AN ACT CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER INTO THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Eighteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-sixth day of July, two thousand twenty one.

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11914, July 30, 2022 ]

AN ACT CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER INTO THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Provincial Science and Technology Office Act.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy and duty of the State to fast-track the transfer of relevant and appropriate technologies and services to the rural areas particularly in the enhancement and development of technology-based livelihood enterprises in the countryside.

Section 3. Provincial Science and Technology Officers (PSTOs). - The Provincial Science and Technology Centers (PSTCs) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which are the principal instruments of technology transfer and development of technology-based enterprises of the government in the rural areas are converted into PSTOs: Provided, That the existing clustered area offices of the DOST in the National Capital Region (NCR) shall also serve as PSTO to be known as Clustered Area Science and Technology Offices (CASTOs), subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and existing civil service rules and regulations.

Section 4. Functions of the PSTOs. - The PSTOs shall have the following functions:

Section 5. PSTO Head. - The PSTO shall be headed by a Chief Science Research Specialist with Salary Grade (SG) 24. For this purpose, the existing position of Senior Research Specialist with SG 19 which is currently held by the head of the PSTCs shall be reclassified as Chief Science Research Specialist.

Section 6. Duties and Responsibilities of the PSTO Head. - The PSTO Head shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

Section 7. Staffing Pattern. - The Secretary of the DOST shall determine the organizational structure and staffing patter of the PSTO in accordance with civil service laws, rules and regulations, subject to the review and approval of the DBM.

Section 8. Appropriations. - The initial amount for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DOST. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOST, in consultation with concerned agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Section 10. Separability. - If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 2484 on May 23, 2022 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 10693 on May 30, 2022.

Approved: Lapsed into law on JUL 30 2022 without the signature of the President, in accordance with Article VI Section 27 (1) of the Constitution.

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
President of the Philippines