QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 784)
EO No. 784 reorganized the National Science Development Board (NSDB) into a National Science and Technology Authority (the “Authority”) to provide central direction, leadership, and coordination of science and technology research and development, including ensuring the application and utilization of R&D results for developmental goals.
The Authority must formulate and implement policies, plans, and programs to develop science and technology capabilities and promote scientific and technological activities. It must ensure proper application and utilization of R&D results to accelerate economic and social development and continually review the state and needs of science and technology in light of national development goals.
The Authority must formulate a Comprehensive National Plan for Science and Technology. It is implemented by all government agencies and instrumentalities only upon approval by the President.
The plan must be relevant to and consistent with the national economic development plan.
Examples include: (1) promote/assist/undertake R&D and promote cooperation of public and private sectors; (2) promote indigenous technology and adaptation of foreign technology; (3) prepare and submit the Comprehensive National Plan for Presidential approval; (4) prepare and submit annual national budgetary requirements and coordinate funding/implementation; (5) develop and implement a national delivery system for utilization of R&D results; (6) encourage private sector participation; (7) develop national capability-strengthening programs; (8) develop/maintain an information bank on science and technology; (9) promote public consciousness in science and technology.
The Authority is exercised by the Director General, appointed by the President. The Director General is also an ex-officio member of the National Economic and Development Authority.
Deputy Directors General may be appointed by the President. The Director General is authorized to determine and assign their functional areas of responsibility, provided delineation covers substantive functions and operations and that no Deputy Director General is assigned primarily administrative matters.
The Authority consists of: (a) the Authority proper; (b) agencies under its supervision and control; (c) agencies under its administrative supervision; and (d) corporate entities attached to the Authority for policy and program coordination.
They include: (a) National Institute of Science and Technology; (b) Food and Nutrition Research Institute; (c) Philippine Institute of Volcanology; (d) Forest Products Research and Development Institute; (e) Philippine Invention Development Institute; (f) Science Foundation of the Philippines (renamed Science Promotion Institute and converted into a regular government agency); and (g) Materials Science Research Institute (created and assigned specific research functions).
It is renamed the Science Promotion Institute, and it is converted into a regular government agency from its original corporate status.
It identifies and facilitates special programs/projects on research results with economic and social value, utilizes corporate facilities of the Technology Resource Center (TRC) of the Ministry of Human Settlements, promotes cooperation with foreign institutions/international bodies, and generates funds in pursuit of the Authority’s objectives.
Under Section 8, the Authority administratively supervises: (a) National Academy of Science and Technology; (b) Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (transferred from the Office of the Prime Minister); and (c) Science and Technology Councils provided under Section 10, except the National Research Council of the Philippines.
It creates Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development, and renames Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research to Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development. The National Research Council of the Philippines is part of the system.
The Director General coordinates council activities to synchronize research and development programs, avoid duplications, and rationalize total resource requirements.
The National Research Council of the Philippines supports primarily basic and fundamental research, while the three other councils have an applied research orientation.
The TRC is designated as the implementing arm for commercialization and utilization of appropriate technologies specified in EO 784. TRC’s Board Chair and the Authority’s Director General jointly issue IRRs governing relationships. TRC may engage in venture capital development; it must expand its information/cartographic bank into a National Data Communications System and establish infrastructure to house facilities and programs (including those of the Authority), with authority to undertake physical construction.
Appropriations authorized under Batas Pambansa Blg. 131 for the former NSDB and its agencies are used for operational expenses of the Authority for the current calendar year and may be augmented. The former NSDB and its governing board are abolished, and unless otherwise provided, all functions, powers, records, equipment, and applicable appropriations are transferred to the appropriate units and agencies of the Authority; references to NSDB or its Chairman are deemed to refer to the Authority or its Director General.