Institute for Strategic Studies

Eat 11 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 AUG -6 AIO :52 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIED BY S. No. 1018 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The Asia Pacific region is a hotbed of international conflicts and tension arising from competing interests, specifically with respect to overlapping claims to territorial domain, and from struggle for dominance and influence over the vast maritime resources. Many observers believe that the Southeast Asia is the one to watch considering the many important issues occurring in the region - the fight for control over vital sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea; increased aggression of state parties with regard to their preserving the integrity of archipelagic borders; continuing protests over encroachment and reclamation of waters within exclusive economic zones; contending ownership over immense energy and food reserves, among others - all of which have repercussions and immediate effects on world security and peace. On the domestic front, the Philippines is also confronted with threats coming from communists and terrorist groups, which have also established links with foreign-based and -affiliated organized criminal groups, extremists, and terrorist radicals. While domestic force of the long-standing insurgency is reportedly reduced to a minimum due to successful military campaign and comprehensive socio-

economic policies in the countryside, their very existence still poses danger to political stability and national security. "There is this discontinuity of strategy and policies every change of administration, affecting the long-term horizon of strategic planning," says General Emmanuel Bautista, former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He believes that a "whole-of-nation approach must always be applied to the country's security," and that this "must also involve the academe, think-tanks, and sectors immersed in strategic thinking. "1 This bill aims to establish the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS) which shall promote understanding of consequential prevailing and emerging issues in the homeland or international level, and assist the government in crafting relevant responses and perspectives with respect to such issues, utilizing independent researches, factual data, interdisciplinary and integrated approaches under the lens of a long-term national strategy. I am refiling this measure which I originally submitted during the Thirteenth Congress. In view of aforesaid reasons, passage of this legislation is sought. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 1 "PHL's foreign policy, national security plan lack long-term vision." December 7, 2021. https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2021/12/07/415796/phls-foreign-policy-national-security-plan= lack-long-term-vision/

Dile of i TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUG -6 A10:52 First Regular Session SENATE RECES D BY 1018 S. No. - Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Establishment of the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS). - The

2 Institute for Strategic Studies, hereinafter referred to as the Organization is hereby created and established as an institution to promote understanding of fundamental, current and emerging domestic and international issues and to assist the government in formulating policy and strategic perspectives on those issues. It shall conduct research on fundamental national concerns in response to or in anticipation of the needs of policy-making, conduct studies on matters of domestic and 8 international political, economic, military, socio-cultural and techno-scientific 9 significance in an interdisciplinary and integrative manner; identify strategies to 10 serve the ends of policy, design programs to effect coordinated and integrated work of other research institutes engaged in strategic studies, undertake commissioned research work in collaboration with outside entities/institutions consistent with its mandate; build and maintain a resource facility and data bank; and carry out such other activities and projects as shall enhance the mission of the organization.

Sec. 2. Powers of the Organization. - The Organization shall have the

following powers: a) Adopt, alter and use a corporate seal;

b) Take and hold by bequest, devise, gift, purchase or lease, either and absolutely or in trust, for any of its purposes, any property, real or personal, without limitation as to amount or value, to convey such property and to invest and reinvest any principal of the said Organization in such manner as shall best promote its objectives; c) Collect, receive and maintain a fund or funds and to apply the income and principal thereof to the promotion of its aims and purposes herein-before set out; d) Contact any obligation or enter into any agreement necessary or incidental to the proper management of its corporate powers; e) Engage in any activity, and exercise all the powers conferred by the laws upon private or government-owned and controlled corporations, and; f) Exercise the general powers of a duly incorporated entity as set out in the corporate code.

Sec. 3. The Board of Trustees. - The Organization shall be organized

functionally with the following components: 1) There shall be a Board of Trustees composed of the Executive Secretary, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of Science and Technology, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an eminent representative from the private sector to be appointed by the President of the Republic of Philippines and the President of the Organization; 2) The Trustees shall elect from among themselves the Chairman and Vice- Chairman of the Board; 3) The Board of Trustees coming from the private sector may create an executive committee of five trustees including its Chairperson, which shall have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board of Trustees in between the regular meetings of the said board. The Chair of the Board shall head the executive committee. Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Board of Trustees at its meeting;

4) The trustees shall receive a per diem as may be authorized for every meeting actually attended, in addition to reasonable transportation and representation expenses; 5) The Board shall provide guidance to the Policy Council on the thrusts, objectives, policies, research, agenda, programs and other activities of the organization.

Sec. 4. Policy Council. - There shall be a Policy Council, composed of an

Executive Director and five others as Members, all of whom shall be appointed by the President of Republic of the Philippines from among the present members of the Strategic Studies Group of the National Defense College of the Philippines, as presently constituted, for a term of six (6) years. The Council shall have the following authority; 1) To formulate the thrusts, objectives, policies, research agenda, programs and other activities; 2) To oversee, monitor and evaluate all research work and studies; 3) To designate Research Fellows with notable scholarship to do and or/direct research work and strategic studies in various functional/area program of the organization that are relevant to their areas of expertise; 4) To determine and fill up other positions in the Organization and fix the salaries, honoraria, allowance and other emoluments of all Organizations

Sec. 5. Autonomy and Academic Freedom of the Organization. - The

Organization shall be an autonomous and self-governing institution governed by the principle of academic freedom; it shall neither be organic nor be part of any government instrumentality. It shall be attached to the Office of the President to facilitate its budgetary and other administrative requirements and for the purpose of policy coordination.

Sec. 6. Assistance from Government Departments and Agencies. - To assist

in its functions, government departments, agencies, units or instrumentalities shall allow the Organization access to their official files, records, data and other documents, provided such access is consistent with the requirements of confidentiality.

Sec. 7. Exemptions. - Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary,

appointments to the research and administrative staff of the Organization may be on a full-time basis and shall be exempt from the requirements and restrictions of the Civil Service and retirement laws, other laws, rules and regulations on position- classification and salary standardization and Section Two Hundred Fifty Nine of the Revised Administrative Code; Provided, that any government retiree employed in the Organization shall not be required to reimburse or refund any gratuity received from the government nor shall any pension or annuity to which he is entitied be suspended or reduced on account of his employment in the Organization.

Sec. 8. Services of Outside Agencies and of Private Sector. - The Organization

may, for the purpose of research, field work and other activities, obtain and pay for the services of the personnel of any agency of the Philippine Government and/or private sector to perform research of field work and such other activities as may be needed.

Sec. 9. Endowment Fund. - An Endowment Fund shall be created to provide

for non-recurring expenditures of the Organization. For this purpose, the amount of Five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from any funds in the National Treasury. The Endowment Fund shall be administered as a trust funds with the Board of Trustees thereof, provided that the principal of said endowment shall not be subject to impairment and provided further that the earnings thereof, shall constitute a trust fund available for non-recurring and unprogrammed expenditures of the Organization. Any or all savings of the Organization shall form part of the trust funds provided herein.

Sec. 10. Appropriations. - There is hereby appropriated the amount of Five

hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) out of any unappropriated funds in the National Treasury for such initial requirements as capital outlay and infrastructures of the Organization. Thereafter, the Congress of the Philippines shall include as part of its budgetary appropriations the amount of at least Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) to finance the recurring and operational expenditures of the Organization.

Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any section or part of this Act is held

unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are deemed repealed and modified accordingly.

Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. Approved,