WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines states that it is a declared policy of the State to give priority to science and technology;

WHEREAS, Section 10, Article XIV of the Constitution also provides that science and technology are essential for national development and that the State shall give priority to research and development, invention, innovation, and their utilization;

WHEREAS, the rank and title of National Scientist was created under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1003-A, dated 16 December 1976;

WHEREAS, pre-eminent achievements by Filipinos in science and technology that have contributed to the progress of the country and humanity deserve the recognition and acknowledgment of our Government, in pursuit of its policy of furthering national development through enhanced scientific and technological research and development; and

WHEREAS, the work of Romulo Gelbolingo Davide, Ph.D., in the field of nematology and plant pathology resulted in, among others, the development of a biological control agent against nematodes, which provided Filipino farmers with an alternative to chemical nematicides;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R, MARCOS, JR., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, and upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Science and Technology and the national Academy of Science and Technology, pursuant to PD No. 1003-A, in relation to Section 33, Chapter 6, Title XVIII, Book IV of Executive Order (EO) No. 292 (s. 1987) or the "Administrative Code of 1987" and EO No. 236 (s. 2003) or the "Honors Code of the Philippines," do hereby declare Romulo Gelbolingo Davide, Ph.D., as National Scientist and accord her the rank and title of National Scientist, with the privileges and emoluments attached thereto.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 2^nd day of August, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four.