EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
s.B. NO. lasn
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20 
FEB 17 P 4 :11
o{ tijp ^pcrrtaip
RECii . O B '  _
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT UPGRADING THE POSITION OF THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE 
AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICER INTO THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE 
DIRECTOR IN  THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6959, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Executive Order No. 128 series of 1987 established the Department of Science 
and Technology as the premier science and technology agency in the country 
charged with the mandate of providing central direction, leadership, and 
coordination of all science and technology activities in the country and 
formulating science and technology policies, programs, and projects in support to 
the national development.
In order to accelerate the application and transfer of benefits of modern science 
and technology to the people, the Provincial Science and Technology Center 
(PSTC) was created under Republic Act No. 6595, as an arm of the DOST in 
disseminating transfer technologies and provide technological support services 
for the development of small and medium enterprises in the rural areas. For 
almost three (3) decades, the PSTCs has been supervised by a rank and file 
employee with a rank of Senior Science Specialist with Salary Grade (SG) 19 and 
supported by two (2) -  three (3) plantilla staff.


Nonetheless, despite the lack of necessary resources, the PSTCs were able to 
deliver Science and Technology (S&T) services in their respective jurisdictions 
empowering and capacitating local communities with technology and by 
providing them with the appropriate skills and technical innovations that can aid 
in the development of communities.
Unfortunately, the DOST is lagging behind from other National Government 
Agencies (NGAs) in terms of the human resources complement of their 
respective provincial offices, which in said NGAs are headed by a Provincial 
Director at SG 26. While the DOST recognized the impact of RA 6959 had in the 
rural areas, they believe that it is high time that said law be amended in order to 
strengthen the existing PSTCs by converting these into Provincial S&T Offices per 
Civil Service Commission/Department of Budget and Management Index of 
Occupational Services (lOS), thereby enable them to empower more local 
communities through a more efficient delivery of Science and Technology 
Innovation.
This bill seeks to improve and strengthen the PSTCs in order that their mandate 
of providing S&T Innovations in the rural areas will create more sustainable 
sources of livelihood to more Filipino Families.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
MARIA LOURDES NATJCV S. BINAY
Senator^


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
o( tlir ^I'crrtnip
20 
FEB 17 P4:11
SENATE
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT
UPGRADING THE POSITION OF THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER INTO THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE DIRECTOR IN  
THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AMENDING 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6959, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Title. —  This Act shall be known as the "Provincial Science and
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Technology Officers Act".
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SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. —  It is the policy of the State to fast track the
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transfer of relevant and appropriate technologies and services to the rural areas
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particularly in the enhancement and development of technology based livelihood
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enterprises in the countryside.
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Pursuant to this policy, the Provincial Centers of the Department of Science and
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Technology (DOST) which are the principal instruments of technology transfer
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and development of technology based enterprises of the government in the rural
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areas are upgraded through this Act.
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SEC. 3. Provincial Science and Technology Officers. — The position of the Office
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of the Provincial Science and Technology Officers (PSTOs) headed by a Senior
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Science Research Specialist shall be upgraded to the rank of Provincial Science
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and Technology Directors in each province under the DOST with a Salary Grade
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of twenty-six (26). The Provincial Science and Technology Director shall have the
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following duties and responsibilities:
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(a) Formulate the Provincial S&T plan, programs, and projects designed to
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promote science and consciousness among the people in the province;
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(b) Implement and monitor the technology promotion and commercialization
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projects under the Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Upgrading
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Program (SETUP) of the DOST in the provinces;
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(c) Promote the adoption of the appropriate technologies by micro, small and
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medium enterprises(MSMEs) to improve operational efficiency and
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increase productivity and to harness the results of scientific researchers
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and innovations to produce new and competitive products;
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(d) Disseminate S&T related information and Research and Development
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(R&D) results through the conduct of trainings;
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(e) Maintain effective liaison with the public and private academic institutions
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and other government agencies engaged in scientific and technological
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research, education, and training:


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(0 Coordinate with local government units and academic institutions for the
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promotion of scholarship programs aimed to attract the science oriented
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students to pursue basic and applied sciences in order to broaden the S&T
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manpower-base in the province;
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(g) Coordinate with the public and private organizations in the implementation
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of manpower and institutional development programs in the province:
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(h)Act as focal person for the inter-agency meetings, conferences, and other
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coordinative activities in the province; Responsible for the over-all
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supervision of services and operations of the Provincial Science and
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Technology Center (PSTC);
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(i) Ensure that the quality management system is properly implemented and
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maintained in accordance with ISO 9001-2008 standard in all aspects of
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operations of the PSTC; and
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(j) Perform other related functions as may be assigned by higher authorities
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from time to time.
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SEC. 4. Qualifications of the Provincial Science and Technology Director. — The
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DOST in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management and Civil
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Sen/ice Commission shall formulate the necessary qualification standards
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commensurate to the upgraded position of the Provincial Science and
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Technology Director at Salary Grade twenty-six (26). The current PSTO holding


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the position for more than twenty (20) years, shall have preference in the
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selection for Provincial Science and Technology Director position.
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SEC. 5. Remuneration and other Benefits o f the Provincial Science and
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Technology Director. — The remuneration of the Provincial Science and
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Technology Director shall be equivalent to that of the same Salary Grade twenty-
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six (26) in the government service and shall be entitled to reimbursable
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representation and transportation allowance commensurate to his office and
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other benefits as prescribed by law.
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SEC. 6. Staff o f the Provincial Science and Technoiogy Office. —  There shall be a
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minimum of six (6) technical staff of the Provincial Science and Technology
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Office in addition to the Provincial Science and Technology Director and in
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addition of one non-technical officer. The DOST shall determine the level of
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these positions: Provided, That prescribed qualifications shall be in accordance
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with civil service laws and regulations.
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SEC 7. Appropriations. —  The funds necessary for the continuous and effective 
operation of the various offices established under this Act shall be included in the 
appropriations of the DOST in the annual General Appropriations Act.


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All fees and charges collected as a result of S&T services rendered by the PSTOs 
such as, but not limited to, metrological work and calibration services shall be 
used by the PSTOs in the enhancement of their capabilities and in the 
maintenance of their equipment and facilities.
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. —  Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act. The DOST, and other relevant government agencies, shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation 
of this Act.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. 
—  Should any provision herein be declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of 
this Act.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. —  This Act repeals or modifies accordingly pertinent 
provisions of Sections 2, 3, and 4 of Republic Act No. 6959 and any law. decree, 
order, rule, and regulation, executive order, proclamation, or other issuances or 
parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. 
—  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazzette or two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,