1 :
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 936
c(!V f: i
25 AUG-5 P3 -56
RIX^VlOCV
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ADVANCING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION THROUGH A 
HARMONIZED NATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGENDA AND 
MANDATORY ADOPTION OF PUBLICLY FUNDED AND GENERATED 
TECHNOLOGIES IN ALL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, THEREBY ESTABLISHING 
THE SCIENCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM (S4CP)
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II Section 17 of the Constitution provides, "The State shall give priority 
to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism 
and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and 
development."
Article XIV Section 10 also states, "Science and technology are essential for 
national development and progress. The State shall give priority to research and 
development, invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to science and 
technology education, training, and services. It shall support indigenous, 
appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their 
application to the country's productive systems and national life."
With the onset of the New Normal, there is renewed attention to the sciences. 
We relied on the established methods and expertise of scientists on how to navigate 
the unknown territory created by the novel virus and how to immediately recover


from its ill effects. People adapted new ways of doing things with the help of 
emerging technologies and innovation. There was a sudden realization of how 
science, technology, and innovation (STI) sectors were overlooked, if not neglected, 
over the years.
The Philippine Development Plan 2023-2024 emphasized the need to 
revitalize the industry. Among others, it stated that, "Philippine manufacturing 
continues to have low technology utilization with most companies still transitioning 
from Industry 2.0 to Industry 3.0" and to address this, there is a need to develop 
the appropriate management skills of the workers and hire more technical staff. As 
of 2018, the availability of scientists and engineers in the country scored only 3.8 out 
of 7. Hence, to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship, the PDP recommended 
among its priority legislative measures the bill institutionalizing the Science for 
Change Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) "to address 
the inadequacies in the field of research and development and to enable the nation 
to be globally competitive, and equipped to provide knowledge-driven solutions and 
evidence-based responses in resolving the nation's challenges."1
The "Science for Change Program (S4CP) Act" seeks to harness science, 
technology and Innovation (STI) as an engine for economic recovery post-pandemic 
and a driving force for inclusive and sustainable national development. It intends to 
institute a Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) and 
expand the existing programs of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 
that are targeted to respond to the pressing concerns of the country, like food 
security, disaster risk reduction, enhanced health care service delivery.
This legislation is also proposing an accelerated research and development 
program under four major strategies:
1. Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) shall be implemented to 
address the discrepancy in access to R&D funding among the regions.
1 Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 - Philippine Development Plan
2


2. 
R&D Leadership Program (RDLead) shall be implemented to help develop 
and strengthen the research capabilities of the academe, research and 
development institutions (RDIs), and other government line agencies.
3. Collaborative R&D to Leverage the Economy (CRADLE) - Through the 
program, the academe and/or RDI, in partnership with a Filipino 
company, shall undertake research and development to improve the 
company's products, processes, and services to become more competitive 
in their respective industries.
4. 
Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) shall be implemented to provide 
financial assistance to Filipino private companies for the acquisition of 
strategic and relevant technologies so they can undertake their R&D.
The immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought.
INGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
)
SENATE
936
25 AUG-5 P3:56 
A
RECEi'.i’CLi;
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ADVANCING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION THROUGH A 
HARMONIZED NATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGENDA AND 
MANDATORY ADOPTION OF PUBLICLY FUNDED AND GENERATED 
TECHNOLOGIES IN ALL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, THEREBY ESTABLISHING 
THE SCIENCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM (S4CP)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Science for Change
2 
Program (S4CP) Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall give priority to science,
4 
technology and innovation to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social
5 
progress, and promote total human liberation and development. It recognizes that
6 
science and technology are essential for national development and progress. Thus,
7 
the State shall give priority to research and development, invention, innovation, and
8 
their utilization. It shall likewise give priority to science and technology education,
9 
training, and services. It shall support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant
10 
scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the country's
11 
productive systems and national life.
12 
Sec. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are as follows:
13 
a) To achieve a higher standard and more productive outputs of science,
14 
technology, and innovation (STI) to contribute to the sustainable and
15 
inclusive development of the economy and society and to the


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improvement of the welfare of the nation and its citizens through 
prescribing the basic policy requirements for the promotion of STI and 
comprehensively and systematically promoting policies for the 
advancement of STI; and,
b) Through research and development, to come up with new products, 
processes and technologies, solve pressing national problems, increase 
productivity, enhance efficiency, improve capability in new and emerging 
technologies, promote the general welfare of the people and attain a 
globally competitive knowledge economy.
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Harmonized Nationai Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) - an 
outcome-based agenda where all research and development (R&D) 
programs and projects to be funded by the government are envisioned 
to contribute to the attainment of the majority of government's key 
result areas, particularly responding to poverty reduction and 
empowerment of the poor and vulnerable; rapid, inclusive, and 
sustained economic growth; and integrity of the environment and 
climate change adaptation and mitigation;
High-tech Equipment - any equipment using the most advanced and 
developed machines and methods.
National Innovation Council (NIC) - a policy advisory body, established 
by virtue of the Philippine Innovation Act, mandated to formulate, 
develop, implement and monitor the country's innovation goals, 
priorities, and long-term national strategy.
Pubiidy-funded Technology - any technology the development or 
generation of which was funded, in part or in full, using government 
money or resources;
Research and Development - any systematic and creative work 
undertaken in the physical, natural, mathematical, and applied sciences 
by using methods in order to increase the stock of knowledge in these 
fields to devise new applications;


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f) Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) - Science is the systematic
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way of acquiring knowledge through observation and experimentation
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whereas technology is the practical application of science. Innovation is
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the creation of new ideas that results to the development of new or
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improved products, processes, or services which are then spread or
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transferred across the market;
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g) Technology licensing - a mode of technology transfer whereby a licensor
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(technology generator or owner) authorizes a licensee to use the
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technology under certain agreed terms and conditions.
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Sec. 5. The Science for Change Program (S4CP) and Utilization Policy
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Framework. -The formulation of the S4CP is anchored on the Harmonized National
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R&D Agenda that is regularly updated based on the needs of the time.
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a) In order to achieve the objectives of this Act, the following S&T
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programs of DOST shall be expanded:
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i. Health Self Sufficiency and Responsiveness to Public Health
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Emergencies
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ii. Renewable Energy (RE) Systems & Bioenergy Technologies
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iii. Functional Materials for Alternative Energy Sources and Energy
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Conversion and Storage
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iv. Nuclear Science for Energy, Health, Agriculture and Industry
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V. Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, and Genomics
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vi. Climate and Environment Sciences
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vii. Nutrition and Food Security and Safety
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viii. Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Productivity
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ix. Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Development
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X. Transport Solutions
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xi. Industrial/Manufacturing/Mining Productivity
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xii. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
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xiii. S&T Services for the Production Sector
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xiv. Metrology, Calibration and Standards
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XV. Technology Transfer and/or Commercialization
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xvi. Human Resource Development for STI


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xvii.Nurturing a Culture of Science
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b) The following new programs shall also be included in the Science for
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Change Program:
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i. Defense and Security R&D, modernization of law enforcement and
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military capabilities, air and maritime border control
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ii. 
Space Science and Technology
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iii. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Development,
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Electronics, Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection and Cybersecurity
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iv. Strengthening of R&D and S&T Services in the Regions through
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Infrastructure and Human Resource Development
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V. S&T for the Creative Arts and Cultural sectors. Tourism, and Services
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Industries
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vi. New and Emerging Technologies
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Sec. 6. Major Strategies of the Science for Change Program. - There shall be
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Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of Research and Development
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Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness.
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a) Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER). - The NICER Program
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shall be implemented to address the discrepancy in access to R&D
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funding among the regions. Through the program, qualified Higher
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Education Institutions (HEIs) in the regions shall be provided with grants
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so they can undertake quality research directed at promoting regional
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development with their existing capabilities and resources. A proposed
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NICER should be unique, a collaborative project between HEIs, and must
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be duly endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) to ensure
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its socio-economic impact in the region.
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b) R&D Leadership Program (RDLead). - The RDLead program shall be
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implemented to help develop and strengthen further the research
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capabilities of the academe, research and development institutions
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(RDIs), and other government line agencies nationwide. To this end,
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RDLeaders who are local S&T experts with strong leadership and
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innovative policy proficiencies shall be engaged to train, and direct and
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support their R&D goals. Depending on the R&D needs of the academe.


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RDIs, and line agencies, an RDLeader shall be engaged through
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application, screening, and evaluation by the National Research Council
3 
of the Philippines (NRCP). NRCP shall be the implementing agency of the
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RDLead Program.
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c) Collaborative R&D to Leverage the Economy (CRADLE) for RDIs and
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Industry. - The CRADLE Program shall be implemented to enable
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technological advancement and innovation of local companies and to
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support the growth of the Philippine Innovation ecosystem. Through the
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program, the academe and/or RDI, in partnership with a Filipino
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company, shall undertake research and development to improve the
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company's products, processes, and services to become more
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competitive in their respective industries. Beneficiary-companies under
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this program must provide at least 20% counterpart funding and commit
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to adopt the technology that will be developed. This way, research
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outputs from the academe are directly translated commercially to the
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market.
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d) Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry. - The BIST
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Program shall be implemented to provide financial assistance to Filipino
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private companies for the acquisition of strategic and relevant
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technologies so they can undertake their R&D. The financial assistance,
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which may only be used to purchase high-tech equipment or to secure
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technology licensing and/or patent rights, shall be refunded to DOST at
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zero percent interest.
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Sec. 7. Formulation and Submission of the Science for Change Program
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(S4CP) Plan. -The DOST shall formulate the five-year Science for Change Program
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plan in coordination with other relevant government agencies, including State
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Universities and Colleges and representatives from the private sector undertaking
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R&D. The Secretary of DOST shall submit to the President the Science for Change
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Program plan for approval within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
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A successor S4CP plan shall be formulated and submitted for approval by the
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President at least three (3) months prior to the expiration of the existing S4CP plan.


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Sec. 8. S4C Program Management Office (PMO). - The Program Management
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Office for the Science for Change Program (PMO-S4CP) shail be created under the
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DOST- Office of the Undersecretary for R&D. The PMO shali ensure the effective and
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efficient implementation of the Science for Change Programs. It shall perform
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coordinating and Secretariat functions required in the accomplishment of the
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program objectives, as well as promote the various programs. The initial staffing
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structure and complement of the PMO shall be submitted by the DOST to the DBM.
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Sec. 9. The Harmonized Nationai R&D Agenda. - The DOST, in consultation
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with government research institutions and other agencies concerned, shall formulate
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a Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) and a program
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for technology adoption for the government. The proposed agenda shall be
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submitted for approval by the National Innovation Council. All publicly funded R&D
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projects. Twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00) and above, shall be certified by the
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DOST as to alignment with the HNRDA.
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The HRNDA shall be directly related to the priorities under the Philippine
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Development Plan.
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The DOST shall submit to the DBM, the Speaker of the House of
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Representatives, and the President of the Senate of the Philippines, either in printed
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form or by electronic document, a copy of the approved HNRDA. The Secretary of
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Science and Technology and the Agency's web administrator or his/her equivalent
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shall be responsible for ensuring that the approved HNRDA is posted on the
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Agency's website.
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Sec. 10. Mandatory Adoption of Pubiiciy Funded Technoiogies. - Mandatory
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adoption of publicly funded and generated technologies whenever feasible and
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practicable shall strictly be implemented by all government entities and
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instrumentalities. All national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned-and-
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controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local
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government units (LGUs) performing science and technology development projects
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shall adopt publicly-funded technologies.
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Sec. 11. Science for Change Program Fund (S4CPF). - There is hereby
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created the Science for Change Program Fund to be used exclusively for the
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implementation of the projects and activities under the S4CP. The S4CPF shall be


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administered by the DOST in accordance with existing government budgeting,
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accounting and auditing rules and regulations. The S4CPF shall be sourced from the
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following:
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a) The initial amount of Ten billion pesos (PIO,000,000,000.00) to be taken
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from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and other funds/savings from
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GAA of the preceding year, in case the GAA is approved before this law
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is enacted. The yearly budget for Science for Change Program shall
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double yearly until it reaches 2% of the Government Appropriations Act
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(GAA) budget. Such amount shall be released to the DOST after the
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effectivity of this Act;
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b) 
Royalty income produced under the S4CP; and
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c) 
Loans, contributions, grants, bequests, gifts, and donations, whether
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from local or foreign sources: Provided, That acceptance of grants,
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bequests, contributions and donations from foreign governments shall
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be subject to the approval of the President, upon the recommendation
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of the Secretary of the DOST and Secretary of the Department of
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Foreign Affairs (DFA). The Secretary of DOST, with the approval of the
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NEDA and, subsequently, the Department of Finance (DOF) is hereby
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granted the authority to enter into loan agreements with foreign
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financial institutions.
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Sec. 12. Appropriations. - The sum of Ten billion pesos
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(PhP10,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as initial operating fund for the
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projects and activities under the S4CP. Thereafter, the amount needed for the
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operation of the SCP shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 13. Annuai Report. - The DOST shall annually submit a report on the
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implementation of the S4CP to the Office of the President and to the Committee on
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Science and Technology of the Flouse of Representatives and the Senate of the
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Philippines.
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Sec. 14. Separabiiity Cause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid
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or unconstitutional, the remaining provision not affected thereby shall continue to be
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in full force and effect.


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Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders or regulations or part
2 
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
4 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of
5 
general circulation.
Approved,