Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBillNo.     940{
Introduced by Representative Albert S. Garcia
EXPIANATORY NOTE
This measure seeks to strengthen the advanced manufacturing industry by upgrading
and designating the  DR3AM Center in the Bataan  Peninsula State University (BPSU) as the
center for threerdimensional (3D) printing and advanced manufacturing in the country.
Additive  manufacturing,  also  known  as  3D  printing,  a  method  of  creating  a  three-
dimensional   object   layer-by-layer  using   a   computer  created   design,   continuously  gains
considerable  attention  in  the  academic  and  research  communities  as  well  as  in  several
industries around the world.  Its innovative capacity to design, produce and simplify prototypes,
and  manufacture  high  quality  3D  prints  cost  cheaper  at  a  shorter  period  of  time.    These
advancements in 3D printing constantly change how products are designed, manufactured, and
used by consumers worldwide.
In  2018,  the  Department of Science  and  Technology  (DOST)  launched  two  new  3D
printing research laboratories: the Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory (AMREL) and
the Additive Manufacturing Center (AMcen).   The DOST established these facilities to aid the
Philippines   in   developing   its  advanced   manufacturing   industry  and   be  abreast  with  the
continuous worid's technological innovation.
AMREL,  presently referred to as the  DR3AM  Center,  is the first 3D  printing  research
facility in the  Philippines equipped with the latest advanced  manufacturing machines.   It was
inaugurated in 2019 at the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) and has, since then, been
used  by  BPSU  students  in  conducting  research  for their theses  on  the  applications  of  3D
printing;  development,  testing  and  characterization  of new 3D  printing  materials;  sharing  of
ideas between faculty and students; and rapid prototyping, fooling and manufacturing in the 3D
printing industry.
Starting as a research laboratory in 2019, BPSU's DR3AM Center began its operation
in  2020.   To date,  the  BPSU  has already published  over 20 scientific articles  related  to  3D
printing and several utility models and industrial designs have been submitted to the Intellectual
Property Office.   The DR3AM  Center also caters to some spare parts requirements of local
businesses and industries in the region.  Since 2019, several high school student groups have
already utilized  the  existing facilities  of the  DR3AM  Center for their research  projects.   The
DR3AM  Center also trained  several faculty  members of the  BPSU  and  partner government
institutions and  private entities on advanced manufacturing.   During the height of the COVID-


19 pandemic, the DR3AM Center produced over 3,000 personal protective equipment (PPEs)
to help protect our healthcare workers and other frontliners.   Through the various projects of
DR3AM Center, the BPSU started the incorporation of the additive manufacturing subject in the
curriculum of the Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering, a first in the country.   In
2021, the DR3AM Center also hosted the lnternational Forum on Additive Manufacturing and
Advanced  Materials  as  well  as  the  National  Symposium  on  Makerspaces  and  3D  Printing
Facilities.
As an important component of higher education, research centers play an indispensable
role in facilitating the advancement of technology,  promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration,
and the development of transdisciplinary research programs.  The operation of BPSU's DR3AM
Center  as  the  center  for  additive  manufacturing  or  3D  printing,  advanced  materials  and
advanced  manufacturing  will  spur  interest  in  the  advanced  manufacturing  research  and
development towards the fulfillment of BPSU's  ultimate  mission  of expanding the advanced
manufacturing industry for the benefit of the country.
Thus, to catalyze and achieve the full potential of the DR3AM Center as the center for
additive manufacturing or 3D printing, advanced materials, and advanced manufacturing,  it is
crucial that the center be strengthened with the most important elements: structure, facilities,
human resources, skil[s development programs, and financial support.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBill No.   9404
Introduced by Representative Albert S. Garcia
1                                                                                              AN ACT
2       STRENGTHENING THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY BY UPGRADING AND
3       DESIGNATING   THE   DR3AM   CENTER   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   SCIENCE   AND
4       TECHNOLOGy lN THE BATAAN PENINSULA STATE UNIVERslrv AS THE CENTER FOR
5       RESEARCH      AND      DEVELOPMENT      ON      ADVANCED      MANUFACTURING      AND
6       APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
7
8       Be  it enacted  by the  Senate  and  House of Representatives Of the  Philippines  in  Congress
9       assembled :
10
11                     SECTION  1.   Short Tit/e. -This Act shall be known as the "Advanced Manufacfun.ng
\2       IndustryAct."
13                    SEC.  2.    Dec/arali.on  of Po//.cy.  -Section  10,  Article  XIV  of  the  Constitution
14      prow-ides that "Science and technology are essential for national development and progress.
15       The  State  shall  give  priority  to  researoh  and  development,  invention,  innovation,  and  their
16       utilization;  and to  science and technology education,  training,  and  services.    It shall  support
\7       indigenous,  appropriate,  and  self-reliant  scientific  and  technological  capabilities,  and  their
18       application to the country's productive systems and national life."
19                  Towards this end, the state shall promote and strengthen the development and
20      growth  Of local  innovative  ventures,  upscale  research  and  development facilities  of
21       higher educational institutions, enhance literacy and skills of the academe's scientific
22      workforce, faculty and students, build up its collaboration with the business sector, and
23      spearhead the development and growth of the advanced manufacturing industry.
3


1                     SEC. 3.  DefFni.fi.on of Terms. -As used in this Act:
2                     (a)     AddiTi.ve manufactwj.ng refers to the  industrial  production  name for 3D  printing,
3       which is the process of transmitting to a three-dimensional printer the digital design that guides
4       the fabrication of a threerdimensional solid product, by depositing materials layer by layer rather
5       than cutting away from a large block of existing material as in most traditional manufacturings,
6       thereby enabling the costeffective production of complex structures;
7                    (b)     Advanced  manufacfun.ng  refers  to  the   use   of  innovative  technologies   and
8       processes in manufacturing existing products and the production of new products enabled by
9       advanced  technologies  which  includes  automation,  additive  manufacturing,  and  robotics,  to
10       improve the efficiency and productivity of manufacturing advanced materials; and
11                     (c)     Advanced  mafen'a/s  refer  to  a   range  of  advanced   polymers,   nanoparticles,
12       ceramics, and graphene composites used in 3D printing which enable traditional and advanced
13       electronic applications while taking advantage of the design and fabrication flexibility of additive
14       manufacturing systems.
15                    SEC.  4.    3D  Pri.nfi'ng  Center.  -The  Design,  Research  and  Extension  in  Additive
16       Manufacturing,  Advanced  Materials  and  Advanced  Manufacturing  (DR3AM)  Center  of  the
17       Department of science and Technology (DOST) situated in Bataan peninsula state university
18       (BPSU),  hereinafter referred to as the center,  is upgraded and designated as the center for
19       research  and  development  on  additive  manufacturing,  advanced  materials,  and  advanced
20       manufacturing.  The centershall be an independent agency attached to the DOST.  The center
21       shall have its own budget separate from the DOST.
22                   SEC. 5.   Powers and Functr.ons. -The Center shall have the following powers and
23       functions :
24                     (a)      Identify  and  prioritize  research  and  development  projects  that  maximize  and
25       develop the competency in 3D printing and advanced manufacturing of the country;
26                    (b)     Secure  the  latest  and  staterof-the-art  facilities  for  the  development,  design,
27       analysis, and production of new and innovative advanced materials and technologies for rapid
28       prototyping, and industrial and commercial applications;
4


1                     (c)      Conduct appropriate training courses on 3D printing and advanced manufacturing
2       for the faculty, students, and scientific workforce of BPsu and other educational institutions;
3                     (d)     Spearhead  3D-themed  activities,  competitions,  events,  and  conventions  where
4       international experts are invited to bring in new 3D printing ideas and technologies, broaden the
5       knowledge of the faculty and students of educational institutions and further develop theirideas
6       on advanced manufacturing;
7                     (e)     Strengthen   the   academe-industry   partnerships   in   advanced   manufacturing
8       research  and  development  by  encouraging  local  and  foreign  investors  to  support  or jointly
9       venture in potentially viable 3D printing enterprises, start-ups or business ideas;
10                     (f)       Produce advanced materials products for commercialization using 3D printing and
11       advanced manufacturing technologies towards providing income-generating services to private
12       enterprises;
13                      (g)         Establish   local   and   foreign   linkages   in   3D   printing   research   and   policy
14       development;
15                     (h)         Serve as the repository of all 3D printing-related researches, studies, and data
16       generated by the Center and other academic,  public, and  private groups, organizations,  and
17        institutions;
18                     (i)          Propose and allocate its annual budgetary resources while optimizing resource
19       generation and utilization; and
20                     ti)          Receive  and  manage  grants,  aid,  donations,  contributions,  or  any  kind  of
21       assistance  for achieving  its  objectives,  in  accordance  with  the  rules  and  regulations  of the
22       DOST.   The amounts received and the sources of grants, aid, donations, contribution, or any
23       kind of assistance received shall be published on its website for purposes of transparency.
24                    SEC.  6.   Board of D/.rectors.  -The  Center shall  be  administered  by the  Board  of
25       Directors which is composed ofa chairperson, a vice-Chairperson and nine (9) members.  The
26       Secretary of science and Technology and the secretary of Trade and Industry shall be the ex
27       offlci.o chairperson and vice-Chairperson of the Board (BPSU), respectively.
5


1                     The  Director  General  of the  Technical  Education  and  Skills  Development Authority,
2       Chairperson  of the  Commission  on  HigherEducation,  President  of Bataan  Peninsula  State
3       University (BPSU), two (2) representatives from the BPsu faculty and/or staff relevant to the
4       advanced  manufacturing  industry to  be  selected  by the  Chairperson from  among  the  list of
5       nominees   submitted   by  the   BPSU   shall   be   ex  offic/.o   members.      In   addition,   two   (2)
6       representatives  from  the  faculties  of  private  higher  educational  institutions  relevant  to  the
7       advanced manufacturing industry, to be appointed by the president of the philippines and two
8       (2)   representatives   from    nonngovernmental    or   advocacy   organizations   on    advanced
9       manufacturing to be selected by the chairperson from among the list of nominees submitted by
10       the non-governmental or advocacy organizations on advanced manufacturing,  likewise to be
11       appointed bythe president of the philippines fora term offour (4) years, as members.
12                     The  Board  shall  promulgate  its  rules  relative to  meetings,  quorum  requirements  and
13       compensation or allowances of the members of the Board.
14                     SEC. 7.  Funcri.ons. -The Board shall perform the following functions:
15                     (a)     Provide the general direction and priorities of the center in accordance with this
16        Act;
17                     (b)     Formulate policies,  programs and projects for the development of the advanced
18       manufacturing industry;
19                     (c)     Evaluate the  implementation,  efficiency and  effectiveness  of the  programs  and
20      projectsofthe center;
21                     (d)     Approve the annual budget of the center and satellite offices;
22                     (e)     Establish satellite offices in other parts of the country;
23                     (f)      Approve the organizational structure of the center and satellite offices including
24       position classification and compensation of employees in coordination with the Department of
25       Budgetand Management;
26                    (g)     Approve the appointment of consultants,  officers, and employees of the center
27       and satellite offices;
28                     (h)     Monitor  and  review  the  programs  and  projects  undertaken  by  the  executive
6


I       director to implement and enforce research and policy direction and priorities;
2                     (i)      Assist the Executive Director in generating resources and obtaining logistical and
3       financial support for the programs and projects of the center and its satellite offices; and
4                     ¢)      Assign  additional  powers,  functions,  and  duties  of  the  Executive  Director  in
5       accordance with the objectives of this Act.
6                   SEC. 8.   Organi-zafrona/ Structwie. -The center's research and policy direction and
7       priorities shall be determined by the Board and implemented by an Executive Director appointed
8       in accordance with section 9 of this Act.   Within thirty (30) days after the effectivity of this Act,
9       the Executive Director shall draw the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the center
10       to be approved by the Board.   In carrying out its functions, the center shall be supported by a
11       pool of experts and researchers on advanced manufacturing and related sectors from various
12       public and private universities across the country, and other technical staff.
13                    SEC. 9.   Executl.ve Di.rector. -The Center is headed by an Executive Director who
14       shall  be appointed  by the  President of the  Philippines for a term of four (4) years subject to
15       reappointment,  a  Filipino  citizen,  at  least  thirty-five  (35)  years  of  age,  a  degree  holder  in
16       computer  engineering,  mechanical  engineering,  applied  mathematics,  computer  science  or
17       related field of studies,  possess executive and  management experience of at least ten  (10)
18       years, and considerable knowledge on the advanced manufacturing industry.
19                    SEC.10.  Funcf7.ons of the frecu{i-vre D/.rector. -The Executive Director shall:
20                     (a)      Implement  and  enforce  research  and  policy  direction  and  priorities,  policies,
21       decisions, orders, rules, and regulations determined by the Board;
22                    (b)     Oversee   the   day-torday   operations   of   the   Center,   provide   technical   and
23       administrative support to the Board, and assist the Board in the performance of its tasks;
24                     (c)      Exercise    administrative    and     supervisory    functions    over    the     planning,
25       imp]ementation, and evaluation of the policies, programs, and projects of the center including
26       satellite offices as may be established pursuant to this Act;
27                     (d)      Recommend to the Board the organizational structure of the center including the
28       position  classification   and   compensation  of  employees;   qualification  and   appointment  of
7


1       consultants, officers, and employees of the center and satellite offices; and overall budget of
2      thecenter;
3                     (e)      Submit to the Board  regular reports on the center, to include annual  reports on
4       operations, status of programs and projects, and the financial condition of the center;
5                    (0      Apprise regulariy the Board on the programs and projects of the center;
6                    (g)      Execute contracts,  incur obligations, acquire and dispose of assets, and deliver
7       documents on behalf of the center, including negotiated or consultancy contracts for personnel
8       and for the  Center's  pool  of researchers within the  limits of the authority determined  by the
9       Board;
10                     (h)      Generate and obtain logistical and financial support for the programs and projects
11       of satellite offices with the assistance of the Board; and
12                    (i)       Exercise  and  perform  such  other  powers,  functions,  and  duties  as  may  be
13       authorized or assigned by the Board in accordance with this Act.
14                    SEC.11.    Satewi.te  3D  Prinlfng  Centers.  -Satellite  3D  printing  centers  may  be
15       established by the Board.  The satellite 3D printing center shall be headed by a Director to be
16       appointed by the Board from a list Of pre-screened and qualified applicants submitted by the
17       Executive Director based on criteria approved by the Board.
18                    SEC.12.  Functi.ons of the Di.rectors of safe//;te cerlfers. -Subject to the policies
19       of the  3D  Center,  the  directors  or  project  leaders  of subsequent  satellite  3D  centers  shall
20       perform the following functions:
21                     (a)     Administer the  policies,  programs and  projects of the 3D  center in the satellite
22       center;
23                      (b)      Recommend the creation of divisions and sections including the staffing pattern in
24       thesatellite center;
25                     (c)      Prepare the budget of the satellite center;
26                     (d)     Approve the expenditures of the satellite center;
27                     (e)     Recommend   to   the   Executive   Director   the   appointment   of   personnel   or
28       consultants ;
8


I                     (f)       Recommend policies, programs and projects to the Executive Director of the 3D
2       Center;and
3                     (g)     Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the Executive Director of the
4      3D center.
5                  SEC.13.  Coordination of the 3D center with satellite centers. -The Board shall,
6      through the Executive Director, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the 3D
7       programs in the satellite centers.
8                    SEC.14.   Donafi.ons and Grants. -All donations, contributions, grants, bequests, or
9       gifts, in cash or in kind, shall be received and used directly and exclusively for the benefit of the
10      advanced    manufacturing    industry:    Prov/.ded,    That    acceptance    of   grants,    bequests,
11       contributions, and donations from foreign governments shall be subject to the approval of the
12       President of the philippines, upon recommendation of the secretary of science and Technology
13       and the secretary of Foreign Affairs.
14                    SEC.15.  Appropn.af7.ons. -The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
15       Act shall be charged against the current budget of the Department of science and Technology.
16       Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included
17       in the annual General Appropriations Act.
18                    SEC.16.   /mp/emenfing Rv/es and Regq/all-ons. -Within sixty (60) days from the
19       effectivity of this Act, the secretary of science and Technology shall, in coordination with the
20       designated  members of the  Board,  promulgate the  necessary  rules and  regulations for the
21        effective implementation of this Act.
22                    SEC.17.   Seperab/-//.fy C/arse. -lf any section or provision of this Act is declared
23       unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions which are not affected shall remain
24       in full force and effect.
25                    SEC.18.   Repea/J.ng c/arse. -All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules,
26       and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
27       hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
9


I                      SEC.19.  Effecfi.v/.fy. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
2       the offlc/.a/ Gazeffe or in a newspaper of general ciroulation.
3                     Approved ,
1'