1 
1
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative CARLITO "Lito" S. MARQUEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure seeks to strengthen the National Research Council of the 
Philippine Islands (NRCP)  for the promotion of research work along scientific lines.   
It is without dispute that technical innovation and economic growth go hand in 
hand. This has been repeatedly demonstrated by our neighbors Japan, South Korea, and 
even Taiwan, whose substantial exports of electronic equipment, from handheld gadgets 
to robotics, resulted to the turnaround of their lethargic economies. By creating the NRCP 
through Act No. 4120 of the Ninth Philippine Legislature, the Philippines also sought to 
enhance the foundation of its scientific research. 
The NRCP is mandated with fostering links with local and international scientific 
organizations for improved cooperation in the development and sharing of knowledge, as 
well as promoting and supporting the fundamental research of Filipino scientists and 
researchers. It also offers advice on national policy based on scientific study and empirical 
data. 
During the Commonwealth period, the NRCP has effectively served its purpose by 
providing administrative support through policy advice and research along scientific 
lines. It had strong influence on the President and legislature through its significant and 
substantial inputs.  
The NRCP has been impacted by numerous legislation and executive orders during 
the course of its 89-year existence, shaping it into the organization it is today. In fact, it 
participated in the science provision during the 1935 Constitutional Assembly and in the 
providing legislative advice for the creation of agencies such as the Philippine Institute of 
Volcanology (Phivolcs) and National Science Development Board, formerly the present 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST).  
Unfortunately, according to recent reports from the United Nations Educational 
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Philippines still falls far short of the 
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recommended level of researchers, with only 106 researchers for every 1 million people 
(down from 189 researchers per million in 2013 reports), which is less than a third of the 
amount (380 researchers per million)1. 
In hopes to address the gaps in scientific development, this representation proposes 
an urgent overhaul of the NRCP by updating its mandate and expected output, as well as 
empowering the council through a revised organizational framework and additional 
funding. This is to effectively capacitate more Filipinos across regions to conduct research 
and that they become the State’s pool of research-scientists. It shall also extend technical 
assistance to both the legislature as well as local government units with evidence-based 
policy studies, including matters of national defense and security within and alongside 
scientific lines.  
The bill envisions a thriving Filipino scientific community that collaborates with 
our people and policymakers in the adoption of programs, systems, and laws for the 
benefit of Filipino citizens through a stronger and more efficient NRCP.  
Therefore, the immediate approval of this bill is highly sought. 
 
 
     
        ENGR. CARLITO "Lito" S. MARQUEZ 
        Chairperson, Committee on Science & Technology
 
1  UNESCO. (2021). UNESCO Science Report: The race against time for smarter development. 
https://www.unesco.org/reports/science/2021/en/dataviz/researchers-million-habitants 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH Congress 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE CARLITO “Lito” S. MARQUEZ 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE 
PHILIPPINES FOR THE PROMOTION OF RESEARCH WORK ALONG 
SCIENTIFIC LINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Research Council 
1 
of the Philippines Act. 
2 
3 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – In consonance with the provisions of 
4 
Section 10, Article XIV of the Constitution, which provides that the State shall give priority 
5 
to research and development, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to promote 
6 
research and science or evidenced-based policy legislation and government 
7 
administration. 
8 
9 
The State shall support the harmonization of the national research agenda, 
10 
including but not limited to the National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA), 
11 
disciplinary and multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary research for the 
12 
advancement of knowledge and the formulation of demand-driven policies for national 
13 
and local governance for the promotion of progress and public welfare.  It shall also 
14 
endeavor to decentralize research efforts to expand opportunities for training and 
15 
increase the funds available to researchers, scholars and scientists in the provinces that 
16 
will accelerate inclusive development. Empowering the researchers in the provinces will 
17 
narrow the disparity on the state of research between the National Capital Region (NCR) 
18 
and the provinces.  
19 
Government institutions, agencies and instrumentalities shall endeavor to 
20 
incorporate or embed evidence-based research or studies in the development and passage 
21 
of laws within their jurisdiction. 
22 
23 
The State shall provide support for the creation of a national repository and 
24 
clearing house in research; and registry of researchers and scientists. 
25 
26 
SECTION 3. Objectives. – The Council shall have the following purposes and 
27 
objectives: 
28 
29 
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a) Stimulate and support research in the mathematical, physical and biological 
1 
sciences, engineering, agriculture, medicine, social sciences, humanities and 
2 
the arts, with the objective of increasing knowledge, starting studies of 
3 
problems of the national defense and security, and contributing in other ways 
4 
to the public welfare; 
5 
b) Survey the larger possibilities of science, to formulate comprehensive projects 
6 
of research including but not limited to the National Integrated Basic 
7 
Research Agenda (NIBRA), and develop effective means of utilizing the 
8 
scientific and technical resources of the country to carry out these projects; 
9 
c) Promote cooperation in research in all the regions of the country and abroad 
10 
in order to secure concentration of effort, instill ethical standards, minimize 
11 
duplication, and stimulate progress; but in all cooperative undertakings to 
12 
give encouragement to individual initiative as fundamentally important to the 
13 
advancement of science; 
14 
d) Gather and collate scientific and technical information at home and abroad 
15 
as national repository, in cooperation with governmental and other agencies 
16 
and 
to 
render 
such 
information 
available 
to 
duly 
accredited 
17 
entities/agencies/corporations/persons; 
18 
e) Provide evidence-based recommendations and advise legislators in crafting 
19 
laws or plans that are of national and local importance geared towards solving 
20 
problems of the country.  
21 
f) Provide a national training program for researchers in the country and 
22 
promote the continuing total development of the Filipino scientist and 
23 
researcher as a professional and as member of the larger society; 
24 
g) Maintain a mapping of the research of its members to serve as guide for 
25 
research coordination in the country. 
26 
 
27 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. 
28 
a) Clearing House – a central institution or agency for the collection, 
29 
maintenance, and distribution of materials, information, etc. 
30 
b) Research – is the diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a 
31 
subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, applications, etc.  
32 
c) Repository – a place in which inventory of registered research and registry of 
33 
researchers and scientists in the country including researchers and scientists 
34 
of other National Research Councils in the ASEAN and other parts of the 
35 
world are maintained and preserved under the custody of a government 
36 
office. 
37 
d) Registry – is a record of document for registration entered in the appropriate 
38 
registry book. 
39 
e) Evidence-based – demonstrated through thorough or rigorous scientific 
40 
research to be effective 
41 
f) Capacity building – planned development whereby individuals and 
42 
organizations obtain, improve, and retain the skills, knowledge, tools, 
43 
equipment and other resources needed to perform scientific work 
44 
competently or to a greater extent (through acquisition, incentives, 
45 
technology, and/or training).  
46 
g) Human development – is defined as the process of enlarging people’s choices, 
47 
freedoms and opportunities and improving their well-being. A measurement 
48 
of achievements by humans through advancement of knowledge, biological 
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changes, habit formation or other criteria that displays changes of standard 
1 
of living over time. 
2 
h) Multiple disciplinary – involving two or more academic disciplines or fields 
3 
of study brought together to investigate a topic; may be multidisciplinary, 
4 
interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary 
5 
i) Frontier research – an undeveloped field of study; a topic inviting research 
6 
and development; usually addresses highly controversial issues in the 
7 
scientific community in the area being explored, deals with hard to answer 
8 
queries 
employing 
normal 
methodological 
approaches, 
employs 
9 
methodologies and concepts atypical for concerned field, takes unexpected 
10 
findings challenging dominant paradigm used, focuses on issues where 
11 
resolution is critical for confirmation or rebuttal of the prevailing paradigm, 
12 
and involves research with extreme degree of uncertainty or failure (high cost, 
13 
high risk of failure); and 
14 
j) National Research – refers to the inclusive quality of research and innovation 
15 
programs that involve the various disciplines in the sciences and humanities; 
16 
concerned with national or facets of national concern, and entailing 
17 
multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research and training. This aims to 
18 
achieve research, academic, as well as societal and economic impact. 
19 
 
20 
j 1. Academic impact refers to the contribution that quality research makes 
21 
to developments and advances, across and within disciplines, such as 
22 
advances in knowledge, method, theory, and application. 
23 
j 2. Societal and economic impact refers to the development and 
24 
contribution that quality research makes to society and the economy, 
25 
beneficial to individuals, their way of life, and to national development. 
26 
 
27 
 
SECTION 5. Powers. – The Council shall have the following powers: 
28 
a) Make its own organization, be incorporated, constituted, and declared a 
29 
corporate body by the name of National Research Council of the Philippines; 
30 
b) Adopt, alter and use a corporate seal; to sue and be sued in its corporate 
31 
name; 
32 
c) to adopt by-laws pertaining to membership, holding of annual meetings, 
33 
election of the Governing Board members, division into classes, and other 
34 
matters needful or usual in such institution; 
35 
d) Collect, receive and maintain a fund or funds from government 
36 
appropriations and from donations, grants, gifts, bequests, loans from 
37 
domestic and foreign sources, and to apply the income and principal thereof 
38 
to the promotion of its aims and purposes; 
39 
e) Own, manage and hold such real and personal property as shall be necessary 
40 
for the Council’s purposes; 
41 
f) Corollary to its purposes and objectives, to extend financial assistance to, 
42 
and enter into contracts of every kind and for any lawful purpose, with any 
43 
person, firm, association or corporation, domestic or foreign, or others in 
44 
which it has a lawful interest; 
45 
g) Shall have the authority to invest its funds in such undertaking as it may 
46 
deem beneficial or necessary to carry out its objectives; and 
47 
h) Promulgate rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be necessary to 
48 
carry out the purpose and functions of the Council. 
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1 
 
2 
SECTION 6. Membership 
3 
a) The regular members of the National Research Council shall be the 
4 
members duly elected by the Council upon nomination of the Governing 
5 
Board, the total to be determined from time to time by the Governing board 
6 
to meet the changing needs of science in the Philippines. Associate members 
7 
shall be elected by the Governing Board upon nomination of the Division. 
8 
b) Regular membership in the Council shall be limited to citizens of the 
9 
Philippines. 
10 
c) Upon invitation of the Governing Board, foreign scientists may be elected 
11 
honorary members without the right to vote, for outstanding research 
12 
contribution to the Philippines or in the international science and research 
13 
community. 
14 
d) Regular membership in the Council may be lost only by death, resignation, 
15 
or separation for cause. 
16 
 
17 
 
SECTION 7. Divisions. — 
18 
a) The Council shall be organized in divisions as follows: 
19 
I. 
Division of Governmental, Educational & International Policies 
20 
II. 
Division of Mathematical Sciences 
21 
III. Division of Medical Sciences 
22 
IV. Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences 
23 
V. 
Division of Biological Sciences 
24 
VI. Division of Agriculture and Forestry 
25 
VII. Division of Engineering and Industrial Research 
26 
VIII. Division of Social Sciences 
27 
IX. Division of Physics 
28 
X. 
Division of Chemical Sciences 
29 
XI. Division of Humanities 
30 
XII. Division of Earth and Space Sciences 
31 
XIII. Division of Veterinary Medicine 
32 
 
33 
b.)  The number of divisions and the grouping of subjects in Section 7a, may 
34 
be reviewed and modified by the Governing Board of the National Research 
35 
Council of the Philippines. 
36 
c.) The divisions of the Council, with the approval of the Governing Board, 
37 
may establish sections. 
38 
 
39 
SECTION 8. The Governing Board. – The affairs of the National Research 
40 
Council shall be administered by a Governing Board (GB), as public officials which shall 
41 
consist of two members-at-large, the Chairpersons of the Scientific Divisions, 
42 
Chairpersons of the Regional Clusters, and the DOST Secretary or his/her designate as a 
43 
voting member;  
44 
 
45 
 
The officers of the National Research Council shall consist of a President, Vice – 
46 
President, a Corporate Secretary and a Treasurer. The President of the National Research 
47 
Council or in case of his absence or inability to act, the Vice-President shall be the Chief 
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Executive Officer of the Council and shall preside over the meetings of the Council and of 
1 
the Governing Board. 
2 
 
3 
 
A majority of the members of the GB shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 
4 
of the business of the GB. 
5 
 
6 
SECTION 9. Functions and Responsibilities of the Governing Board. – 
7 
The Governing Board shall have the following functions: 
8 
 
9 
a) Formulate and adopt policies and measures for the management and 
10 
operation of the Council including the admission of its members; 
11 
b) Elect the President of the Council who shall come from among the elected 
12 
members of the Board; 
13 
c) Approve the staffing pattern of the Council; 
14 
d) Promulgate rules and regulations for the discharge of its powers and 
15 
functions and the internal operations of the Council; provided, that, the 
16 
Chair of the GB shall exercise the power to appoint, promote discipline or 
17 
remove the personnel of the Council; 
18 
e) Manage the financial affairs of the Council and approve the annual budget 
19 
of receipt and expenditures of the Council according to its requirements;  
20 
f) Delegate any of its powers and duties to the Executive Director or other 
21 
officials of the Council as it deems appropriate so as to expedite the 
22 
administration of the affairs of the Council; 
23 
g) Develop consortia and other forms of linkages with LGUs, institutions and 
24 
agencies, both public and private, local and foreign, and to appoint experts 
25 
or specialist as consultants, or visiting or exchange researchers, as the case 
26 
maybe; 
27 
h) Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative decision 
28 
making and transparency within the Council; 
29 
i) Approve, monitor and review periodically the institutional programs and 
30 
projects of the Council; and   
31 
j) Modify the number of divisions and the grouping of subjects to meet the 
32 
changing needs of science in the country. 
33 
 
34 
SECTION 10. President of the Council. – The President of the Council shall 
35 
be elected by the Governing Board and shall serve three (3) years full-time, with 
36 
possibility of re-election for another term. He shall be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 
37 
of the Council and shall receive compensation with a Salary Grade (SG) 29; and shall have 
38 
the following powers and duties; 
39 
 
40 
a) Prepare, for the approval of the GB, the staffing pattern of the Council, 
41 
which shall include the determination of the qualifications, and fixing the 
42 
number and compensation of such officials and personnel as may be 
43 
necessary for the proper discharge of the function of the Council; 
44 
b)  Have control and supervision over the personnel, staff, operations and 
45 
internal administration of the Council in accordance with existing laws and 
46 
rules and regulations promulgated by the Governing Board; 
47 
c)  Recommend to the GB such policies and measures which he/she deems 
48 
necessary for the effective exercise and discharge of the powers and 
49 
responsibilities of the Council; and 
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d)  Submit the annual report to the GB on the operations, the status of the 
1 
programs funded by, the financial condition of the Council, including a 
2 
recommendation for its budget for the ensuing year. 
3 
e) Represent the GB in national and international events and negotiations. 
4 
 
5 
SECTION 11. Transitory Provision. - The President shall continue in his 
6 
office until the expiration of the term for which he has been elected or appointed. In cases 
7 
of on hold over capacity, the President shall continue serving until his successor shall have 
8 
been elected and assumed office. 
9 
 
10 
SECTION 12. Executive Director. – The Governing Board shall appoint an 
11 
Executive Director who shall render full service as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of 
12 
the Council. The Executive Director shall have a term of three (3) years and is eligible for 
13 
reappointment based on merit.  
14 
 
15 
In case of vacancy by reason of death, compulsory retirement, resignation, removal 
16 
for cause or incapacity of the Executive Director to perform the functions of the office, the 
17 
Board shall designate an Officer-in-Charge within six (6) months from the date of 
18 
vacancy, pending the appointment of a new Executive Director. In case vacancy of the 
19 
office of the ED, the successor shall hold office only for the unexpired portion of the term. 
20 
 
21 
The salary of the Executive Director (SG28) of the Council is in accordance with 
22 
the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System, as amended, and other 
23 
pertinent budget and compensation law.  
24 
 
25 
SECTION 13. Duties of the Executive Director. -  The Executive Director of 
26 
the Council shall exercise the following powers and duties: 
27 
 
28 
a) To submit for the consideration of the Governing Board the policies and 
29 
measures necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Council; 
30 
b) To coordinate and administer the programs and projects of the Council; 
31 
c) To direct and supervise the operations and internal administration of the 
32 
Council, and to delegate administrative responsibilities in accordance with 
33 
the rules and regulations of the Council; 
34 
d) To submit an annual report to the Governing Board setting forththe work of 
35 
the Council during the year, its financial operations and status, and a 
36 
program and budget for the ensuing year, and 
37 
e) To exercise such powers and to discharge such functions as may be vested 
38 
in him/her by the Governing Board. 
39 
 
40 
SECTION 14. Research Fellows. – The Governing Board is hereby authorized 
41 
to engage its member-researchers to conduct specialized studies and researches of the 
42 
Council. Moreover, those engaged by the Council as in-house plantilla Researcher Fellows 
43 
shall be paid salaries determined by the Governing Board. 
44 
 
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SECTION 15. Government Contribution To Research Funding. – There 
46 
shall be an amount from the National Government not less than 10% of the Research and 
47 
Development (R&D) budget equivalent to that of the Department of Science and 
48 
Technology (DOST) in financing the research activities of the Council for national 
49 
application.  
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1 
SECTION 16. Local Government Units (LGUs) Research Fund. – The 
2 
initial funding requirements for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against 
3 
the current appropriations of municipalities, cities and provinces. Thereafter, such sums 
4 
as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the LGUs’ 
5 
yearly budgets under the General Appropriations Act. The State shall prioritize allocation 
6 
of all available resources to effectively fulfill its obligations specified under this Act. The 
7 
LGUs’ research budgets, which shall be at least one percent (1%) of their total budgetary 
8 
allocation, shall also be utilized for the programs and activities to implement this Act. 
9 
 
10 
SECTION 17. Satellite Offices. – In order to decentralize research and 
11 
empower the capacity of the regions to perform academic or pure research, and basic 
12 
researches with policy outputs, satellite offices shall be established in selected areas. The 
13 
Satellite Offices shall oversee the NRCP Regional Chapters which will be established in 
14 
order to address region-specific concerns and to promote a research culture. 
15 
 
16 
SECTION 18. National Training Institute. – In order to provide a human 
17 
resource component in the development of research capability of Filipinos, the NRCP 
18 
shall establish a National Training hub. It shall offer specialized and demand-driven 
19 
needs on research which will respond to gaps in knowledge, competencies, and 
20 
development. 
21 
 
22 
The National Government shall provide a one-time lump sum appropriation. The 
23 
Institute shall be financially sufficient, and its funds shall come from the following 
24 
sources: 
25 
a) Revenue generated from its operations; 
26 
b) Donations, bequests, and similar financial contributions; and 
27 
c) Others, such as investment and interest income. 
28 
 
29 
SECTION 19. Repository And Clearing House. - The NRCP shall serve as 
30 
“databank” or registry of researches and researchers/scientists in the country including 
31 
those from other National Research Councils in the ASEAN and other parts of the world.  
32 
 
33 
Likewise, the NRCP as the Clearing House shall endeavor as the central institution 
34 
or agency for the collection, maintenance, and distribution of materials for purposes of 
35 
identifying redundancy and duplication in the conduct of research to avoid wastage of 
36 
resources and efforts. 
37 
 
38 
SECTION 20. Exemption from Taxes. –  All grants, bequests, endowments, 
39 
donations and contributions made to and used actually, directly and exclusively by the 
40 
council shall be exempt from donor’s tax, and the same shall be considered as allowable 
41 
deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor 
42 
in accordance with the provisions of the national internal revenue code of 1997, as 
43 
amended.  
44 
 
45 
  
SECTION 20-A. Tax Subsidy – The Council may avail of the tax expenditure 
46 
subsidy administered by the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), subject to the 
47 
provisions of Title XIII (Tax Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, 
48 
as amended. 
49 
 
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SECTION 21. Tax Deductions for Research Grants. – Grants for research 
1 
shall henceforth be deemed as deductions from gross income in accordance with Section 
2 
34 (I) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.  
3 
 
4 
SECTION 22. Monitoring and Reporting Responsibility. – The NRCP 
5 
shall submit an Annual Summary Report to both Houses of Congress and to the Office of 
6 
the President, an accurate account of its research work and activities during the 
7 
corresponding fiscal years. 
8 
 
9 
SECTION 23. Other Benefits and Privileges. – The NRCP may draw up other 
10 
benefits and privileges, in addition to the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, 
11 
Researchers and other Science Technology Workers, which may be extended to 
12 
the researchers in the rules and regulations to be issued to implement this Act in 
13 
accordance with other existing laws, codes, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
14 
department orders and other issuance promulgated for the purpose of accelerating the 
15 
research and development of the country. 
16 
 
17 
Said rules and regulations may include a one-time incentive bonus and such 
18 
additional incentives, benefits and privileges that may be necessary to attract the 
19 
researchers to conduct research to help in the scientific, technological and innovative 
20 
advancement of the country.   
21 
 
22 
SECTION 24. Building Site. – The parcel of land presently occupied by the 
23 
National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), more particularly described and 
24 
delineated under Proclamation No. 376, Series of 1968, for building site and science 
25 
community site purposes, containing an area of fourteen thousand four hundred sixteen 
26 
(14,416) sq. meters, is hereby permanently entitled to NRCP.  
27 
 
28 
SECTION 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The NRCP with 
29 
other concerned government departments, agencies and representatives mentioned in 
30 
Section 8 hereof shall within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act issue the 
31 
necessary implementing rules and regulations of this Act. 
32 
 
33 
SECTION 26. Repealing Clause. – All laws, orders, proclamation, rules and 
34 
regulation or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
35 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
36 
 
37 
SECTION 27. Separability Clause. – Any provision or part of this Act declared 
38 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions hereof which are not affected are thereby 
39 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
40 
 
41 
SECTION 28.  Effectivity Clause. –  This Act shall take effect fifteen days after 
42 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation. 
43 
 
Approved,