FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OP THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. No. 2 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Government policies in the country have been inclined to vary from one administration to 
another. Attached to this is merely the absence of systematic policy research that can facilitate 
the formulation of government policies as well as the strategies necessary to implement them. 
In public governance, leaders should consider not only affairs that are confined within their 
terms as elected public officials: More importantly, they must focus on long-term planning and 
strategic concepts in relation to the country’s welfare. Thus, there should be a special group - a 
team of experts doing research work and formulating sound national policies - assigned to carry 
out strategic studies for the benefit of the country. 
The strengthening of policy research and strategic studies on the country is extremely urgent. In 
anticipation of the remarkable changes the country is bound to experience, both nationwide and 
worldwide, it becomes more necessary to define how our national and international policies 
should advance. 
This bill assigns the formulation of strategic policies to the Center for International Relations and 
Strategic Studies. This bill also proposes for the expansion of functions of the said center, by 
including researches on matters of national and economic security. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought 
c--.. 
TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND 
STRATEGIC STUDIES TO INCLUDE RESEARCH AND FORMULATION OF 
STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SECURITY 
POLICIES 
Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Expansion of the Center fop International Relations and Strategic 
Studies. - The Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies is hereby 
expanded to include research and formulation of strategic options for national and 
economic security policies in its operational scope and activities. 
SEC. 2. General Objectives. - The Center’s general objectives are as follows: 
1) To enhance understanding by the executive and legislative branches of 
fundamental, current, and emerging domestic and international issues by assisting the 
government in formulating policy and strategic perspectives thereon; 
2) To undertake studies of domestic and international, political, economic, 
military, socio-cultural, and technoscientific significance in an inter-discipline and 
integrative manner; 
3) To carry out such other programs and projects as may contribute to the 
attainment of its mission. 
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SEC. 3. Specific Objectives. - 
1) Examine Philippine foreign and domestic policy issues and identify problems 
in their conceptualization, formulation and implementation, 
2) Assess social, economic, political and security developments and trends in our 
country and in various parts of the world and help formulate appropriate policy responses 
and strategies. 
3) To study the experience of other governments and ten (10) nations insofar as to 
draw lessons from them and/or anticipate their repercussions on the Philippines. 
4) To examine the global presence of Filipino nationals and their impact upon our 
national development and foreign relations and help project constructive policies in this 
regard. 
5 )  To develop expertise in area studies as well as resource bases on international 
relations, economic security and national development to serve the long-term needs of 
our country. 
6 )  To develop networks and information dissemination among various sectors in 
Philippine society and counterpart organizations in the international community for the 
above purposes and as a contribution to the enhancement of global understanding and 
cooperation. 
SEC. 4. Divislom. - The Center shall have the following Divisions under it: 
1) The Strategic Studies Division, which shall conduct long-term and 
comprehensive studies on major strategic global issues and their probable impact on the 
Philippines; 
2) The International Relations Division, which shall undertake studies on 
Philippine bilateral and multilateral relations; 
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3) The National Policy Issues Division, whch shall concentrate on studies dealing 
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with national concerns in the political, econoinic and security areas; 
4) The Cultural and Scientific Policy Studies Division, which shall deal with 
studies regarding national concerns in the socio-cultural and technoscientific fields; and 
5 )  The Library, which shall serve as the information repository of the Department 
and the Institute. 
SEC. 5. Research Fellows. - There shall be designated research fellows to 
conduct and direct research work and strategic studies in the various functional/area 
programs consistent with their disciplines and expertise individually or collegially. They 
are to be commissioned by the Center to conduct studies or to serve as project 
directors/consultants for in-house studies. 
Depending on the nature and scale of the project, fellows recruited as consultants 
will be paid monthly honoraria for the duration of the project, Alternatively, a 
memorandum of agreement may be signed between the fellow or the agency he 
represents and the Center for needed studies. 
The Center shall hire research consultants and commission projects in special 
cases where the in-house staff has no technical capability or where other individuals or 
institutions have expertise. 
SEC. 6. Coancil of Advisers. - The Center shall organize a Council of Advisers. 
It will be composed of eminent scholars and practitioners from government and non- 
government institutionslentities that maintain units engaged in policy research and 
strategic studies. 
The Council shall be consulted regularly by the Center on the research agenda. Its 
member-entities will be entitled to copies of regular CESS publications and access to the 
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Center’s library and data bank. In employing visiting research fellows, the Center shall 
give priority to researches and analysts of the Council’s member-entities if found 
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to clearance. 
qualified. In return, the member-entities will link up with the CIRSS information network 
and grant the Center’s research fellows access to their indexed reference materials subject 
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provisions not affected thereby. 
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SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees and executive orders inconsistent 
herewith are hereby modified or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and enforceability of other 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval and publication 
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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