, 
, 
< 
SCllXlir 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
d}H1~r; 'If i~" ~vl'uhn~ 
Third Regular Session 
·15 
AUG-3 P3:18 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2882 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY 
OF SCIENTISTS TO INTERACT WITH POLICYMAKERS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 14, Section 12 provides: 
Section 12. The State shall regulate the transfer and promote the 
adaptation of technology from all sources for the national benefit. It shall 
encourage the widest participation of private groups, local governments, 
and community-based organizations in the generation and utilization of 
science and technology. 
Our country has been blessed with gifted scientists who have produced 
breakthroughs in many fields of sciences. The sad reality however is that many if not 
most of the scientists in our country do not have the necessary training and support to be 
able to communicate their findings to the policymakers who can put their work to good 
use. 
With the increasing presence of science and technology in public policy issues, a 
greater national effort needs to be made to train scientists to engage in the public 
dialogue. Graduate training programs in science and engineering often lack opportunities 
for students to develop communications skills that will enable them to effectively explain 
technical topics to nonscientific audiences. 
Providing training in communications skills development will ensure that locally 
trained scientists are better prepared to engage in dialogue on technical topics with 
policymakers and business leaders. Training scientists to interact with policymakers will 


" . 
improve accessibility to information and ensure that technical expertise is included in the 
public policy dialogue. 
This bill seeks to mandate the Department of Science and Technology to 
encourage programs that will train our scientists to communicate the results of their 
endeavors to the policymakers. I 
t '.~ ~..-. .o.~ 
~IlUAM DEFE1\\SOR SA-NTI¥O 
1 This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
2 


, 
0 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2882 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'st'mltr 
d}tfHf of t~~ ~t'nvbl'~ 
'15 AUG-3 P3:18 
HECEIVED BY:~ 
TO PROVIDE FOR COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY 
OF SCIENTISTS TO INTERACT WITH POLICYMAKERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House a/representatives a/the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Scientific 
2 
Communications Act." 
3 
SECTION 2. Program. - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), 
4 
shall establish a program to make grants to institutions to provide communications 
5 
training to graduate students to improve the ability of scientists to interact with 
6 
policymakers. Such program shall be integrated with other national programs for the 
7 
training of scientists. 
8 
SECTION 3. Award. - Grants shall be awarded under this Act on a competitive, 
9 
merit-reviewed basis, in a manner so as to ensure relevance to public policymaking. 
10 
SECTION 4. Reporting. - A recipient of a grant under this Act shall transmit to 
11 
the DOST an annual report describing the operations of the program funded by the grant. 
12 
SECTION 5. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
13 
amount as hereby necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
14 
Treasury. 
1 


, , 
1 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
2 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
3 
provisions hereof. 
4 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
5 
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
6 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
7 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
8 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
Ifldp3lJuly20 15 
2