Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2879

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.

AN ACT
CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The present turn of events in the international scene has made it even more
imperative the conduct of policy research and strategic studies. Such events range
from domestic and international, political, economic and others of profound significance
which have raised numerous and remarkable challenges for the Philippines. Coupled
with advances in the technical field especially in communications, information and
transportation, this has emphasized the reality of the times which is the
interdependence of nations.

This brings to fore the fact that there will be intense competition for scarce
resources even though massive military confrontations against nations have become
unlikely. It has been predicted that the Asia-Pacific region will be an area of concern in
this regard,

In many parts of Asia, continued territorial conflicts may spark many interstate
tensions. As a result, some states continue to discreetly build vast arsenals of weapons
in preparation of another arms race and more importantly, to secure the safety of their
territories.


The contending claims of several states over a portion of the Spratly islands by
the South China Sea the Philippines included may result in armed confrontation if not
addressed diplomatically

In the country, we are beset by a continuing insurgency problem. The local
communist movement remains a clear and present danger to national security. On the
other side, we find the Moro Islamic Liperation Front (MILF), together with terrorist
organizations, like the break-away bandit group, Abu Sayyaf, whose activities continue
to shake the country's political stability

With all these concerns, there is clearly an urgent need to conduct scientific and
continued policy research and strategic studies to come up with concrete and
sustainable courses of action to address the country’s fundamental and critical national
concerns.

The proposed bill mandates the conduct of strategic study work which includes,
‘among other things, the

(1) conduct of strategic research on national and international concerns;
(2) formulation of various policy options on various national concerns; and

(3) recommendation of appropriate actions to support such policies and
strategies.

The bill also specifies that a selected expert/scholar-members group shall be
mandated to be the lead in the conduct of such strategic study work.

Given the importance of this measure, we therefore enjoin our colleagues to
support such measure and ensure its immediate passage into law.

y [>

DIOSDAD‘ APAGAL ARROYO GLORIA‘MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Second District, Pampanga

rt


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2879

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Institute for Strategic
Studies Act of 2013,”

SECTION 2. Establishment of the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS). - The
Institute for Strategic Studies, hereinafter referred to as the Organization is hereby
created and established as an institution to promote understanding of fundamental,
current and emerging domestic and international issues and to assist the government in
formulating policy and strategic perspectives on those issues. It shall conduct research
on fundamental national concerns in response to or in anticipation of the needs of
policy-making, conduct studies on matters of domestic and international political,
economic, military, socio-cultural and techno-scientific significance in an interdisciplinary
and integrative manner; identify strategies to serve the ends of policy, design programs
to effect coordinated and integrated work of other research institutes engaged in
strategic studies, undertake commissioned research work in collaboration with outside
entities/institutions consistent with its mandate; build and maintain a resource facility
and data bank; and carry out such other activities and projects as shall enhance the
mission of the organization.

SECTION 3. Powers of the Organization. — The Organization shall have the
following powers


a) Adopt, alter and use a corporate seal;

b) Take and hold by bequest, devise, gift, purchase or lease, either and
absolutely or in trust, for any of its purposes, any property, real or personal,
without limitation as to amount or value, to convey such property and to invest
and reinvest: any principal of the said Organization in such manner as shall best
promote its objectives;

©) Collect, receive and maintain a fund or funds and to apply the income and
principal thereof to the promotion of its aims and purposes hereinbefore set out;

d) Contact any obligation or enter into any agreement necessary or incidental to
the proper management of its corporate powers;

e) Engage in any activity, and exercise all the powers conferred by the laws upon
private or government-owned and controlled corporations; and

f) Exercise the general powers of a duly incorporated entity as set out in the
corporate code.

SECTION 4, The Board of Trustees. - The Organization shall be organized
functionally with the following components

1, There shall be a Board of Trustees composed of the Executive Secretary,
Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary of
Foreign Affairs, Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of Science and
Technology, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an
eminent representative from the private sector to be appointed by the President
of the Republic of Philippines and the President of the Organization;

2. The Trustees shall elect from among themselves the Chairman and Vice-
Chairman of the Board;

3. The Board of Trustees coming from the private sector may create an executive
committee of five trustees including its Chairperson, which shall have the
authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board of Trustees in between the
regular meetings of the said board. The Chair of the Board shall head the
executive committee. Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to
the Board of Trustees at its meeting

4. The trustees shall receive a per diem as may be authorized for every meeting
actually attended, in addition to reasonable transportation and representation
expenses.


5. The Board shall provide guidance to the policy Council on the thrusts,
objectives, policies, research, agenda, programs and other activities of the
organization.

SECTION 5. Policy Council, ~ There shall be a Policy Council, composed of an
Executive Director and five others as Members, all of whom shall be appointed by the
President of Republic of the Philippines from among the present members of the
Strategic Studies Group of the National Defense College of the Philippines, as presently
constituted, for a term of six (6) years. The Council shall have the following authority:

1. To formulate the thrusts, objectives, policies, research agenda, programs and
other activities;

2. To oversee, monitor and evaluate all research work and studies;

3. To designate Research Fellows with notable scholarship to do and or/direct
research work and strategic studies in various functionaVarea program of the
organization that are relevant to their areas of expertise;

4. To determine and fill up other positions in the Organization and fix the salaries,
honoraria, allowance and other emoluments of all Organizations

SECTION 6. Autonomy and Academic Freedom of the Organization. - The
Organization shall be an autonomous and self-governing institution governed by the
principle of academic freedom; it shall neither be organic nor be part of any government
instrumentality. It shall be attached to the Office of the President to facilitate its
budgetary and other administrative requirements and for the purpose of policy
coordination

SECTION 7. Assistance from Government Departments and Agencies, — To
assist in its functions, government departments, agencies, units or instrumentalities
shall allow the Organization access to their official files, records, data and other
documents, provided such access is consistent with the requirements of confidentiality.

SECTION 8. Exemptions. — Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the
contrary, appointments to the research and administrative staff of the Organization may
be on a full-time basis and shall be exempt from the requirements and restrictions of the
Civil Service and retirement laws, other laws, rules and regulations on position-
classification and salary standardization and Section Two Hundred Fifty Nine (259) of
the Revised Administrative Code; Provided, That any government retiree employed in
the Organization shall not be required to reimburse or refund any gratuity received from
the government nor shall any pension or annuity to which he is entitled be suspended or
reduced on account of his employment in the Organization.

SECTION 9. Services of Outside Agencies and of Private Sector. — The
Organization may, for the purpose of research, field work and other activities, obtain

3


and pay for the services of the personnel of any agency of the Philippine Government
and/or private sector to perform research of field work and such other activities as may
be needed.

SECTION 10. Endowment Fund. -

1. An Endowment Fund shall be created to provide for nonrecurring expenditures
of the Organization For this purpose, the amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos
(P500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from any funds in the National
Treasury. The Endowment Fund shall be administered as a trust funds with the
Board of Trustees thereof, provided that the principal of said endowment shall
not be subject to impairment and provided further that the earnings thereof, shall
constitute a trust fund available for non-recurring and unprogrammed
expenditures of the Organization

2. Any or all savings of the Organization shall form part of the trust funds
provided in Section 9, above.

SECTION 11. Appropriation. - There is hereby appropriated the amount of Five
Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) out of any unappropriated funds in the
National Treasury for such initial requirements as capital outlay and infrastructures of
the Organization. Thereafter, the Congress of the Philippines shall include as part of its
budgetary appropriations the amount of at least Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) to
finance the recurring and operational expenditures of the Organization.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision
of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other section or provision, not
otherwise affected shall remain valid.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation

Approved,