Executive Order No. 784, s. 1982

Signed on March 17, 1982

MALACAÑANG
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 784

REORGANIZING THE NATIONAL SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND ITS AGENCIES INTO A NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES

WHEREAS, under the New Republic, national economic development shall be pursued with renewed dedication and determination;

WHEREAS, the Constitution mandates that the advancement of science and technology shall have priority in national development;

WHEREAS, it is imperative that scientific and technological efforts are geared to meet the demands of economic and social development, and that the results of such research and development are properly applied and utilized to the processes of production to ultimately benefit the Filipino people;

WHEREAS, the private and public sectors should effect a partnership to harness their resources in a directed and common strategy to develop self-reliance in science and technology;

WHEREAS, the country’s development thrusts require an innovative comprehensive national planning approach for science and technology that would effectively integrate the totality of government scientific and technological efforts and harmonize such efforts with those of the private sector to achieve greater national progress;

WHEREAS, to realize the above objectives, it is essential to reorganize the science and technology institutions of government to transform them into a revitalized science and technology machinery under the general direction of a National Science and Technology Authority; and

WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 1416 as amended, the President is empowered to undertake such organizational and related improvements as may be appropriate in the light of changing circumstances and new developments;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and the authority vested in me by Presidential Decree No. 1416 as amended, do hereby order and direct:

SECTION 1. Primary Agency. – The present National Science Development Board is hereby reorganized into a National Science and Technology Authority, hereinafter referred to as the Authority, which shall provide central direction, leadership and coordination of scientific and technological research and development. The Authority shall, jointly with other government agencies and instrumentalities concerned, ensure the application and utilization of the results of such research and development to achieve developmental goals.

SECTION 2. General Responsibility. – The Authority shall formulate and implement policies, plans and programs for the development of science and technology capabilities and for the promotion of scientific and technological activities. It shall ensure that the results of scientific and technological activities are properly applied and utilized to accelerate economic and social development. It shall continually review the state and needs of science and technology in the light of the country’s development goals.

SECTION 3. Comprehensive National Plan for Science and Technology. – A Comprehensive National Plan for Science and Technology shall be formulated by the Authority, and upon approval by the President of the Philippines shall be implemented by all government agencies and instrumentalities. Such plan shall be relevant to and consistent with the national economic development plan, and shall mobilize and harness all the government resources to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of an accelerated scientific and technological research and development program and the utilization of the results of such program. It shall moreover establish priorities for specific programs and projects and rationalize the funding and budgetary requirements of the national government on research and development activities in order to attain optimum allocation of resources. In addition, it shall provide guidelines for the participation of the private sector in the research and development program of the government.

SECTION 4. Functions. – The Authority shall:

(a) Promote, assist, and where appropriate undertake scientific and technological research and development in all fields, and towards this end, provide direction and promote cooperation in the scientific and technological activities of the public and private sectors;

(b) Promote the development of indigenous technology and the adaptation of foreign technology for domestic use;

(c) Formulate and submit to the President for his approval a Comprehensive National Plan for Science and Technology including specific goals, policies, plans programs and projects;

(d) Prepare and submit to the Office of Budget and Management its annual national budgetary requirements and coordinate the funding and implementation of the Comprehensive National Plan for Science and Technology;

(e) Develop and implement a national delivery system for the effective and efficient utilization of the results of scientific and technological research and development;

(f) Encourage and facilitate the active participation of the private sector in scientific and technological activities;

(g) Develop and implement, together with other entities concerned, a national program for strengthening scientific and technological capabilities through accelerated training and deployment of manpower and building up of appropriate infrastructure and institutions;

(h) Develop and maintain a national information bank on science and technology for use by both the public and private sectors; and

(i) Promote public consciousness in science and technology.

SECTION 5. Organization. – The exercise of the powers and the discharge of the functions of the Authority shall be vested in the Director General of the National Science and Technology Authority, hereinafter referred to as the Director General, who shall be appointed by the President. The Director General shall be an ex-officio member of the National Economic and Development Authority.

The Director General shall be assisted by such Deputy Directors General as may be necessary, who shall be appointed by the President. The Director General is hereby authorized to determine and assign the respective functional areas of responsibility of the Deputy Directors General, should there be more than one; Provided, That such delineation of responsibility shall cover the substantive functions and operations of the Authority and Provided, further, that no Deputy Director General shall be assigned primarily administrative matters.

The Authority shall consist of:

(a) The Authority proper;

(b) The agencies under the supervision and control of the Authority;

(c) The agencies and entities under the administrative supervision of the Authority; and

(d) The corporate entities attached to the Authority for purposes of policy and program coordination.

SECTION 6. The Authority proper. – The Authority proper shall be composed of the Office of the Director General, a Planning Service, a Financial and Management Service, an Administrative Service, and a Special Projects Service.

The Special Projects Service shall be responsible for identifying and facilitating the development of special programs and projects on research results which have economic and social value and shall utilize the corporate facilities of the Technology Resource Center of the Ministry of Human Settlements for this purpose. It shall promote cooperation with foreign institutions and international bodies and generate funds in pursuance of the objectives of the Authority.

SECTION 7. The Line Agencies. – The Authority shall exercise supervision and control over the following agencies:

(a) The National Institute of Science and Technology;

(b) The Food and Nutrition Research Institute;

(c) The Philippine Institute of Volcanology;

(d) The Forest Products Research and Development Institute;

(e) The Philippine Invention Development Institute;

(f) The Science Foundation of the Philippines, which is hereby renamed the Science Promotion Institute, and which is hereby converted into a regular government agency from its original corporate status; and

(g) The Materials Science Research Institute, which is hereby created and which shall assume the research functions of the Metals Industry Research and Development Center and absorb the ceramics research unit of the National Institute of Science and Technology. In the conduct of its metals research functions, the Institute shall avail itself of the facilities of the Metals Industry Research and Development Center under such arrangements as may be agreed upon between the Materials Sciences Research Institute and the Metals Industry Research and Development Center.

Each of the above-named institutes shall be headed by a Director to be assisted by a Deputy Director, both of whom shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Director General.

SECTION 8. Agencies under Administrative Supervision. – The authority shall exercise administrative supervision over the following agencies:

(a) The National Academy of Science and Technology;

(b) The Philippine Atomic Energy Commission which is transferred from the Office of the Prime Minister; and

(c) The Science and Technology Councils provided under Section 10 of this Executive Order, except the National Research Council of the Philippines.

SECTION 9. Attached Agencies. – The following corporate entities shall be attached to the Authority for policy and program coordination:

(a) Philippine Science High School; and

(b) National Research Council of the Philippines;

The Director General of the Authority shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the governing boards of these entities.

SECTION 10. Science and Technology Council System. – There are hereby created a Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, and a Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development. The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research is hereby renamed Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development.

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development and the National Research Council for the Philippines shall comprise a Science and Technology Center System. Each of the Councils, except the National Research Council of the Philippines, shall be serviced by a Secretariat, to be headed by an Executive Director to be appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Director General. The Executive Director shall be responsible for implementing the policies, project and decisions of the Council.

The Director General shall be responsible for coordinating the activities of the Councils to ensure synchronization of their respective research and development programs in order to avoid duplications, as well as rationalization of their total resources requirements.

The President of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Director General, may create or transfer to the Authority other entities as additional components of the System.

SECTION 11. General Responsibilities of the Councils. – Each of the Councils shall be responsible for the formulation of strategies and programs for science and technology development, for programming the allocation of government funds for research and development in coordination with the Office of Budget and Management, and for the establishment and maintenance of a system to generate funds in its specific sector.

SECTION 12. Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. – The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development which shall be under the administrative supervision of the Authority shall consist of nine persons with the Director General as Chairman, and the following as members: the Deputy Minister of Health, the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Health Sciences Center, the Executive Director of the National Nutrition Council, the Executive Director of the Council Secretariat, and four other representatives from the private sector in the field of health, to be appointed by the President in their personal capacity upon recommendation by the Director General, each for a term of two (2) years, Provided, however, that the tenure of the members first appointed by the President shall be as follows: two for one year and the other two for two years as fixed in their respective appointments. The members shall serve and continue to hold office until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. In case of a vacancy in the Council, the President shall appoint a successor thereto who shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term of the position.

SECTION 13. Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development. – The Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development which shall be under the administrative supervision of the Authority shall consist of nine persons with the Director General as Chairman, and the following as members; the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, the Deputy Minister of Energy, the Deputy Minister of Public Works and Highways, the Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications, the Executive Director of the Council Secretariat and three representatives of the private sector in the field of industry and energy, to be appointed by the President in their personal capacity upon recommendation of the Director General, each for a term of two (2) years; Provided, however, that the tenure of the members first appointed by the President shall be as follows: one for one year and two for two years as fixed in their respective appointments. The members shall serve and continue to hold office until their successor shall have been appointed and qualified. In case of a vacancy in the Council, the President shall appoint a successor thereto who shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term of the position.

SECTION 14. Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development. – The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development which shall be under the administrative supervision of the Authority is hereby reconstituted to consist of nine persons with the Director General as Chairman, and the following as members: the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, the Deputy Administrator of the National Food Authority; the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, the Executive Director of the Council Secretariat, and three representatives of the private sector in the field of agriculture and resources, to be appointed by the President in their personal capacity upon recommendation of the Director General, each for a term of two (2) years; Provided, however, that the tenure of the members first appointed by the President shall be as follows: one for one year and the other two for two years as fixed in their respective appointments. The members shall serve and continue to hold office until their successor shall have been appointed and qualified. In case of a vacancy in the Council, the President shall appoint a successor thereto who shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term of the position.

SECTION 15. National Research Council of the Philippines. – The National Research Council of the Philippines which shall be attached to the Authority shall retain its organizational structure as a collegial body and shall engage primarily in supporting research of a more basic and fundamental nature, in contrast to the applied research orientation of the three other Councils. The Director General of the Authority shall ensure that the fields of primary responsibility in the various areas of priority research shall be clearly defined between the National Research Council of the Philippines and the other three Councils of the System.

SECTION 16. Commercialization and Utilization of Appropriate Technologies. – The Technology Resource Center of the Ministry of Human Settlements shall be the implementing arm of the Authority for fostering and promoting the commercialization of available and appropriate technology as specified in Section 6 of this Order; Provided, That the Chairman of the TRC Board of Trustees and the Director-General of the Authority shall jointly issue implementing rules and regulations to govern such relationships; Provided further, That the TRC shall be empowered, as it is hereby empowered, to engage in venture capital development; Provided furthermore, That TRC shall expand its existing information and cartographic bank into a National Data Communications System establishing in so doing resource information networks both domestic and foreign, and Provided finally, That the TRC shall establish the physical infrastructure center to house and locate the Center’s facilities and programs, including those of the Authority itself as may be deemed appropriate, authorizing herein the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of TRC to undertake such physical construction.

The TRC shall, in anticipation of the requirements of Authority as specified in Sec. 6 of this Order create as it is hereby created, a Livelihood External Assistance Program Office directly under the Management Advisory Council that shall oversee the implementation of programs/projects utilizing appropriate technologies with bilateral and multinational financing and/or assistance. This Office shall be headed by a Managing Director to be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Chairman, TRC Board of Trustee.

SECTION 17. Regional or Field Extension Offices. – The Authority is hereby authorized to establish such regional or field extension offices as may be necessary in accordance with Article I, Chapter 3, Part II of the Integrated Reorganization Plan, as amended. The Authority may also have such offices and representatives abroad in specific sites where its presence is considered necessary, subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines for each such post abroad.

SECTION 18. Advisory Bodies. – In the formulation and implementation of science and technology policies, plans, and programs, the Director General may, whenever appropriate, establish advisory bodies for science and technology development or otherwise seek advice from recognized and reputable scientific, professional, industrial, and trade organizations.

SECTION 19. Scientific Career System.  – A Scientific Career System shall be established within the Civil Service. Such System shall cover scientific personnel who shall, for purposes of this Executive Order, be those who have earned advance degrees in any field of the sciences. The Scientific Career System shall have the following features:

(a) Entrance to and career progression or career advancement in the Scientific Career Service based on qualification and merit;

(b) Parallel career paths which will allow scientists to develop within their respective areas of expertise without having to change their status as scientist;

(c) Incentives and rewards to ensure attraction and retention of highly qualified manpower in the science and technology sector; and

(d) Other measures to strengthen and increase the effectiveness of the science and technology system.

The Civil Service Commission, with the assistance of the Authority, shall be responsible for the establishment and the operation of the System.

SECTION 20. Science and Technology Communities. – For the purpose of promoting and encouraging the sharing between and among academic and scientific institutions, of libraries, equipment and other research facilities, the Director General is hereby authorized to establish science communities in appropriate sites which shall provide both research and living facilities for scientists and their families. There shall be established, initially, an energy, earth and atmospheric sciences community in Diliman, Quezon City; an industrial sciences community in Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila; and an agriculture, forestry and life sciences community in Los Baños, Laguna.

SECTION 21. Appropriations. – The balance of the appropriations authorized under Batas Pambansa Blg. 131 for the National Science Development Board and its agencies, including those of the entities to be transferred to the National Science and Technology Authority, shall be used for the operational expenses of the Authority for the current calendar year. Such appropriations shall be augmented in the amount of not less than fifty million pesos as may be necessary from any applicable appropriation item, subject to the approval of the President and upon recommendation of the Director General of the Office of Budget and Management.

SECTION 22. Abolition and Transfer of Functions, Powers and Resources. – The National Science Development Board including its Governing Board, Board proper and its implementing agencies is hereby abolished. In lieu thereof, there is established a new organization for the Authority as provided in Sections 6 and 7 of this Executive Order.

Unless otherwise provided in this Executive Order, all functions, powers, records, equipment and applicable appropriations of the National Science Development Board under Republic Act No. 2067, as amended, and under other laws, decrees, orders or other Presidential issuances are hereby transferred to the appropriate units and agencies of the Authority. All references to the National Science Development Board or to the Chairman of the National Science Development Board in all laws, decrees, proclamations and orders shall, hereafter, be deemed to refer to the National Science and Technology Authority or the Director General of the National Science and Technology Authority, respectively.

SECTION 23. Implementing Order. – The Director General is hereby authorized to issue such orders, rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Executive Order; Provided, that approval of the Office of Budget and Management is obtained relative to the new staffing pattern including appropriate salary rates, the organizational structure at divisional and lower levels, and the alignment of existing appropriations. The Director General may appoint qualified personnel of the former National Science Development Board and its agencies to appropriate positions in the National Science and Technology Authority and its agencies, and those not so appointed are deemed laid off.

SECTION 24. Career Executive Service Positions. – All Presidential appointees of the former National Science Development Board and its agencies are laid off, unless otherwise reappointed by the President; Provided, that those who are Career Executive Service Officers shall either be reappointed or reassigned by the President upon the recommendation of the Director General to appropriate positions in the Authority, or assigned to the Career Executive Service Board which shall endeavor to find appropriate placement for them in other ministries or agencies; Provided, further, that those Career Executive Service Officers who have been assigned to the Career Executive Service Board shall continue to receive their salaries from any available and applicable funds; and Provided, finally, that those who are not placed to appropriate positions within six months after their assignment to the Career Executive Service Board shall be similarly laid off.

SECTION 25. Separation Benefits. – All those who are laid off under the provisions of this Executive Order shall be entitled to all benefits and gratuities provided for under existing laws.

SECTION 26. Continuation of Functions. – Except as may be otherwise determined by the Director General, all present incumbents of positions in the National Science Development Board and its agencies, including those transferred or attached to it, shall continue to exercise their usual functions, duties, and responsibilities pending the issuance of the appropriate implementing orders.

SECTION 27. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, proclamations, rules, regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly, Provided, however, that Sections 24, 24-a and 26 of Republic Act No. 2067, as amended, are hereby reaffirmed in respect to the Authority, its line agencies and its attached entities.

SECTION 28. Separability Clause. – Any portion or provision of this Executive Order that may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying the other provisions thereof, provided that such remaining portions can still stand and be given effect in their entirety to accomplish the objectives of this Executive Order.

SECTION 29. Effectivity. – This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 17th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-two.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA
Presidential Executive Assistant

Source: Malacañang Records Office

Office of the President of the Philippines. (1982). [Executive Order Nos. : 781 – 857]. Manila : Malacañang Records Office.