Balik Scientist Program under DOST EO No.130

Presidential Decree No. 819 (dated October 24, 1975) is the earlier authority that established the Balik Scientist Program for five (5) years, later extended up to October 1986 by Letter of Instruction No. 1044 (dated July 18, 1980).
Administrative Code of 1987 directs the Department of Science and Technology to formulate and implement policies, plans, programs, and projects for science and technology and ensure the proper application and utilization of scientific and technological results to accelerate economic and social development (Section 2, Chapter 1, Title XVIII, Book IV).
The program is revived by the Department of Science and Technology as part of its Science and Technology, Human Resource Development Program.
Government policy encourages Filipino science and technology experts from abroad to return and share expertise to accelerate the country’s industrial development.
The renewed program aims to strengthen the scientific and technological manpower of the academe and public and private institutions, promote information exchange, and accelerate the flow of new technology into the country.

A Balik Scientist Program is instituted under the Department of Science and Technology under Section 1.
A Balik Scientist is a science or technology expert who is either:
- a Filipino citizen, or
- a foreigners of Filipino descent,
  residing abroad and contracted by the National Government to return and work in the Philippines along the expert’s field of expertise for a short-term or long-term engagement under Section 2.
The program is structured as two durations under Section 2:
- Short-Term Program: at least one (1) month.
- Long-Term Program: at least two (2) years.
Under Section 2, a person qualifies as a Balik Scientist when the person is residing abroad and is contracted by the National Government to return and work in the Philippines.

Under the Short-Term Program, the Department of Science and Technology may grant and/or avail incentives under Section 3.
Incentives for Short-Term participants include:
- Free round-trip economy airfare from a foreign country to the Philippines by direct route, plus other privileges granted under the Short-Term Program implementing guidelines.
- Grants-in-aid for research and development projects approved by the Secretary of Science and Technology.

Under the Long-Term Program, the Department of Science and Technology may grant and/or avail incentives under Section 4.
Section 4 also covers returning new graduates from DOST-recognized science and technology foreign institutions for the Long-Term incentives stated.
Long-Term incentives include the following:

Free one-way economy airfare from a foreign country to the Philippines, including:
- airfare for the spouse and
- airfare for two (2) minor dependents.
Free return trip economy airfare is granted after completion of:
- two (2) years for Balik Scientists, and
- three (3) years for new graduates.

Duty-free importation is granted for:
- professional instruments and implements,
- tools of trade,
- occupation or employment,
- wearing apparel,
- domestic animals, and
- personal and household effects,
  in quantities and of the class suitable to the importer’s profession, rank, or position, for the importer’s own use and not for barter or sale, under Section 105 of the Tariff and Customs Code (Section 4(b)).
No-dollar importation of motor vehicles is provided, conditioned on compliance with:
- the Board of Investments’ Guidelines on No-Dollar Importation of Second-Hand Motor Vehicles of Returning Residents/Immigrants, and
- other guidelines to be issued by the Bureau of Import Services and the Department of Trade and Industry (Section 4(c)).

Exemption from payment of travel tax applies to Filipino permanent residents abroad in accordance with Section 2 of Presidential Decree No. 1183 (Section 4(d)).
Those not falling under the exempted categories of Section 2 of Presidential Decree No. 1183 may be exempted under Section 3 of Republic Act No. 6768 approved on 3 November 1989, known as the Balikbayan Program (Section 4(d)).

Reimbursement of freight expenses applies for the shipment of a car and personal effects under Section 4(e).
The expert/new graduate’s family is reimbursed freight expenses for 2-1/2 tons volume weight for surface shipment of a car and personal effects.
For air travel, reimbursement applies to excess baggage not exceeding 20 kgs. per adult and 10 kgs. per minor dependent.
Any baggage excess beyond those limits is borne by the expert/new graduate.

Housing may be arranged through predetermined institutions under Section 4(f).

Participants receive assistance in securing a certificate of registration without examination or an exemption from the licensure requirement of the Professional Regulation Commission to practice profession, expertise, or skill in the Philippines in accordance with Section 5 of Presidential Decree No. 223 dated 22 June 1973, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 657 dated 19 February 1975 under Section 4(g).

Long-Term incentives include grants-in-aid for research and development projects approved by the Secretary of Science and Technology under Section 4(h).

Under Section 4(i), the Secretary of Justice grants special non-immigrant visas under Section 47(a) (2) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended, to:
- program participants and
- their dependents,
  when certified by the Department of Science and Technology and after compliance with the requirements for the visa.
Participants and dependents are exempted from payment of visa, immigration and registration fees under Section 251 of the Philippine Foreign Service Code of 1983.
The length of validity of the visas and their extension follow the policy determined by the Secretary of Justice.
The Secretary of Justice may refuse to grant a 47(a) (2) visa to restricted aliens.

Incentives are financed through programmed appropriations of the Department of Science and Technology for Assistance to Scientific Research and Development Activities with Local and Foreign Institutions, consistent with the annual General Appropriations Act under Section 5.
The Department of Science and Technology administers the program and must issue implementing rules in consultation with appropriate agencies to effectively implement the program under Section 6.

The Secretary of Science and Technology may call on the heads of departments, agencies, and bureaus—including government-owned or controlled corporations—to ensure effective implementation under Section 7.