AN ACT PROVIDING A MAGNA CARTA FOR SCIENTISTS

Case Overview and Summary

Title: Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other S & T Personnel in the Government

Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Recognizes science and technology as essential for national development and progress.
- Aims to provide a program for human resources development in science and technology.
- Supports programs like scholarships, improving science education, promoting science culture, and providing incentives for science careers.

Definitions (Section 3):
- Defines scientific and technological activities (STA) as research and development, scientific services, and scientific education and training.

Science and Technology Career System (Section 4):
- A career system for S&T personnel in government service shall be formulated by DOST and Civil Service Commission.

Classification of S&T Personnel (Section 5):
- Categorizes S&T personnel as managers/supervisors, scientific career system members, scientists/engineers/researchers, and DOST technicians.

Salaries (Section 6):
- A new salary scale for S&T personnel shall be developed by DOST, DBM, and CSC, subject to Presidential approval.

Other Benefits (Section 7):
- Honorarium for services beyond regular workload. (Section 7a)
- Share in royalties from patents/copyrights on a 60%-40% basis favoring the government. (Section 7b)
- Hazard allowance of 10%-30% of monthly salary for hazardous workplaces like radiation labs, remote areas, calamity zones, etc. (Section 7c)
- Subsistence allowance equivalent to three meals a day. (Section 7d)
- Laundry allowance of at least P150 per month for prescribed uniforms. (Section 7e)
- Free housing/quarters within 50 km radius of government facility. (Section 7f)
- 5% monthly longevity pay for every 5 years of continuous service. (Section 7g)
- Annual free medical examination and immunization. (Section 7h)

Non-DOST S&T Personnel (Section 8):
- S&T personnel not employed by DOST but involved in STA may avail benefits upon DOST Secretary's certification.

Scholarships and Grants (Section 9):
- S&T personnel in public/private sectors can avail scholarships/grants for undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate or training courses.
- Undergraduate scholarship recipients must render government service equivalent to scholarship duration.
- Includes tuition fee, book allowance, transportation, stipend, dissertation grants, insurance, and regular salary.
- Rules by Human Resource Development Council under RA 8248.

Honorarium for Other Services (Section 10):
- S&T personnel can render consultancy to private sector and receive honorarium on top of government salary with DOST Secretary's approval.

Detail to Private Sector (Section 11):
- Regular government S&T personnel can be seconded to private entities for up to 1 year with agency head's approval.
- Private entity bears payment during secondment period.
- Secondment period counts towards retirement but not leave credits.
- Shall not affect tenure or seniority rights.

Exemptions (Section 12):
- Appointment of research assistants and up are exempt from Attrition Law and CSC nepotism rule.

Provision Against Double Benefits (Section 13):
- S&T personnel receiving same benefits under other laws must withdraw those benefits to avail benefits under this Act.

Highest Basic Salary Upon Retirement (Section 14):
- Upon retirement, S&T personnel shall get 1 salary grade higher than basic salary for computing retirement benefits.

Hiring of Retired Personnel (Section 16):
- Retired employees with technical qualifications can be rehired on contract without refunding gratuity/leave benefits if no qualified expert is available.

Government Scholars and Grantees (Section 17):
- Graduates/grantees of government S&T scholarship programs get 2-year temporary CSC eligibility waiver.
- Preferential access to government grants and easy loans for viable S&T projects.

Science and Technology Awards (Section 18):
- Annual awards for outstanding S&T achievements/contributions to be given by an Awards Committee.

Congressional Commission on S&T (Section 19):
- A 10-member Congressional Commission to review Philippine S&T human resources, IT, and implementation of this Act every 5 years.

Funding (Section 20):
- Funding for implementation shall be provided in the General Appropriations Act under DOST and concerned agencies' budgets.

Annual Report (Section 21):
- DOST Secretary shall submit an annual report on implementation status to the Congressional Commission.

Implementing Rules (Section 22):
- DOST shall formulate implementing rules and regulations in consultation with government and non-government STA agencies.