective industries. Beneficiary-companies under this program must 
provide at least 20% counterpart funding and commit to adopt the 
technology that will be developed. This way, research outputs from the 
academe are directly translated commercially to the market.
d) 
Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry. - The BIST Program
shall be implemented to provide financial assistance to Filipino private 
companies for the acquisition of strategic and relevant technologies so 
they can undertake their R&D. The financial assistance, which may only 
be used to purchase high-tech equipment or to secure technology 
licensing and/or patent rights, shall be refunded to DOST at zero percent 
interest.
Sec. 7. Formuiation and Submission of the Science for Change Program (S4CP) 
Plan. -The DOST shall formulate the five-year Science for Change Program plan in 
coordination with other relevant government agencies, including State Universities and 
Colleges and representatives from the private sector undertaking R&D. The Secretary 
of DOST shall submit to the President the Science for Change Program plan for 
approval within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
A successor S4CP plan shall be formulated and submitted for approval by the 
President at least three (3) months prior to the expiration of the existing S4CP plan.
Sec. 8. S4C Program Management Office (PMO). - The Program Management 
Office for the Science for Change Program (PMO-S4CP) shall be created under the 
DOST- Office of the Undersecretary for R&D. The PMO shall ensure the effective and 
efficient implementation of the Science for Change Programs. It shall perform 
coordinating and Secretariat functions required in the accomplishment of the program 
objectives, as well as promote the various programs. The initial staffing structure and 
complement of the PMO shall be submitted by the DOST to the DBM.
Sec. 9. The Harmonized National R&D Agenda. - The DOST, in consultation 
with government research institutions and other agencies concerned, shall formulate 
a harmonized national research and development agenda (HNRDA) and a program for


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technology adoption for the government. The proposed agenda shall be submitted for
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approval by the National Innovation Council. All publicly funded R&D projects, twenty
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million pesos (P20,000,000.00) and above, shall be certified by the DOST as to
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alignment with the HNRDA.
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The HRNDA shall be directly related to the priorities under the Philippine
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Development Plan.
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The DOST shall submit to the DBM, the Speaker of the House of
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Representatives, and the President of the Senate of the Philippines, either in printed
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form or by electronic document, a copy of the approved HNRDA. The Secretary of
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Science and Technology and the Agency's web administrator or his/her equivalent
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shall be responsible for ensuring that the approved HNRDA is posted on the Agency's
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website.
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Sec. 10. Mandatory Adoption of Publicly Funded Technologies. - Mandatory
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adoption of publicly funded and generated technologies whenever feasible and
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practicable shall strictly be implemented by all government entities and
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instrumentalities. All national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned-and-
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controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local
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government units (LGUs) performing science and technology development projects
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shall adopt publicly-funded technologies.
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Sec. 11. Science for Change Program Fund (S4CPF). - There is hereby created
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the Science for Change Program Fund to be used exclusively for the implementation
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of the projects and activities under the S4CP. The S4CPF shall be administered by the
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DOST in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and auditing
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rules and regulations. The S4CPF shall be sourced from the following:
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a) The initial amount of ten billion pesos (P10,000,000,000.00) to be taken
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from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and other funds/savings from
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GAA of the preceding year, in case the GAA is approved before this law
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is enacted. The yearly budget for Science for Change Program shall double
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yearly until it reaches 2% of the Government Appropriations Act (GAA)
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budget. Such amount shall be released to the DOST after the effectivity
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of this Act;
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b) Royalty income produced under the S4CP; and


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c) Loans, contributions, grants, bequests, gifts, and donations, whether from
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local or foreign sources. Provided, that acceptance of grants, bequests,
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contributions and donations from foreign governments shall be subject to
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the approval of the President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary
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of the DOST and Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
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The Secretary of DOST, with the approval of the NEDA and, subsequently,
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the Department of Finance (DOF) is hereby granted the authority to enter
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into loan agreements with foreign financial institutions.
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Sec. 12. Appropriations. - The sum of Ten Billion Pesos
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(PhP10,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as initial operating fund for the
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projects and activities under the S4CP. Thereafter, the amount needed for the
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operation of the SCP shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 13. Annuai Report. - The DOST shall annually submit a report on the
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implementation of the S4CP to the Office of the President and to the Committee on
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Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the
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Philippines.
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Sec. 14. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - The DOST shall formulate the
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Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the effective implementation of this Act
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within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity thereof.
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Sec. 15. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 16. Repeating Ciause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Officiai Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,