balik scientists program

Sen. Bam welcomes passage of his 22nd law in support of Filipino scientists

Senator Bam Aquino welcomed the passage of the law that provides necessary assistance to Filipino scientists who will return to the country and help strengthen its research and development capability. 
 
Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of Repubic Act 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act in the Senate as principal sponsor and principal author. The law is Sen. Bam’s 22nd in his five years as senator. 
 
“Malaking tulong ang batas na ito upang mahikayat ang mga Pinoy scientists na bumalik sa bansa at tumulong sa pagpapaunlad sa bayan at sa buhay ng mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. 
 
“Matutugunan din ng batas na ito ang kakulangan ng bansa sa scientists, upang makasabay na tayo sa ating mga kapitbahay sa Asya na mas marami ang nagtatrabaho sa research and development,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
During the committee hearing, it was discovered that the country has 189 scientists per million, far from the ideal ratio of 380 scientists per million. 
 
Currently, the Philippines trails South Korea and United States, which have 5,300 and 3,500 scientists per million, respectively. Malaysia, for its part, has 2,000 scientists per million. 
 
The Balik Scientist Act will provide overseas Filipino scientists with financial benefits and incentives to encourage them to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development. 
 
Aside from the Balik Scientist Act, Sen. Bam is also the principal sponsor and co-author of the Amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, and Researchers bill and the Innovative Start-up Act, which is currently being tackled in the plenary. 
 
Meanwhile, President Duterte also signed into law Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law, which Sen. Bam pushed as co-author.

4 reforms led by Sen. Bam Aquino, among Senate priorities

Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed the Senate’s commitment to pass four measures that aim to focus on the welfare of Filipino students, scientists and strengthen support for the country’s research and development and start-ups.
 
“Masaya tayo sa suportang ipinapakita ng Senado sa mga panukalang naglalayong palakasin ang suporta sa ating mga estudyante, negosyante at scientist,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.
 
“Nagpapasalamat din tayo sa mga kapwa ko senador na tumutulong na lalo pang mapagbuti at mapaganda ang mga panukalang ito para sa kapakinabangan ng maraming Pilipino,” he added.
 
The Senate has committed to pass a number of measures this year, among them are the Innovative Startup Act, Magna Carta for Scientists Act, Balik Scientist Bill and the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act. Sen. Bam is principal sponsor of all four measures.
 
The Innovative Startup Act, Magna Carta for Scientists Act and the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act will undergo period of amendments this week.
 
The Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy Act aims to institutionalize a feeding program to provide proper and nutritious meals to kindergarten to Grade 6 students.  Aside from Sen. Bam, other co-authors of the measure are Senators Grace Poe, Gringo Honasan, Zubiri, Tito Sotto, Legarda, Cynthia Villar and Joel Villanueva.
 
The Innovative Startup Act aims to give necessary support for business startups to help them thrive and compete in the market. 
 
The amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists aim to streamline the process of providing benefits and incentives to S&T government personnel. Aside from Sen. Bam, other co-authors of the measure are Senators Loren Legarda, Sonny Angara, Koko Pimentel, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sherwin Gatchalian. 
 
Passed on third and final reading and just awaiting the start of the bicameral conference committee, the Balik Scientist Bill seeks to provide overseas Filipino scientist with financial benefits and incentives to encourage them to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.
 
Principal sponsors have the responsibility of prioritizing bills in their respective committees, conducting hearings on bills assigned to their committee, defending the measures during the period of interpellation, consolidating proposals and amendments to their reforms, and leading the bicameral conference before a bill is passed into law.
 
In his four years as senator, Sen. Bam worked for the passage of 19 laws, 11 as principal sponsor.

Sen. Bam: PH lacks 19,000 scientists, lags behind in R&D

The Philippines needs 19,000 more scientists working in both government and private sector to turn the country into a significant force in research and development, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
During the hearing of the Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Sen. Bam, on the Balik Scientist Bill, it was discovered that the Philippines has 189 scientists per million, far from the ideal target of 380 per million.
 
The country pales in comparison with other countries as South Korea and United States have 5,300 and 3,500 scientists per million, respectively. Malaysia, for its part, has 2,000 scientists per million.
 
“Paano tayo makakasabay sa ibang bansa pagdating sa research at development kung kulang tayo ng 19,000 scientists,” said Sen. Bam, author of Senate Bill No. 1183 or the Balik Scientist Bill. 
 
According to Assistant Secretary Teodoro Gatchalian of the Department of Science and Technology, the agency has a budget of P25 million for the Balik Scientist Program. If the bill is approved, the budget will increase significantly, enabling the DOST to attract more Filipinos to return home and serve the country.
 
Sen. Bam hopes that the measure will help address the lack of scientists, caused by the exodus of scientists and researchers to other countries to look for greener pastures.
 
“Sa tulong ng panukalang ito, mahihikayat natin ang mga Filipino scientist sa ibang bansa na bumalik sa Pilipinas at tumulong sa pagpapaunlad ng ating research and development,” said Sen. Bam.
 
The Balik Scientist Bill seeks to provide overseas Filipino scientist with financial benefits and incentives to encourage to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.
 
The measure aims to institutionalize the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which successfully encouraged some of our scientists to return and contribute to research that will address development gaps in the Philippines.
Scroll to top