Panukalang ‘Balik Scientist Program’

NANINIWALA si Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada na ang agham at teknolohiya ay malaking tulong para sa pag-unlad ng bansa. Pero nakalulungkot aniya na maraming “scientists, technology experts and intellectually-gifted Filipinos” ang napipilitang mangibang-bansa at doon gamitin ang kanilang talento dahil walang sapat na oportunidad at suporta sa kanila dito sa bansa.

Giit niya, “We have to find ways to reverse this brain drain and entice Filipino scientists who have gone abroad to go back to our country.”

Kaugnay nito ay isinusulong niya ang Senate Bill 969 (Balik Scientist Program) na pangunahing pangangasiwaan ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Aniya, “A Balik Scientist is a science or technology expert or professional… who is a Filipino citizen or a fo-reigner of Filipino descent, residing abroad, working with any public or private entity… contracted by the government to return and work in the Philippines along his or her field of expertise for at least one month (Short Term Program) or two years (Long Term Program).

Itinatakda ng panukala ang sumusunod na mga insentibo para sa mga magiging Balik Scientist:

Short Term Program:

• Free round-trip economy airfare from a foreign country to the Philippines.

• Daily subsistence allowance.

• Grants-in-aid for research and development pro-jects.

• Accident insurance.

Long Term Program:

• Free one-way economy airfare from a foreign country to the Philippines, including for the spouse and two minor dependents, and free return trip economy airfare after completion of two years in the case of balik scientists with at least five years experience abroad, and three years for new graduates.

• Relocation allowance.

• Duty and tax-free importation of personal effects and professional instruments.

• Exemption from payment of travel tax including those for the spouse and minor dependents, from Immigration clearance certificates and payment of multiple entry fees, and from securing alien employment permit within the duration of their contract.

• Grants-in-aid for research and development projects.

• Availability of infrastructure budget for laboratories.

• Accident insurance.