SENATOR Grace Poe has filed a bill that seeks to institutionalize a “brain gain” program for science and technology workers and encourage them to return to the Philippines and contribute their knowledge for the betterment of the country.
Poe said Senate Bill No. 1324 or the proposed Balik Scientist Act is aimed at offering benefits, incentives and privileges to returning Filipino experts and professionals who share their technical and technological know-how to spur scientific and technological advancements and strengthen the country’s potential for growth.
“This bill envisions a future in which Filipino scientists contribute to nation-building and inclusive growth through the acceleration of research and development in the country,” said Poe.
Meanwhile, Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate committee on SicTech, has been pushing for the proper utilization of SciTech which will be crucial in this aspiration.
“We also want the Balik Scientist Program to involve our schools and the private sector. Let’s exhaust all efforts to repatriate our talented Filipino scientists,” said Aquino.
Aquino earlier met with scientists and other stakeholders to iron out the priority measures of the Committee on Science and Technology, which he chairs.
“Now that the committee had passed the free internet in public places, we will focus next on Balik Scientist Bill and Innovative Startup Act to help our people in the field of Science and Technology, said Aquino.
During the round-table discussion, Aquino presented Senate Bill 1183 or the Balik Scientist Bill, Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act and Senate Bill No. 679 or the Magna Carta for Scientists to help address the issue as priority measures of his committee.
Under Poe’s bill, Balik Scientists shall be engaged for short-term, medium-term or long-term programs to be administered by the Department of Science and Technology.
For the short-term program with a duration of at least 30 days, benefits include round-trip airfare, reimbursement of excess baggage costs, relocation and tax-exempt daily allowance, participation in grants-in-aid research and development projects, and donation of instruments and materials related to the scientific activities.
Apart from the benefits extended to short-term beneficiaries of the program, medium-term engagement which has a duration of six to 12 months shall also entitle experts to exemption from payment of travel tax including their immediate family and exemption from submission of Immigration clearance certificate and payment of multiple-entry fees.
For the long-term award which has a duration of 24 to 36 months, benefits include housing provision, reimbursement of expenses for the shipment of personal effects and professional instruments including one motor vehicle, exemption from securing an alien employment permit, budget to put up a laboratory, in addition to standard benefits extended to short- and medium-term programs.
Citing data from the DoST, Poe said the “brain drain” or outbound science and technology workers in the Philippines have increased 148 percent from 9,877 in 1998 to 24,502 in 2009. As such, the presence of research and development personnel in the Philippines stands at 165 per million Filipinos, which is way below the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recommendation of 380 per million persons.
Aquino said 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.