WHEREAS, Section 10, Article XIV of the Constitution provides: "Science and technology are essential for national development and progress. The State shall give priority research and development, invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to science and technology education, training, and services. It shall support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the country's productive systems and national life;"

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 889 (23 March 1983) established a system of national centers of excellence in the basic sciences within the University of the Philippines (U.P.) System;

WHEREAS, the efforts to apply science and technology in the service of our people require complementary initiatives in the generation of technology, technology transfer and diffusion, and technology utilization and commercialization;

WHEREAS, all these efforts presuppose the availability of highly trained manpower to lead and direct scientific and technological activities in private industry, government and the academe;

WHEREAS, there is a necessity to strengthen and broaden the national capability to train scientific leaders and conduct research in the basic sciences; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for a network of viable, dynamic, and responsive national centers to focus the enthusiasm and efforts of personnel involved in the molecular biosciences, and to emphasize the agricultural, medical and industrial and environmental applications of biotechnology.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. There is hereby constituted a Network of National Institutes of Biotechnology (NNIB) in U.P. initially composed of the following:

a. National Institute of Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology in U.P. Los Ba os, now renamed National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in U.P. Los Ba os;

b. National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in U.P. Diliman;

c. National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in U.P. Manila; and

d. National Institute of Biotechnology in U.P. Visayas.

The NNIB hereby designated as a national center of excellence in molecular biology and biotechnology.

SECTION 2. Pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order No. 889 (23 March 1983), the Board of Regents is hereby authorized to integrate in the NNIB such other additional Institutes it physical facilities and programs of U.P.

SECTION 3. The objectives, powers and functions of the NNIB and the individual Institutes shall be as determined by the Board of Regents.

SECTION 4. The NNIB shall have an Advisory Board with the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology as Chair, the President of the University of the Philippines as Co-Chair and five members to be appointed by the Board of Regents of U.P.

SECTION 5. Each of the Institutes shall be headed by a Director to be appointed by the U.P. Board of Regents upon the recommendation of the respective Chancellors and the President of U.P. The term of the Director shall be determined by the Board of Regents.

SECTION 6. The Department of Budget and Management shall consider additional budgetary support for the programs and operations of the NNIB.

SECTION 7. The Department of Science and technology is hereby directed to provide project-funding support to the NNIB's priority research and training programs.

SECTION 8. The Department of Science and Technology and the National Economic and Development Authority are hereby directed to mobilize donations and external funding for the NNIB.

SECTION 9. The NNIB and the Bureau of Patents, Trademarks and Technology Transfer shall mutually extend research and technical assistance to each other as regards the patenting of biotechnology.

SECTION 10. The rights and privileges under Sections 5 and 6 of Executive Order No. 889 (23 March 1983) shall apply to the NNIB.

Adopted: 30 Jan. 1995

(SGD.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President