Science for Change Program Act

Senate Wise of the Decretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILTPPINES First Regular Session 25. BEC 17 P6.:05 SENATE ECEIVEB Y: 1644 S. No. Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The Science for Change Program is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) designed to prioritize research and development (R&D) activities in response to pressing societal challenges. These include public health, food and nutrition security, energy sustainability, and disaster preparedness. Since its inception in 2018, the program has played a vital role in advancing these critical areas through science- and -technology-based solutions. Despite its progress, the program remains dependent on annual appropriations and administrative policies, this limits its long-term impact and institutional stability. Challenges include inconsistent funding, low private sector involvement, underdeveloped technology transfer infrastructure, and insufficient support for human resource development in science, technology, and innovation (STI). Without a clear legal framework, the continuity of the program and its ability to adapt to future technological demands remain uncertain. To address these challenges, the bill seeks to institutionalize the Science for Change Program and provide a comprehensive framework to support its sustained implementation and expansion. It aims to support R&D initiatives not only in traditional priority areas such as food security, renewable energy, climate science, and disaster resilience, but also in emerging fields including advanced technologies for defense and space, artificial intelligence, and the creative industries.

This bill further mandates the DOST to prepare a multi-year plan to guide the long-term implementation of the program and establish a National Innovation Council to coordinate STI initiatives across sectors. It includes provisions for diversified funding sources, including incentives for private investment in R&D, institutionalized technology transfer offices, strengthened intellectual property protections, and human capital development through scholarships and research grants. By enacting this measure, the government affirms its commitment to building a resilient, science- driven, and innovation-led economy. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is sought. MARK A. VILLAR

Allite of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session BEC 17 P6 96 SENATE RECEIVED BY: s. No. 1644 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Science for Change

2 Program Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Article XIV of the Philippine Constitution

4 recognizes that science and technology are essential for national development and progress. It declares that the State shall give priority to research and development, 6 invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to science and technology education, 7 invention, and service. Likewise, the State shall support indigenous, appropriate, and & self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the 9 country's productive systems and national life. Towards these ends and in pursuit of excellence in the field of science, 11 technology and innovation (STI), the State needs to accelerate the development of 12 STI in the country through a massive increase in investment, expansion of existing STI initiatives, creation of new programs, development of human resources in STI, and capacity building of research and development institutions.

Sec. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are as follows:

(a) To achieve a higher standard of science, technology and Innovation (STI) and contribute to the development of the economy and society; (b) To improve the welfare of the nation by prescribing comprehensive and

systematic policies for the promotion of STI; and (c) To encourage innovation and creativity among Filipinos, and come up with products, technologies and solutions to pressing national problems, and gain a competitive edge in the field of research and development.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms

are hereby defined as follows: (a) Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) refers to an outcome-based agenda which identifies all the research and development (R&D) programs and projects to be undertaken and funded by the government to support the attainment of the key result areas of the government's development objectives, particularly those that aim to reduce poverty and empower the poor and vulnerable; induce rapid, inclusive, and sustained economic growth; promote the integrity of the environment, and enhance the country's climate change adaptation and mitigation capability. (b) High-tech equipment- refers to any equipment using the most advanced and developed machines and methods; (c) National Innovation Council (NIC) - refers to the policy advisory body, established by virtue of Republic Act No. 11293, or the Philippine Innovation Act, mandated to formulate, develop, implement and monitor the country's innovation goals, priorities, and long-term national strategy; (d) Publicly-funded technology - refers to any technology the development or generation of which was funded, in part or in full, using government money or resources; (e) Research and Development (R&D) - refers to any systematic and creative work undertaken in the physical, natural, mathematical, and applied sciences by using methods in order increases the stock of knowledge in these fields to devise new applications; (f) Science - refers to the systematic way of acquiring knowledge through observation and experimentation; (g) Technology - refers to the practical application of science; (h) Innovation - refers to the creation of new ideas that results to the

development of new or improved products, processes, or services which are then spread or transferred across the market; (i) Technology licensing - refers to a mode of technology transfer whereby a licensor such as a technology generator or technology or intellectual property owner, authorizes a licensee to use the technology under certain agreed terms and conditions.

Sec. 5. Science for Change Program (SCP) and Utilization Policy Framework

8 - The formulation of the S4CP is anchored on the HNRDA which shall be regularly 9 updated based on the needs of the time. a) In order to achieve the objectives of this Act, the following science and 11 technology (S&T) programs of the DOST shall be expanded: 1) Health Self Sufficiency and Responsiveness to Public Health Emergencies 2) Renewable Energy Systems & Bioenergy Technologies 3) Functional Materials for Alternative Energy Sources and Energy 4) Conversion and Storage 5) Nuclear Science for Energy, Health, Agriculture and Industry 6) Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, and Genomics 7) Climate and Environment Sciences 8) Nutrition and Food Security and Safety 9) Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Productivity 10) Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Development 11) Transport Solutions 12) Industrial or Manufacturing or Mining Productivity 13) Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation 14) Science and Technology (Services for the Production Sector) 15) Metrology, Calibration and Standards 16) Technology Transfer or Commercialization 17) Human Resource Development for Science Technology and

Innovation 18) Nurturing a Culture of Science b) The following new programs shall also be included in the Science for Change Program: 1) Defense and Security Research and Development 2) Space Science and Technology 3) ICT Development, Electronics and Artificial Intelligence 4) Strengthening of Research & Development and Science & Technology Services in the Regions through Infrastructure and Human Resource Development 5) S&T for the Creative, Tourism, and Services Industry 6) New and Emerging Technologies

Sec. 7. Major Strategies of the Science for Change Program. - The S4CP shall

focus on the Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of Research and Development Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness which is composed of four (4) programs namely: a) Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER). The NICER Program shall be implemented to address the discrepancy in access to R&D funding among the regions. Through the programs, qualified higher education institutions (HEIs) in the regions shall be provided with grants so they can undertake quality research directed at promoting regional development with their existing capabilities and resources. A proposed NICER should be a unique and collaborative project between HEIs, and must be duly endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC). b.) R&D Leadership Program (RDLead). The RDLead program shall be implemented to help develop and strengthen further the research capabilities of the academe, research and development institutions (RDIs), and other government line agencies nationwide. To this end, RDLeaders who are local S&T experts with strong leadership and innovative policy proficiencies shall be engaged to train, direct, and support R&D goals.

Academic institutions RDIs, and other agencies may engage the services of an RDLeader through a screening and evaluation process to be conducted by the National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP) based on their respective needs and specifications. The NRCP shall be the implementing agency of the RDLead Program. c.) Collaborative R&D to Leverage the Economy (CRADLE) for RDIs and Industry. The CRADLE Program shall be implemented to promote technological advancement and innovation in local companies and to support the growth of the Philippine innovation ecosystem. Through the program, the academe 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. To ensure that research outputs from the academe are commercially utilized by the market, beneficiary-companies under this program must provide at least twenty percent (20%) counterpart funding and commit to adopt the technology that shall be developed by their R&D Partner. d) Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry. The BIS Program shall be implemented by the DOST to provide financial assistance to Filipino private companies for the acquisition of strategic and relevant technologies so they can undertake their R&D activities. The financial assistance shall be used solely for the purchase of high-tech equipment or to secure technology licensing or patent rights and shall be refunded to the DOST without interest.

Sec. 7. Formulation and Submission of the Science for Change Program (S4CP)

Plan. - The DOST shall formulate the five-year S4CP Plan in coordination with other relevant government agencies, including state universities and colleges, and representatives from the private sector undertaking R&D. The Secretary of DOST shall submit to the President, for approval, the Science for Change Program Plan within 30 ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

A successor S4CPPIan shall be formulated and submitted to the President for 2 approval at least three (3) months prior to the expiration of the existing S4CP Plan.

Sec. 8. S4CP Program Management Office (PMO). - The Project Management

4 Office for the Science for Change Program (PMO-S4CP) shall be created and placed 5 under the supervision of the Office of the Secretary of the DOST. The PMO shall ensure 6 the effective and efficient implementation of the Science for Change Programs. It shall 7 perform coordinating and Secretariat functions and promote the various S4CP programs. The Secretary of the DOST shall formulate the staffing pattern of the PMO in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and in accordance 10 with rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission.

Sec. 9. The Harmonized National R&D Agenda - The DOST shall, in consultation

12 with government research institutions and other agencies concerned, formulate a 13 NRDA and a program for technology adoption for the government in accordance with the priorities of the Philippine Development Plan. The proposed HNDA shall be submitted to the National Innovation Council for approval. The DOST shall certify that all the publicly funded R&A projects form part of the HNRDA and included in our 17 Harmonized National R&D Agenda under the annual General Appropriations Act." The DOST shall submit to the Department of Budget and Management, the 19 Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate of the 20 Philippines, either in printed form or by electronic document, a copy of the approved HNRDA. The Secretary of Science and Technology and the agency's web administrator or an equivalent officer shall ensure that the approved HNRDA is posted on the agency's website.

Sec. 10. Mandatory Adoption of Publicly-Funded Technologies. - All publicly-

funded and generated technologies whenever feasible and practicable shall be utilized by all government entities or instrumentalities. All national government agencies, government -owned and-controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and local government units conducting science and technology development projects shall adopt publicly-funded technologies.

Sec. 11. Science for Change Program Fund (S4CPF). - All donations,

contributions, grants, bequests, or gifts, in case or in kind, for the S4CP shall be placed into a fund to be known as the Science for Change Program Fund: Provided, That,

1 acceptance of grants, bequests, contributions, and donations from foreign 2 governments shall be subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines, upon 3 recommendation of the Secretary of the DOST and the Secretary of the Department 4 of Foreign Affairs.

Sec. 12. Appropriations. - The initial amount for the implementation of this Act

6 shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DOST. Thereafter, such funds as may be required for the implementation of this Act shall be included in 8 the Annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 13. Annual Report. - The DOST shall submit an annual report on the

10 implementation of the S4CP to the Office of the President and to the Committee on 11 Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within One hundred eighty

13 (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOST shall formulate rules and regulations for its effective implementation.

Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held

unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall 17 continue to remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

19 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,