THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF TEW REPUBLIC 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
OF THE PHILIPPZNES 
!5 
MAY -4 A9 :46 
I ‘ ’  
‘ 
S E N A T E  
: P ,  
1 
S.B. 
29 
Introduced by Senator Magsaysay, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to Stephane Garellie of the Switzerland-based International Institute 
for Management Development (IMD), the world is moving into a knowledge-based 
economy and as a consequence, nations begin to develop policies to entice the best 
talents into their country. “The battlefield for world competitiveness is moving to Bytes 
and Brains. In a Damhian world, the winners are indeed the fastest and fittest to adapt,” 
she said. 
In a recently released report, the United Nations Development Program’s Human 
Development Index listed the Philippines among developing countries that are “dynamic 
adopters” in terms of technological achievements and capacities. In the u ” s  
new 
technology advancement index (TAI), the Philippines was at the no. 44 slot among 72 
countries (both developed and developing economics) surveyed under ranked no. 22 in 
UNDP’s list of 30 leading exporters of IT and high technology products exceeding Israel, 
Hong Kong, Brazil and Indonesia. 
With the country’s base of high technology products for exports and of high level 
technical skills now much sough abroad, the govement’s vision of a newly 
industrialized economy has strong foundations. If these skilled individuals continue to 
find opportunities abroad more attractive, the vision may suffer the same fate that other 
good intentions in previous government encountered. 
? 
In the 2003 World Competitiveness Yearbook of the IMD, it noted that the 
Philippines has been one of the few countries losing its technically trained people to the 
United States. The IMD report said that between 1994 and 1995, some 57,000 Filipinos 
who hold higher education degrees were “imported” by the U.S. The average is nearly a 
thousand highly skilled individuals per year. 
Every year, more than 800,000 Filipinos leave for jobs abroad, accordjng to data 
from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and the share of 
persons with higher education or with sophisticated technical skills has been growing in 
recent yeius. The Philippine economy benefits substantially from these through dollar 
remittances of Filipinos employed abroad. 
However, although remittances are a 
significant source of foreign exchange, the money is typically spent on consumer goods 
and adds little to an economy’s productive capacity. 
’’. 
The proposed bill aims to tap the expertise of the overseas Filipino professionals 
to help accelerate economic development of the cotmtry in order to meet the goals for the 
next millennium. It provides for the methodologies by which these overseas Filipinos 
may effectively assist in Philippine development, notably in the areas of transfer and 


exchange of technology. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that their desire to come back 
to their land of birth is coupled with a desire to contribute their share in the development 
and progress of the country. Hence,,by allowing them to practice in the Philippines, we 
give them an opportunity to render service to the country where their skills and expertise 
will be most needed and welcomed. 
Early cognizance of this bill is earnestly sought. 


THJRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Magsaysay, Jr. 
S.B. No. 
1993 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE TRANSFER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND 
THE PRACTICE OF PROFESSION IN THE PHILIPPINE BY OVERSEAS 
FILJPINO PROFESSIONALS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Policy Declaration - Science and technology is essential in 
national development and progress. In pursuance of this objective, the government shall 
enlist the participation of Filipinos overseas, particularly high- level scientists, engineers, 
information and communications technology experts, and other professionals in various 
technical fields, and shall provide proper incentives and programs so as to secure their 
services in priority development areas of the public and private sectors, with the view of 
promoting information exchange and contributing to the modernization and 
industrialization of the country. 
SEC. 2. Incentives - Given the significance of upgrading technologies and 
productivity of the people in pursuit of national economic development, the Government 
shall develop and provide adequate incentives to Filipino expatriates whose expertise and 
training can play a vital role in the industrialization efforts of the country. Among the 
incentives to be provided shall be, but not limited to, the following: 
a. Exemption from payment of the travel tax for grantee; 
b. Availment of the privilege granted under Section 105(g) of the Tariff and 
Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) which provides for the 
conditionally-fiee importation of wearing apparel, articles of personal 
adornment, toilet articles, portable tools and instruments, theatrical costumes 
and similar effects which are necessary and appropriate for the wear and use 
of such persons but not for barter, sale or hire; and 
c. Financial support for research and development projects approved by the 
Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology. 


SEC. 3. Implementation - The Department of Science and Technology and the 
Department of Foreign Affairs shall develop and implement appropriate measures to 
ensure attainment of this Act, to include the Balk Scientist Program under Executive 
Order No. 143, as certified by the Department of Science and Technology. 
SEC. 4. 
Practice of Overseas Professionals in the Phiippines - The 
Professional Regulation Commission, may upon recommendation of the concerned 
Professional Regulatory Board, authorize the registration without examination, and the 
issuance of a certificate of registration and a professional license to any Filipino, whether 
or not he has lost his citizenship when he was overseas, who has been in the practice of 
his profession in a foreign country or state, subject to the provisions of this Act. 
B 
The application for registration without examination, and the issuance of a 
certificate of registration and a professional license may also be granted to any Filipino 
who, prior to his departure abroad, has already been granted certificate of registration and 
a professional license, by appropriate Philippine professional regulatory board to practice 
his profession, but said registration or license has expired while he was overseas. 
SEC. 5. Qualifications - 
For the registration without examination and the 
issuance of a certificate of registration and a professional license under the Act, the 
applicant must submit proofthat: 
a. He is a present or former Filipino citizen, as shown by his birth Certificate or 
other documentation as may be required; 
b. He is at least twenty seven (27) years of age; 
c. He is registered and holder of a valid certificate of registration and/or valid 
professional license to practice his profession issued by the appropriate 
Philippine regulatory commission prior to his departure abroad, or by a 
government body concerned in a foreign country or state whose requirements 
for registration or licensing are substantially the same as those required and 
contemplated by Philippine laws; 
d. He is a person of good moral character, he has not been convicted of any 
crime involving moral turpitude nor sanctioned administratively by any 
government instrnmentality including the body that regulates the practice of 
his profession. 


SEC. 6. Requirements - The applicant shall file an application under oath 
stating his personal circumstances, his intention to practice in the Philippines and the 
office address that he will be using, and his undertaking to abide by all regulations 
pertaining to the practice of the profession in the Philippines. 
SEC. 7. 
Implementing Guidelines - 
The Department of Science and 
Technology, Department of Foreign Mairs, and the Professional Regulation 
Commission, in coordination with other concerned government agencies, shall within 
ninety (90) days upon the approval of this Act, promulgate the necessary guidelines to 
put into effect the purposes and provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause - All laws which are inconsistent and contrary to the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
complete publication in the Qfficial Gazette or at least two (2) newspaper of general 
circulation, whichever comes first. 
Approved,