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Mr. President:

Your Committee on Scientific Research has the honor to submit herewith the draft of the proposed Constitutional precepts regarding scientific researches and investigations, the result of the various meetings and deliberations held by the same and the studies of the provisions of the Constitutions of the various countries dealing with this subject and of the Memorial submitted by. the National Research Council of the Philippine Islands.

Economic development is necessary in order to provide our Government with increased revenues. The economic development of a country can only be hastened by encouraging, fostering and supporting scientific and research activities.

The improvement of agricultural methods, the conservation of our forest resources, the development of our fishery and mineral resources, the improvement of our present industries, are undertakings that can be successfully carried out only after the necessary scientific investigations of the different phases involved therein have been properly pursued. To emphasize the need of directing our attention to the necessary industrialization, the following figures, being our annual tribute in pesos for what we import, are illuminating:

Textiles ..................................................	P 41,000,000.00
Meat and dairy production ................	12,000,000.00
Milk ........................................................	4,000,000.00
Wheat and flour and other
breadstuffs ..................................	9,000,000.00
Rice ........................................................	1,000,000.00
Paper ....................................................	6,000,000.00
Tobacco ..................................................	6,000,000.00
Vegetables, fruits and nuts ..............	6,000,000.00
Eggs ........................................................	3,000,000.00
Perfumery and soap ..........................	2,000,000.00
Fish and fish products ......................	2,000,000.00
Glass, glassware, China earthenware	2,000,000.00
Leather and leather goods ................	2,000,000.00
Chemicals, drug dyes and medicines	2,000,000.00
Coffee and cacao ..................................	1,000,000.00
Paints and varnishes ..........................	1,000,000.00

All of these can be grown, raised, manufactured at home even in excess of what home consumption will require, if only we know how.

In considering the host of problems confronting us in connection with our economic development and readjustment, we find that whether we view things purely from the standpoint of material prosperity which applied science brings because of increased raw products or the creation of new industries not before possible; whether we view them from the standpoint of physical well-being or a lengthened life span gained through the discovery and application of the rules of hygiene and sanitation: whether we view them from the standpoint of national defense possibilities in the form of increased manpower, efficient chemical warfare, gases, explosives, guns, tanks, submarines, airplanes, and other means of defense; or whether, as is most likely, we look at things from all of these standpoints together, the fact remains that we must not only take advantage of all possible contributions of science, but also actively encourage scientific and research activities to the full.

Economic progress during the last hundred years has been chiefly industrial progress, and industrial progress is basically scientific progress.

That this is fully appreciated everywhere is evident from the inclusion of express provisions for scientific and research activities in the constitutions adopted by several nations in the world, namely, United States (1767), Argentina (1863), Guatemala (1870), Brazil (1891), Mexico (1917), Finland (1918), Germany (1919), Peru (1920), Czechoslovakia (1920), Austria (1920), Poland (1921), Yugoslavia (1921), Russia (1928), Turkey (1924), Spain (1931), and China (1932). The fact that it is manifestly to the interest of every state to provide for scientific and research work as a means of preserving itself makes the inclusion all the more magnificent.

The inclusion of the clause "securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings, works, or discoveries" is made because it is one of the ways of protecting inventions and discoveries. Similar provisions are found in almost all constitutions of the different nations.

The Committee recommends the inclusion of the article providing for the establishment of a National Research Council whose functions shall be determined by law. As has been proven in all countries with research councils that research has been promoted in the most effective manner through the instrumentality of such councils, leading to the indispensable economic development and readjustment through the application of the results of scientific investigations; therefore, the National Research Council should be maintained. The inclusion of the necessary proviso for the maintenance of a National Council in the Constitution for the first Malay Republic will prove wrong the worldwide impression about the superstitious beliefs of the Malay mind. It will mean that the Malay appreciates the value of such a scientific institution as the National Research Council.

It is recommended that the same be approved.


The President
Constitutional Convention
Manila

Art. — The State shall encourage, foster and support activities and investigations for the progress of science and useful arts, securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings, works, and discoveries.

Art. — There shall be a National Research Council whose functions shall be determined by law.

Art. — The State shall protect and preserve works, remains, and relics of historic, cultural, artistic or scientific values.