' J  
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
-sj 
~ 
1 
I 
* 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 17, provides: 
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. 
The continued growth and prosperity of the high technology industry is important to the 
continued prosperity of the economy. An adequate supply of highly skilled technology workers 
is essential for the advanced technologies and business entities. Unfortunately, there is a shortage 
of information technology workers and workers in other high technology industries. In the 
absence of a concerted effort by business entities, the government, and educational institutions, 
the shortage of information technology workers will continue to be a problem. 
Hence, this bill seeks to provide for various investments in technology education in order 
to mold highly skilled information technology workers.* 
' This bill was re-filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUSLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR VARIOUS INVESTMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Technology Education 
Capital Investment Act of 2007.’’ 
SECTION 2. National Science Foundation Education Programs. - There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as 
“Secretary”) such sums as may be necessary to conduct, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Department of Education, Culture, and Sports, informal science and math education programs. 
The informal science and math education programs conducted shall promote the 
understanding of science and technology through voluntary, self-directed, and life-long learning 
opportunities by fostering community-based and institutional math and science education 
programs. In such programs, the Secretary may give priority to providing for organizations, 
projects, or programs that provide inquiry-based and hands-on scientific learning opportunities 
for students at pre-kindergarten through secondary education levels. 
SECTION 3. Hunds-On Student Training (H, 0. S. T.) Partnership Grunts. - 
(A) In General. - The Secretary of Trade and Industry may make start-up grants to 
institutions of higher learning to develop industry-sponsored internship programs that provide 
opportunities for undergraduate engineering students to receive hands-on training at local 
businesses. 
1 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
(B) Priorities. - Special emphasis shall be given under this Section to those programs 
that - 
(1) Demonstrate a long term financial commitment from industry participants for 
initiation and long-term operation of the program; 
(2) Involve extensive input and participation by all industry participants; 
(3) Adequately financially compensate student participants; and 
(4) Encourage technology education. 
(C) Restrictions. - 
(1) Not more than one (1) grant shall be awarded to an entity under paragraph (A). 
(2) Awards under paragraph (A) may be applied to expenses related to the 
creation of the programs described in that subsection, including the recruitment of 
businesses or organizations to participate in such programs. 
(D) Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Trade and Industry such sums as may be necessary for grants under this section. 
SECTION 4. Technology Worvorce Commission. - 
(A) Definitions. - In this Act: 
(1) Business Entity. - The term ‘business entity’ means a firm, corporation, 
association, partnership, consortium, joint venture, or other form of enterprise. 
(2) Commission. - The term “Commission” means the Technology Workforce 
Commission established under paragraph (B). 
(B) Establishment of Technology Worvorce Commission. - 
(1) In General. - There is established a commission to be known as the 
Technology Workforce Commission. 
(2) Membership. - 
(a) Composition. - The Commission shall be composed of twenty (21) 
members to be appointed as follows: 
(i) Eleven (11) members shall be appointed by the President, of 
whom five (5) shall be individuals who are officers or employees of 
2 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
appropriate executive agency or department and the rest shall be 
individuals employed in high technology business entities. 
(ii) Five (5) members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, who shall be members of Congress. 
(iii)Five (5) members shall be appointed by the Senate President, 
who shall be members of Congress. 
(b) Date. - The appointments of the members of the Commission shall be 
made by the date that is thirty (30) days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies. - Members shall be appointed for 
the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its 
powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 
(d) Initial Meeting. - Not later than thirty (30) days after the date on 
which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission 
shall hold its first meeting. 
(3) Meetings. - The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. 
(4) Quorum. - A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. 
(5) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. - The Commission shall select a 
chairperson and vice chairperson from among its members. 
(C) Duties of Commission. - 
(1) Study. - 
(a) In General. - The Commission shall conduct a thorough study of all 
matters relating to the shortage of technology workers. 
(b) Matters Studied. - The matters studied by the Commission shall 
include an examination of - 
(i) The causes of shortage of technology workers; 
(ii) Possible solutions to address the shortage referred to in clause 
(i); and 
3 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 . 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
@)The relative efficacy of programs in the Philippines and foreign 
countries to provide for an increase in the number of technology workers, 
with special emphasis on programs that provide for secondary education 
or postsecondary education in a program other than a four (4) year 
baccalaureate program, including associate degree programs and graduate 
degree programs. 
(2) Public Hearings. - As part of the study concocted under this subsection, the 
Commission shall hold public hearings concerning the issues referred to in clauses (a) 
and (b) of subparagraph (1). 
(3) Existing Information. - To the extent practicable, in carrying out the study 
under this subsection, the Commission shall identify and use existing information related 
to the issues referred to in the clauses (a) and (b) of subparagraph (1). 
(4) Report. - Not later than one (1) year after the initial meeting of the 
Commission, the Commission shall submit a report to the President and the Congress 
which shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the 
Commission, together with its recommendations for such legislations and administrative 
actions as it considers appropriate. 
(5) Facilitation of Exchange of Information. - In carrying out the study in this 
subsection, the Commission shall, to the extent practicable, facilitate the exchange of the 
information concerning the issues that are the subject of the study among - 
(a) Officials of the government and political subdivisions thereof; and 
(b) Educators from local institutions of higher education and secondary 
schools. 
(D)Powers of the Commission. - 
(1) Hearings. - The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such 
times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 
considers advisable to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) Znformationfrom Agencies. - The Commission may secure directly from any 
department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry 
4 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
1s 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
2s 
26 
27 
28 
out the provisions of this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the 
head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission. 
(3) Postal Sewices. - The Commission may use the mails in the same manner and 
under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Government. 
(4) G$s. - The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of 
services or property. 
(E) Commission Personnel Matters. - 
(1) Compensation of Members. - Except as provided in paragraph (E)(2) of this 
Section, each member of the Commission who is not an officer or an employee of the 
government shall serve without compensation. All members of the Commission who are 
officers or employees of the government shall serve without compensation in addition to 
that received for their services as officers or employees. 
(2) Travel Expenses. - The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of 
agencies under existing laws, rules or regulations, while away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission. 
(3) StafJ: - 
(a) In General. - The Chairperson of the Committee may, without regard 
to civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director 
and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the 
Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an executive director shall 
be subject to confirmation by the Commission. 
(b) Compensation. - The Chairperson of the Commission may fix the 
compensation of the executive director and other personnel in accordance with 
Civil Service laws and regulations. 
(4) Detail of Government Employees. - Any government employee may be 
detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without 
interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. 
5 


8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
(F) Termination of Commission. - The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 
ninety (90) days after the date on which the Commission submits its report under this subsection. 
(G) Authorization OfAppropriations. - 
(1) In General. - There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to the Commission to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) Availability. - Any sums appropriated under the authorization contained in 
this section shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
6