FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2057 
" 
Introdnced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Thousands of Filipino students have acquired advanced degrees and specialized 
trainings in foreign countries through various scholarship grants either of local or foreign 
funding. While these local and overseas scholarship programs have produced a sizeable 
number of high-level professionals for the country, these programs have also resulted in a 
significant brain drain for our country. Moreover, some of the returning scholars have not 
found the opportunity for the maximum utilization of newly acquired knowledge and 
training. As a result, many of them leave the country in search of greener pastures abroad. 
It is imperative that the Philippines should devise a program for overseas education 
and training for the brightest and most promising Filipinos who are already employed (or 
self-employed) in a branch of science or technology along identified priority areas. Such a 
program shall affect the pooling together of all foreign and local (public or private) 
sponsorship intended for further education, enrichment and training of exceptionally able 
and highly motivated and employed Filipinos. 
The proposed legislation endeavors to provide the Philippines a continuing supply 
of highly trained leaders for industry, research and academe. Under the bill, the maximum 
utilization of returning talents will be coordinated under a single governing body where all 
scholarships under foreign and local sponsorship are pooled together. 
Approval of the bill is, thus earnestly requested. 
£vr/frv--
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 2057 
~, . 
. . ,.-
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
AN ACT 
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CREATING AN ADVANCED STUDIES DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM FOR EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This bill shall be known as "The Pensionado Act of 
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2010." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. - Human resources development is essential for 
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economic development and progress. In the pursuit of economic development and 
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progress, the state shall give priority to the creation of a critical mass of elite professionals 
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who shall take the lead in harnessing science, technology and related disciplines towards 
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accelerating the productivity of the country's human resources. 
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Consonant with this trust, it is hereby declared a policy of the state to devise a 
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program for exceptionally able and highly motivated employees, preferably age 30-40, 
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from the government, the private sector and/or the self-employed to undertake adiYanc~d 
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studies in a branch of science, technology or related fields of learning on which depends 
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the development and progress of the country. As such, it shall provide for fellowships to 
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enable them to pursue advanced studies or research in their field of expertise. 
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The state shall develop a critical mass of first-rate specialist in various disciplines 
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and areas of specializations vital to national development to form a collective national 
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"think tank who shall place continuously their knowledge and skills at the service of the 
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nation, be it in industry, the academe or the highest policy-making levels of government, 
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with the government taking the lead in harnessing their knowledge and skilJs for the 
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greatest good of the country. 
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SEC 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the folJowing terms are 
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hereunder defined accordingly: 
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a. "Post-graduate" - a formal degree course program of training/research 
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requiring at least a Master's Degree for entry; a student pursuing such program; 
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b. "Advanced studies" - a post-graduate problem-oriented program of studies 
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andlor research, not necessarily leading to a degree, undertaken for further 
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specialization or advanced knowledge in a specific field of a study, or to 
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acquire specialized knowledge andlor skills in a particular area of science or 
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technology; 
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c. "Pension ado" - a Filipino citizen selected and supported by the Philippines 
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government under this program to undertake advanced studies in selected 
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institutions of higher learning or recognized research centers, in fields relevant 
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to the officialJy declared priority areas for development. 
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SEC. 4. Establishment of a Program. - There shall be established under the 
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Commission on Higher Education, hereafter referred to as CHED, in coordination with the 
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non-government organizations (NGOs), the private sector and other government agencies, 
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namely, the National Economic and Development authority (NEDA), the Department of 
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Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the 
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Department of Education (DepED), felJowship program to be called as the "Pensionado 
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Program" for Filipinos employed in the government and the private sectors and those who 
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are self-employed. 
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The Program shall pool together all felJowships, scholarships, training grants 
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sponsored or extended by foreign government, agencies and other bodies, as well as by 
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local agencies and organizations, whether public or private, intended for advanced studies 
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in international centers of advanced learning, scholarship and research. 
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SEC. 5. Establishment of a National Secretariat; Functions and Composition -
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There shall be established a National Secretariat, hereafter referred to as the Secretariat, 
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with the following functions: 
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1. To identify, and assists in negotiations with, sponsors (foreign and local, public 
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and private) offellowshlps, scholarships and grants; 
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2. To provide assistance (0 the selection Panel in accomplishing its work; 
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3. To provide the Pensionados continuing assistance from the time of selection 
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thru the time of their return to the country, including assistance for the 
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productive utilization of their newly-gained expertise; 
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4. To serve as the administrative arm ofthe government for the program; 
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5. In general, to promulgate and implement the policies and guidelines governing 
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the Program. 
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The National Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Officer, with the rank 
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of Assistant secretary, to be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines 
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upon the recommendation of the CHED. Members of the Secretariat shall consist of 
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representatives from the National Economic and Development Authority (NED A), 
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Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and technology (DOST) 
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and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). These representatives shaH be 
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seconded to the Secretariat for a period of one year, subject to renewal every year. Service 
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rendered thereafter shall be considered as service in their prospective agencies and shall be 
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considered as part of their performance for promotions purposes. 
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SEC. 6. Number of Pensionados and Length of Grant. - There shall be selected 
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twenty-four (24) fellows annually -.three (3) fellows for each priority discipline/industry 
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field of the eight (8) vital disciplines or areas of specializations identified by the CHED.in 
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consultation with the NEDA as frontiers or new areas essential for pushing the economic 
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and social development thrusts of the country. The scholarship shall be for one year only. 
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SEC. 7. Selection Process. - There shall be a Selection Panel under the Secretariat 
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consisting of three (3) university presidents and two (2) eminent members frpm the 
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academe to be appointed by the CHED. They shall serve on a staggered basis for the 
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purposes of continuity and consistency, each for a term of three (3) years. The Selection 
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Panel shall make the final selection of the Pensionados from among the nominees from the 
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academe, industry and research centers. The integrity and objectives of the program are 
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paramount considerations for the panel in making the selection. 
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SEC. 8. Qualifications. - In order to qualify for the Fellowship Program, the 
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applicant must be: 
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a. 
A Filipino citizen; 
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b. Gainfully employed; 
c. A college degree graduate, with honors; 
d. With demonstrated leadership and proven exceptional performance in his/her 
present work; 
e. Enthusiastic in undergoing further training; 
f. 
Willing to sign a contract requiring him/her to return to his/her job or in another 
capacity after one year of training. 
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SEC. 9. Place of Study - The Pensionados shall be sent to a foreign country well-
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known for its advanced stage in particular discipline or area of specialization. Training and 
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education may be an academic institution, research and development center (R&D) or a 
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major industrial establishment with an R&D program. It mayor may not lead to an 
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advanced academic degree. 
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SEC. 10. Assistance to Grantees - The Pensionado is entitled to the following 
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benefits: 
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a. One year leave with pay, including allowances and other benefits; 
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b. One economy round -trip air fare to and from the host country plus other travel 
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expenses required for foreign travel; 
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c. Clothing allowance to be determined by the Secretariat; 
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d. Monthly stipend while on study abroad, of such amount to be determined by the 
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Secretariat; 
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e. Books/instructional Material/Research allowance of such amount. to be 
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determined by the Secretariat; 
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f. 
Health, Travel and Insurance fees of such amount to be determined. by the 
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Secretariat. 
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SEC. 11. Program Funding. - The cost of each fellowship grant shall be shared by 
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the Pensionado's employer and the National Government. The employer pays the salary, 
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allowances and other benefits due the Fellow as employed during one year period of 
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advanced studies overseas while the National Government, thru the program, shall be 
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responsible for items No. b, c, d, e, and fas enumerated in Section 10 
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The National Government may also negotiate bilateral arrangements with hosts 
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governments, host universities, research institutions and corporations to enable our 
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scholars to stay abroad and continue their studies or training at a minimal cost to the 
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National Government. A sharing program can be established where the host government, 
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host-universities, research institutions and corporations can pick up part of the expenses of 
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the scho lars while he is abroad. 
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SEC. 12. Service Obligation - Immediately upon completion of the studies or 
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training, a fellow shall be required to return to his job or in another capacity approved by 
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the Secretariat and serve on a full-time basis for a minimum period equivalent to twice the 
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period covered by the fellowship grant. In addition, the scholar shall be required to hold 
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seminars or training sessions for employees from the government and the private sectors 
lOon topics related to the course or training he has completed. Any recipient of the program 
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who has not completed his course shall reimburse the Fellowship the grant received or 
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render service to the sponsoring agency or company for a period equivalent to the period 
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covered by the fellowship grant. Any Pensionado who violates the service obligation 
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imposed under this section shall reimburse the sponsoring agency or company and the 
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National Government of the Fund assistance received under this act in full or in part as the 
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case may be. 
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SEC. 13. Mechanism for Utilization of Returned Fellows - There shall be 
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established and developed a National Network of Specialized Institutes for Advanced 
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studies in universities selected by CHED in consultation with the DOST and other 
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appropriate agencies to be determined by the Secretariat to provide returned scholars an 
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office, laboratory, library and conference facilities for their continuing activities. The 
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Institute shall also serve as a place for an Exchange Program and Collaborative resean;h 
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among local and international scientist and scholars in priority areas of research and 
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development. 
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The National Government may, thm CHED andlor the National Secretari\lt, 
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negotiate bilateral agreements with foreign government, universities, research institutions 
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and corporations, public and private, to effect exchange of scholars and scientists for 
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collaborative advanced studies, as well as to equip the Institute for purposes of benefit to 
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the cause of scholarly or scientific advancement and national development. 
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A sharing program may be established whereby the host government / university 'j 
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institution / corporation can pick up part of the expenses of the Fellow in pursuit ofhis/her 
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Fellowship. 
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SEC. 14. Appropriations - The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
• 
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implementation of this Act shall be drawn from the savings of the National Government. 
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Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation of the program shall be 
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included in the General Appropriations Act. The Program shall receive 2% from the share 
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of the DOST and 1 % from the share of the Philippine Youth Commission in the Bases 
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Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) proceeds. 
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SEC. 15. Transfer of other fellowship, scholarship and training grants - All 
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foreign and 10ca.lly sponsored fellowship, scholarship and training grants will be 
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transferred to the program for coordination. With respect to government employees who 
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may be affected by the transfer, the pertinent rules and regulations of the Civil Service 
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commission (CSC) shall apply. 
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SEC. 16. Rules and Regulations - Within ninety (90) days from the approval of 
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this Act, the Secretariat shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
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effective implementation of the provisions thereof. 
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or 
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portions thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 18. Separability Clause - In the event any of the provisions of this· Act is 
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declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected by such 
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declaration. 
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SEC. 19. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved, 
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