AN ACT TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC

Case Overview and Summary

REPUBLIC ACT No. 1606

AN ACT TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH, INVENTION AND DEVELOPMENT.

Summary:
• Provides for the following measures to promote scientific, engineering and technological research (Section 1):

- Grant scholarships in science, engineering and technology for gifted citizens. (Section 1a)
- Grant bonus and financial aid to brilliant scientific, engineering and technological researchers. (Section 1b)
- Give additional compensation to government researchers who engage in teaching or private business after office hours, provided they devote their after-hours time to research instead. University of the Philippines faculty engaged in research are entitled to equivalent compensation. (Section 1c)
- Employ recognized scientists, engineers and technologists to train young researchers. (Section 1d)
- Acquire necessary scientific, engineering or technical equipment and supplies for conducting research. (Section 1e)
- Enter into contracts with private entities to undertake research that cannot be done by government laboratories. (Section 1f)
- Extend aids for research, travel grants, send participants to international conferences, hold international conferences in the Philippines, and establish exchange of scientific information with other countries. (Section 1g)
- Establish an industrial research and training center in the University of the Philippines. (Section 1h)
- Allocate funds to existing and new government research institutions for expansion, improvement, establishment and continuation of research, with designated agencies to undertake special research projects outlined in appendices A-H. (Section 1i)
- Perform other activities to promote scientific, engineering and technological research. (Section 1j)

• Defines "scientific, engineering and technological researchers" as those undertaking studies to acquire new knowledge, principles, processes or information relating to science, engineering or technology. (Section 1)

• Creates a National Science Board under the Office of the President to administer the program, composed of representatives from various agencies and organizations. (Section 2)

• Authorizes the National Science Board to organize staff, coordinate government research, release funds for purposes enumerated in Section 1, supervise and administer research projects, and act as the Board of Directors. (Section 2)

• Appropriates funds for the Scientific, Engineering and Technological Research Fund for the first five years, with any unexpended amount not reverting to the General Fund. Grants, donations or aids received for research shall also form part of the Fund. (Section 3)

• Requires the National Science Board to submit yearly reports to the President, Senate President and Speaker of the House on progress, program of projects, and financial operations. (Section 5)

• Provides details on specific research projects and estimated expenditures for various agencies in appendices A-H, including:

- University of the Philippines Industrial Research and Training Center: Textile pilot plant, pulp and paper pilot plant, coconut products and by-products pilot plant including fuel, and industrial research building. (Appendix A)
- National Scientific and Industrial Research Institute: Rehabilitation and expansion of scientific library, improvement and expansion of laboratory facilities and personnel, electro-metallurgical laboratory, and ceramics pilot plant. (Appendix B)
- University of the Philippines College of Pharmacy: Industrial development of drugs from Philippine medicinal plants. (Appendix C)
- Science Foundation of the Philippines: Promotion of science consciousness among students and the general public. (Appendix D)
- University of the Philippines College of Agriculture: Rice and corn breeding, coffee and cacao varieties improvement and disease control, and livestock and poultry improvement. (Appendix E)
- Institute of Nutrition: Intensification of nutrition research and nutrition surveys. (Appendix F)
- Department of Health Public Health Research Laboratories: Antibiotic research, tetanus toxoid research, human rabies immune plasma research, plasma expanders research, and preparation of plasma fractions and gamma globulins. (Appendix G)
- National Research Council of the Philippines: General grants-in-aid for various research projects. (Appendix H)