EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S E N A T E
s. No. 
685
Oil, 
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■19 
J'JL 22 P3--32
Introduced by Senator AqiiiIino“Koko” Pitiientel III
AN ACT
CREATING A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 
OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIV, Section 10 of the Constitution provides that science 
and technology are essential for national development and progress, and 
accordingly mandates the State to give priority to research and 
development, invention, innovation, and their utilization. Despite this 
constitutional fiat, the Philippines spends less than 0.14% of its gross 
domestic product (GDP) on Research and Development (R&D). This is 
the lowest R&D expenditure in Southeast Asia; in contrast Singapore 
spends about 2% of its GDP on R&D.* 2 The global average for R&D 
expenditures is 2.04% of GDP and for developing countries, the United 
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 
suggests an R&D expenditure of at least 1% of GDP.3
'Department of Science and Technology (DOST), “Compendium of Science & Technology Statistics,"DOST 
PLANNfNG AND EVALUATION SERVICE, S&T RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION 
DIVISION 
(2015), 
page 
14, 
available 
at:
http://www.dost.gov.pli/phocadownload/DownIoads/Statistics/Compendium%20ST%20Statistics%20as%20of%20
December%202015 .pdf
2Supra at Note 2.
3Jose Ramon G. Albert, Donald B. Yasay, and Raymond Gaspar, Examining Processes in Research and 
Development at the Department of Science and Technology (2015).


According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 
Development (OECD), “[b]oth economic theory and empirical analysis 
underline the key role [R&D] in economic growth. . . R&D produces 
technology. . . to spur economic growth, address societal concerns such 
as health and environment, and ultimately improve living standards.”4 It 
is therefore essential that the Philippines increase its spending on R&D.
This bill requires the government to directly fund research and 
development proposals through the creation of a Research and 
Development Council (R&D Council), headed by the Secretary of the 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), that will select 
proposals for government funding. In a sense, this bill is an expansion of 
the DOST’s current Grants-in-Aid Program, with the assurance of 
greater and steadier funding for any research proposals accepted by the 
R&D Council.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is 
earnestly requested.
AQUILINO “KOKO” PIMENTEL III
4 OECD, “Tax Incentives for Research and Development: Trends and Issues,” OECD SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY (2002), available at. http://www.oecd.org/science/inno/2498389.pdf.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
6 8 5
o c v  
■*r 
&>■ 
I.
•19 
JUL 22 P3 :32
Introduced by Senator Aquilino uKoko” pfmentel HI
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AN ACT CREATING A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION I. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "R&D 
Act 0/2019. ”
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. — It is the poliey of the State, in 
accordance with the Constitution, to promote research and development 
in the Philippines, with the aims of boosting economic growth and 
improving the quality of life in our country. Towards this end, the State 
shall support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and 
technological capabilities, and their application to the country s 
productive systems and national life.
SEC. 3. Research ami Development Council. — There is hereby 
created a Researeh and Development Council (R&D Council) as an 
attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), 
chaired by its Secretary, which shall have the primary responsibility of 
determining which proposals should receive funding from the 
government. The other members of the R&D Couneil are the Secretaries 
of the Departments of Communications and Technology (DICT), 
Education (DepEd). 
Health (DOH), National Defense (DND),


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Agriculture (DA), Energy (DOE) and Trade and Industry (DTI), or their 
duly authorized representatives and a representative from the private 
sector to be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the 
R&D Council.
The R&D Council shall be supported by a technical support office, 
which composition and staffing shall be provided in the Implementing 
Rules and Regulations.
The R&D Council shall regularly publish the grants that it has 
approved and the results of any completed research, unless such 
information is deemed confidential. Such publications shall be furnished 
to the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee created pursuant to this 
Act. Confidential information, while not published, must be made 
available to the members of the Joint Congressional Oversight 
Committee.
SEC. 4. Grant of Funding. — The government shall directly fund 
research and development proposals submitted to it by Filipino citizens 
or Filipino entities, at the discretion of the R&D Council. At the start ot 
every year, the R&D Council shall publish requirements and criteria for 
proposals, specifying therefore priority areas depending on the urgent 
needs and programs of the Philippine government. The R&D Council 
shall accept proposals from all persons, whether publicly or privately- 
employed, and from all entities, whether government or non­
government.
Funding shall either be a full grant or in the form of a subsidy. 
Funding for a proposal shall be for a period of one (1) year but may be 
extended at the discretion of the R&D Council. The R&D Council may 
impose conditions on the grants, including but not limited to:
(1) 
Government ownership of any patentable invention that may 
result from the research;
(2) 
Government share in any financial gains that may result from 
the research; and


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(3) 
Confidentiality, particularly when the research is undertaken 
with access to sensitive government research and data.
SEC. 5. Monitoring and Reporting. — The R&D Council shall 
require all funding recipients to submit periodic accomplishment reports 
and shall, in turn, submit an annual status report to the Committees on 
Science and Technology of both Houses of Congress.
SEC. 6. Data Banking. — The R&D Council shall create and 
maintain a central databank of persons who have availed of the R&D 
funding pursuant to this Act to serve as directory and guide in promoting 
Filipino scientific research and development.
SEC. 7. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. — There is 
hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor 
the implementation of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of 
five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the 
Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
respectively. The Oversight Committee shall be co-chaired by a Senator 
and a Representative designated by the Senate President and the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, respectively. The Joint Congressional 
Oversight Committee shall convene at least once a year.
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) 
calendar days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOST, in coordination 
with the DICT, DepEd, DOH, DND, DA, DOE, and the DTI, shall 
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to effectively implement 
the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 9. Appropriations. — The amount of Fifty Million Pesos 
(PhP50,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial implementation 
of this Act and shall be charged against the Contingent Fund in the 
General Appropriations Act of the current year. Thereafter, such sums as 
may be necessary for the full implementation of this Act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act under the budget of


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the DOST. The appropriations for this Act shall be increased
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periodically and shall be valid for two (2) years.
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SEC. 10. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by 
such declaration shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, executive and 
administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the 
foregoing provisions are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 12. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,