TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. no.„S16
Senate
0{ till' ! l3r/>
25 AUG-4 PI :34
RECEiVcOB'i.
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE FOR 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS, THEREFOR
CHANGE PROGRAM AND
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 10, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that "Science and 
technology as 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, xxx"
The proposed measure aims to institutionalize the Department of Science and 
Technology's (DOST) Science for Change (S4C) Program, which supports both new 
and expanded efforts in research and development (R&D) as well as human resource 
development (HRD).
At its core, the S4C Program promotes the Accelerated R&D Program for 
Capacity Building of R&D Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness. This includes 
four key components: (1) Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER), (2) R&D 
Leadership (RDLead), (3) Collaborative R&D to Leverage the Philippine Economy 
(CRADLE), and (4) Business Innovation through Science and Technology (BIST) for 
Industry.
Once enacted, the measure will strengthen science, technology, and innovation 
(STI) across the country, under the leadership of the DOST. It highlights how greater 
investment in R&D can contribute to economic growth and help address urgent


national and global challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and public 
health emergencies.
The Science for Change agenda is straightforward, it seeks to make the 
Philippines more self-reliant, globally competitive, and better prepared to use scientific 
research and innovation in solving real-world problems with knowledge-based and 
evidence-driven solutions.
The bill also calls for increased funding for research and development (R&D) in 
the country. Under Administrative Order No. 018, Series of 2020 issued by the 
Department of Science and Technology, from 2009 to 2013, the R&D expenditures as 
a percentage of the GDP increased from 0.11% to 0.14%. In the Philippine 
Development Plan 2017-2022, the annual targets for R&D expenditure as a percentage 
of GDP are set at 0.2% in 2017, increasing to 0.5% by 2022. However, these are still 
far from the global average of 2.04% and the UNESCO recommendation of 1% for 
developing countries.
Accordingly, the proposed measure seeks to institutionalize DOST's Science for 
Change Program to address the inadequacies in the field of research and development, 
such as the lack of funding, shortage of workforce, and weak organizational structure.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 816
Senate
o( tijp S-X'- ’ , i Ap
25 AUG-4 PI 35
RKCEIV'ZD a-;
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE FOR 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS, THEREFOR
CHANGE PROGRAM AND
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic 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."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to the State's policy declared under
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the Constitution that science and technology are essential for national development
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and progress, and in pursuit of excellence in the field of science, technology, and
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innovation (STI), the State must accelerate the development of STI in the country by
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significantly increasing relevant investments, expanding existing STI initiatives,
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creating new programs, developing of human resources in STI, and by focusing on
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capacity building of research and development institutions.
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Sec. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are as follows:
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1. To achieve a higher standard of STI and contribute to the development
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of the economy and society;
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2. To improve the welfare of the nation by prescribing comprehensive and
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systematic policies for the promotion of STI; and
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3. To encourage innovation and creativity among Filipinos, develop new
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products, technologies, and solutions to pressing national problems, and
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gain a competitive edge in research and development.


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Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:
a. Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) refers 
to an outcome-based agenda that identifies all the research and 
development (R&D) programs and projects to be undertaken and funded by 
the government to support the attainment of the key result areas of the 
government's development objectives, particularly those aiming to reduce 
poverty and empower the poor and vulnerable; induce rapid, inclusive, and 
sustained economic growth; promote the integrity of the environment, and 
enhance the country's climate change adaptation and mitigation capability.
b. High-tech equipment refers to any equipment using the most advanced and 
developed machines and methods.
c. National Innovation Council (NIC) refers to the policy advisory body 
established under Republic Act No. 11293, or the Philippine Innovation Act, 
mandated to formulate, develop, implement and monitor the country's 
innovation goals, priorities, and long-term national strategy.
d. Publicly-funded technology refers to any technology, the development or 
generation of which was funded in part or in full, using government money 
or resources.
e. Research and Development (R&D) refers to any systematic and creative 
work undertaken in the physical, natural, mathematical, and applied 
sciences by using methods to increase the stock of knowledge in these fields 
to devise new applications.
f. 
Science refers to the systematic way of acquiring knowledge through 
observation and experimentation.
g. Technology refers to the practical application of science.
h. Innovation refers to the creation of new ideas that result in developing new 
or improved products, processes, or services that are then spread or 
transferred across the market.
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Technology licensing refers to a mode of technology transfer whereby a 
licensor such as a technology generator or technology or intellectual


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property owner, authorizes a licensee to use the technology under specific
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agreed terms and conditions.
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Sec. 5. Science for Change Program (S4CP) and Utilization Policy Framework.
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- The formulation of the S4CP is anchored on the Harmonized National R&D Agenda
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(HNRDA), which shall be regularly updated based on the needs of the time.
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a. To achieve the objectives of this Act, the following Science and Technology
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(S&T) programs of the DOST shall be expanded:
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1. Health self-sufficiency and responsiveness to public health
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emergencies;
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2. Renewable energy systems & bioenergy technologies;
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3. Functional materials for alternative energy sources and energy
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conversion and storage;
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4. Nuclear science for energy, health, agriculture, and industry;
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5. Biotechnology, nanotechnology, and genomics;
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6. Climate and environment sciences;
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7. Nutrition and food security and safety;
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8. Agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries productivity;
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9. Natural resource management and sustainable development;
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10.Transport solutions;
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11.Industrial, manufacturing, or mining productivity;
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12. Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation;
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13.Science and Technology (services for the production sector);
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14. Metrology, calibration, and standards;
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15.Technology transfer or commercialization;
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16. Human resource development for science, technology, and
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innovation; and
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17. Nurturing a culture of science.
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b. The Science for Change Program shall also include the following new
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programs:
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1. Defense and security research and development;
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2. Space science and technology;
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3. ICT development, electronics, and artificial intelligence;


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4. Strengthening of research & development and science & technology
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services in the regions through infrastructure and human resource
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development;
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5. S&T for the creative, tourism, and services industry; and
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6. New and emerging technologies.
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Sec. 6. Major Strategies of the Science for Change Program. - The S4CP shall
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focus on the Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of Research and
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Development Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness which is composed of four
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(4) programs, namely:
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a. Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER). - The NICER
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Program shall be implemented to address the region's discrepancies in
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access to R&D funding. Through the program, grants shall be provided
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to qualified higher education institutions (HEIs) in the regions so they
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can undertake quality research directed to promote regional
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development with their existing capabilities and resources. A
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proposed NICER should be a unique and collaborative project between
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HEIs and must be duly endorsed by the Regional Development Council
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(RDC).
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b. R&D Leadership Program (RDLead). - The RDLead program shall be
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implemented to help develop and strengthen further the research
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capabilities of the academe, research, and development institutions
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(RDIs), and other government line agencies nationwide. To this end,
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RDLeaders who are local S&T experts with strong leadership and
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innovative policy proficiencies shall be engaged to train, direct, and
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support R&D goals. Academic institutions, RDIs, and other agencies may
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engage the services of an RDLeader through a screening and evaluation
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process conducted by the National Research Council of the Philippines
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(NRCP) based on their respective needs and specifications. The NRCP
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shall be the implementing agency of the RDLead Program.
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c. Collaborative R&D to Leverage the Economy (CRADLE) for RDIs and
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Industry. - The CRADLE Program shall be implemented to promote
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technological advancement and innovation in local companies and to


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support the growth of the Philippine innovation ecosystem. Through the
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program, the academe or RDI, in partnership with a Filipino company,
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shall undertake research and development to improve the company's
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products, processes, and services to become more competitive in their
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respective industries. To ensure that the market commercially utilizes
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research outputs from the academe, beneficiary companies under this
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program must provide at least twenty percent (20%) counterpart
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funding and commit to adopting the technology their R & D Partner shall
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develop.
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d. Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry. - The BIST
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Program shall be implemented by the DOST to provide financial
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assistance to Filipino private companies for the acquisition of strategic
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and relevant technologies so they can undertake their R&D activities.
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The financial assistance shall be used solely for the purchase of high-
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tech equipment or to secure technology licensing or patent rights and
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shall be refunded to the DOST without interest.
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Sec. 7. Formuiation and Submission of the Science for Change Program (S4CP)
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Plan. - The DOST shall formulate the five-year S4CP Plan in coordination with other
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relevant government agencies, including state universities and colleges, and
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representatives from the private sector undertaking R&D. The Secretary of DOST shall
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submit to the President, for approval, the Science for Change Program Plan within
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ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
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A successor S4CP Plan shall be formulated and submitted to the President for
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approval at least three (3) months prior to the expiration of the existing S4CP Plan.
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Sec. 8. S4CP Program Management Office (PMO). - The Project Management
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Office for the Science for Change Program (PMO-S4CP) shall be created and placed
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under the supervision of the Office of the Secretary of the DOST. The PMO shall ensure
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the effective and efficient implementation of the Science for Change Programs. In
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addition, it shall perform coordinating and Secretariat functions and promote the
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various S4CP programs. The Secretary of the DOST shall formulate the staffing pattern
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of the PMO in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
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and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission.


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Sec. 9. The Harmonized National R&D Agenda. - The DOST shall, in
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consultation with government research institutions and other agencies
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concerned, formulate a Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA) and a program
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for technology adoption for the government in accordance with the priorities of the
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Philippine Development Plan.
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The proposed HNRDA shall be submitted to the National Innovation Council for
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approval. The DOST shall certify that all the publicly funded R&D projects form part
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of the HNRDA and are included under the annual General Appropriations Act.
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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 an equivalent officer
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shall ensure that the approved HNRDA is posted on the agency's website.
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Sec. 10. Mandatory Adoption of Pubiidy-Funded Technologies. - All publicly-
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funded and generated technologies, whenever feasible and practicable, shall be
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utilized by all government entities or instrumentalities. All national
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government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, state
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universities and colleges, and local government units conducting science and
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technology development projects shall adopt publicly-funded technologies.
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Sec. 11. Science for Change Program Fund (S4CPF). - All donations,
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contributions, grants, bequests, or gifts, in cash or in kind, for the S4CP shall be placed
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into a fund to be known as the Science for Change Program Fund: Provided, That,
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acceptance of grants, bequests, contributions, and donations from foreign
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governments shall be subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines, upon
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recommendation of the Secretary of the DOST and the Secretary of the Department
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of Foreign Affairs.
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Sec. 12. Appropriations. - The initial amount for the implementation of this Act
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shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DOST. Thereafter,
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such funds as may be required for the implementation of this Act shall be included in
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the annual General Appropriations Act.


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Sec. 13. Annual Report. - The DOST shall submit an annual report on
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the implementation of the S4CP to the Office of the President and the Committee on
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Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred
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eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOST shall formulate rules and
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regulations for its effective implementation.
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Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected
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shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,