NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
s. No. 512
•22 JUL 13 P 2 *08
RtCEIVrD B'i,
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES AND INCENTIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARKS (STPs) IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II Section 17 of the Constitution stipulates that, "The State shall give 
priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster 
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human 
liberation and development" Further, Article XIV Section 10 states that, "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."
The country adopted a National Science and Technology Plan (NSTP), 
2002-2020 under the leadership of the Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST). NSTP focuses on building technological self-reliance. Pursuant to this, 
centers of excellence In the field of biotechnology, nanotechnology, genomics, 
semiconductors and electronic design were developed. Parallel to these efforts, 
various science parks were also established in the different parts of the country 
which includes the Laguna Technopark in Bihan, Laguna; Science City of Munoz in


Nueva Ecija; Cebu IT Park in Cebu City; Nuvali TechnoHub in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; and 
the U.P. South Technopark, U.P.-Ayala Land TechnoHub, and the DOST-PEZA Open 
Technology Business Incubator, ail in Quezon City. These science parks serve as a 
hub of research and development of various Industries and technologies.
The International Association of Science Parks (lASP) defines "science park" 
technology park", "technopole" or "research park" as "an organization managed by 
specialized professional, whose main aim is to increase the wealth of its community 
by promoting the culture of innovation and the competitiveness of its associated 
business and knowledge-based institutions. To enable these goals to be met, a 
science park stimulates and manages the flow of knowledge and technology 
amongst universities, R&D institutions, companies and markets; it facilitates the 
creation and growth of innovation-based companies through incubation and spin-off 
processes; and provides other value-added services together with high quality space 
and facilities."
Silicon Valley in the United States of America was a forerunner in the 
development of science parks. It was once a poor region when the first science and 
technology park was established in Stanford University which served as a base of 
skilled science research funded by the government. It then flourished into a global 
center of Information technology, innovation and research and is now recognized as 
a model of research parks and technology centers.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 
Organization (UNESCO), there are more than 400 science parks around the world, 
more than 150 of which are in the USA, 111 in Japan and around 100 in China.
Recognizing the great potential of science and technology parks in promoting 
technology-based industries and in line with our commitment to Sustainable 
Development Goal 9 which is to "build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable 
industrialization and foster innovation", this measure proposes to establish guidelines 
and incentives for the development of Science and Technology Parks (STPs) in every


region of the country to encourage and support the establishment of more STPs. 
The government shall provide fiscal and non-fiscal incentives that will enable the 
STPs to develop and contribute to the locality's and country's economic 
development.
In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended.
RAMOI^ONG REVILLA, 3R.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
‘22 JUL 13 P2 *08
SENATE
512
S. No.
RtCElVl D BV;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES AND INCENTIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARKS (STPs) IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
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 theScience and Technology
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Parks Act*.
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes science and technology
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as essential for national development and progress and shall give priority to research
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and development, Invention, innovation and their utilization, and to science and
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technology education, training and services. It shall support indigenous, appropriate,
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and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the
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country's productive systems und national life. Towards this end, the State shall
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develop a national strategy for, and incentivize the building of a knowledge-based
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economy anchored on a national workforce that is well-equipped with 21st century
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skills, through the establishment of Science and Technology Parks throughout the
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country.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms as used in this Act shall
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mean:
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a) Digital Transformation means the strategic adoption or use of digital
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technologies to transform services or businesses, through replacing non-


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digital or manual processes with digital processes, tools and solutions in 
order to improve productivity, deliver better user experiences, manage 
business risk and control costs;
b) E-readiness (electronic readiness) is a measure of the degree to which 
a country is prepared to partake in electronic activities and, thus, benefit 
from ICT in education;
c) Innovation refers to the creation of new ideas using new or existing 
technologies that results in the development of new or improved 
products, processes, or services, which are then spread or transferred 
across the market;
d) Research Parks are master-planned property and buildings designed 
primarily for private and public research and development facilities, high 
technology and science-based companies, and support services;
e) Science Park refers to all property development that is designed to 
support the clustering of knowledge-based enterprises in order to 
commercialize science and technology. Science parks aim to foster the 
development and growth of knowledge-based economies by bringing 
together scientific research with governmental organizations and their 
business support and development programs In one physical location;
f) Science and Technology Park (SIP) encompasses any kind of high 
technology cluster such as technopolis, science park, science city, cyber 
park, industrial park. Innovation center, research and development 
(R&D) park, university research park, research and technology park, 
science and technology park, science city, science town, technology 
park, technology incubator, technology park, technopark, technopole 
and technology business Incubator run by an organization managed by 
specialized professionals whose main aim Is to increase the wealth of its 
community by promoting the culture of innovation and the 
competitiveness of its associated businesses and knowledge-based 
institutions;


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g) Technology Business Incubator is a facility designed to help startup
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technology-based businesses by providing them with the necessary
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resources, services and support needed during the development stage.
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Sec. 4. Development of a National Ecosystem. - To leverage science,
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technology and Innovation (STE) which are the major pillars of developing economies
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In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the State shall ensure the development of a
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national ICT ecosystem that will lead towards the Sustainable Development Goal
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(SDG) 9 which is building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable
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industrialization, and fostering Innovation by 2030. To achieve the foregoing goal, the
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State shall:
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a) Promote, develop, and grant subsidy and Incentives for the development
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of science and technology parks or science parks, which shall have
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research and development centers, technology business incubators and
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other innovation centers;
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b) Promote, develop, and support capacity building activities to upgrade
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the knowledge of managers of science and technology parks across the
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country;
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c) Provide and make available technical assistance, policy advice and
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support for the establishment of centers for science park development
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around the country;
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d) Develop, promote, encourage, and ensure mechanisms and platforms
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for the integration of a developmental approach into science, technology
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and innovation, organizing capacity building, providing policy advice,
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facilitating the exchange of experience and best practices, and
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conducting research and problem solving in science parks and
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technology incubator development.
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Sec. 5. Government Support for Science and Technology Park Projects. - In
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the Identification of science and technology park projects that can be qualified for
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government support, the following essential precursory conditions must be in place:
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a) The key tenants or the anchor tenants, such as national research
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institutes which are committed to staying in the STP;


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b) A management team with all the skills necessary for managing the STP
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can be assembled;
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c) A strong science based in the surrounding areas of the STP is already
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available;
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d) The city or area where an STP is located Is attractive to talented people
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and students;
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e) An entrepreneurial culture is available in the city or country where an
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STP is to be located; and,
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f) Finance, especially seed and venture capital, is available in the area
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where an STP is to be located.
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Sec. 6. Incentives and Support for the Creation of Science and Technoiogy
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Parks.Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Trade
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and Industry (DTI), the Department of Information and Communications Technology
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(Dicn, the Department of Finance (DOF), and the Department of Public Works and
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Highways (DPWH) shall collaborate to create specific mechanisms to identify the
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extent of Incentives and support for the creation of STPs, which can be under any of
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these models:
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a) Fully-government owned either through the national government or any
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of Its agency, or a local government unit, a state university, or a
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government corporation;
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b) Publicly-owned or majority of ownership pertains to government with
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private sector counterpart at less than fifty percent (50%);
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c) Privately-owned or more than fifty percent (50%) ownership of the
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private sector with government counterpart or subsidy;
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d) Fully owned by the private sector with assistance from the government
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in various forms such as seed money, technical support, and others.
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Sec. 7. Technoiogies for Business Commerciaiization through the Science and
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Technoiogy Parks. - The DOST in consultation with the DTI and the DICT shall
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identify, list, and recommend for prioritization of the technologies that are ideal and
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desirable for business commercialization through the STPs.


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Sec. 8. Design and Plans of Science and Technology Parks. - The DOST, DICT
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and DPWH shall prepare the design and plans of the proposed science and technology
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parks in every location and shall propose project timelines for each.
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Sec. 9. Regional Science and Technology Parks. - The DOST in consultation
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with DTI shall design, prepare, develop, and recommend various components of a
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science and technology park in every region, subject to the following:
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a) Effectiveness of the incubation and Innovation programs to be offered
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by an STP, Ideal for the generation of innovative business Ideas, growth
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of entrepreneurial spirit, and responsiveness to global market demand;
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b) List of potential key anchor tenants of the STP which shall eventually
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constitute the backbone of the STP and help ensure that the STP can
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deliver Its most Important designated functions;
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c) Possibility of clusters and spin-offs of universities Into science and
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technology parks.
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Sec. 10. Proof of Social Benefits. — If the national government or any local
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government unit, or through a government corporation or state university, finances
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the development of and STP or provides other incentives such as tax exemption or
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reduction, the said STP shall sufficiently prove that it provides social benefits such as
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advanced research and development (R&D) or boosts economic development In the
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region, province, city or municipality where it shall be located. The economic or social
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contribution of an STP should be measured and monitored by a framework to be
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developed by DOST In consultation with the National Economic Development Authority
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(NEDA).
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Sec. 11. Incentives. - A qualified STP developer and/or locator, whose
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activities may form part of the Strategic Investments Priority Plan, shall be entitled to
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such fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. Including but not limited to income tax holiday,
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special corporate income tax, enhanced deductions and such incentives as may be
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provided under the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
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Local government units are encouraged to provide for their own set of
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incentives according to their taxation power.


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Sec. 12. Promotion of Science and Technoiogy Parks. - The DOST and DICT 
shall regularly develop, guide, assist or spearhead programs, projects and activities to 
promote science and technology parks.
Sec. 13. Linkages to Existing Projects and Initiatives Anchored on Innovation. 
- The DOST, DTI and DICT shall ensure appropriate linkages between existing 
projects and initiatives anchored on innovation and STP closest to their location or 
area of interest and shall assist stakeholders In pursuing linkages.
Sec. 14. Impiernenting Ruies and Reguiations. - The DOST, DICT, DTI, DOF, 
and DPWH, In coordination with other industries concerned, shall issue the necessary 
rules and regulations for the effective Implementation of this Act within a period of 
ninety (90) days after its effectivity. The non-promulgation of the implementing rules 
and regulations shall not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.
Sec. 15. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to effectively carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the 
concerned government agencies. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.
Sec. 16. Repealing Cause. - Any law, presidential decree or Issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary 
to or Inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or 
amended accordingly.
Sec. 17. Separability Cause. - If any provision or part hereof is held Invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication In the Officiai Gazette ov in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,