Balik Scientist Program

Dear Kababayan,

We are pleased to inform you that the Balik Scientist
Program (BSP) of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) is accepting applications under the New Graduate, Short and
Long Term Expert Categories for CY 2007.

The DOST is planning to bring back twenty five (25)
scientists this year, especially experts in the following priority
areas: alternative fuel, biotechnology, ICT, pharmaceutical
(Medical/Health Sciences), and Environment including Disaster
Management.

Attached is the Brief on the Balik Scientist Program (BSP)
for your information and guidance.

BRIEF ON THE BALIK SCIENTIST PROGRAM

Background Information

A. Legal Bases

• Presidential Decree No 819 dated 25 October 1975 established
the Balik Scientist Program (BSP) for a period of five (5) years.

• Letter of Instruction No. 1044 dated 18 July 1980 extended
the Implementation of the BSP up to October 1986.

• Executive Order No. 130 dated 25 October 1993 revived the
BSP and was
instituted under the Department of Science and
Technology.

B. What is a Balik Scientist

A Balik Scientist is a science and technology expert who is a
Filipino citizen or a foreigner of Filipino descent, residing abroad
and contracted by the Government to return and work in the
Philippines.

C. Objectives of the Program

To strengthen the scientific and technological capabilities of the
academe, industry, public and private institutions, promote
information exchange; accelerate the flow of new technologies into
the country and stimulate the development of new or strategically
important technologies that are vital to national development.

The Program allows science and technology experts of Filipino
descent to visit the country for short term consultancy and if
feasible, consider returning permanently to work in the Philippines.

D. Type of Balik Scientist

1. Long-term expert – contracted to return and work in the
Philippines for at least two (2) years; No age limit.

2. Short-term expert – contracted to return and work in the
Philippines for at least one (1) or a maximum of three (3) months.

3. New Graduate – Ph.D. graduate for not more than two (2)
years prior to application to the program and contracted to work for
not less than three (3) years.

E. Existing Priority Areas Covered by the Program

a) Alternative Fuel
b) Biotechnology
c) Information and Communication Technology
d) Pharmaceutical (Medical/Health Sciences)
e) Environment including Disaster Management

F. Qualifications of BSP Applicants

Short- and Long-Term Expert

• Must be in good health, physically and mentally;

• Must have a graduate degree and must have practiced his/her
profession for not less than five (5) years after obtaining the MS
or PhD degree, preferably in the private sector, a reputable R & D
institution and/or in the academe.

However, an applicant with highly specialized skills without a
graduate degree may be qualified on special cases. In both
instances, his/her field of expertise must be consistent with the
priorities of science and technology (S&T) promulgated by the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

• Must have made an outstanding contribution in his/her field
of specialization;

• Must not be a recipient of any grant (scholarship or
fellowship and other similar grants) that requires him/her to come
back to the country. However, applicants from the USA who hold
exchange visitor's visas (J-1) shall be allowed to participate in
the program provided that their training in the USA was self-
solicited and that they have no outstanding financial or service
obligation with any public or private institution in the
Philippines.

New Graduate

• Must be in good health, physically, emotionally and mentally;

• Holder of PhD degree; no experience required;

• Field of study must be consistent with the S & T priorities
promulgated by DOST; and

• Must not be a recipient of any grant (scholarship or
fellowship and other similar grants) that requires him/her to come
back to the country. However, applicants from the USA who hold
exchange visitor's visas (J-1) shall be allowed to participate in
the program provided that their training in the USA was self-
solicited and that they have no financial or service obligation with
any public or private institution in the Philippines.

G. Incentives for Awardees

Long-Term Expert and New Graduate

• Roundtrip airfare (including his/her spouse and two minor
dependents)
• Reimbursement of expenses for the surface shipment of a car
and personal effects
• Housing allowance of P120, 000.00 per year in the absence of
provision for housing facility.
• Health insurance coverage with premium not exceeding P120,
000.00 per illness.
• Accident insurance coverage not exceeding P1 Million.
• Tuition fee assistance per school year for two direct minor
dependents at actual cost but not exceeding the following amounts
for:

a) P15, 000.00 per child in high school
b) P 5,000.00 per child in elementary

• Transportation assistance of P5, 000.00 per month;
• Grants-in-Aid for research projects approved by DOST.
• Relocation allowance of Forty Thousand Pesos (P40, 000.00).
Spouses who both qualified in the Balik Scientist Program shall each
be entitled to receive the relocation allowance. However, all other
incentives shall be provided to them not as individual grantees but
as a family.
• Payment of the salary of a long-term expert/new graduate
shall be the responsibility of the requesting institution.

Short-Term Expert

• Reimbursement of the peso equivalent of the cost of round
trip economy airfare originating from foreign country to the
Philippines by direct route. Computation shall be based on the
currency rate prevailing on the date when the airline ticket was
purchased;
• Daily subsistence allowance (DSA) to be paid in Philippine
currency based on the prevailing rates of consultant's fee of the
United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

H. Procedure of Selection

• The Balik Scientist Evaluation Committee (BSEC), appointed
by the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
shall evaluate the qualification of all applicants on the basis of
information submitted.
• The BSEC shall select from among qualified candidates those
who shall be given priority using the following guidelines:
a. Those whose expertise are consistent with the S & T
priorities promulgated by DOST;
b. Those who are in the fields of basic sciences, engineering,
and information and communications technology and are actually
undertaking research and development (R & D) and proposing to take
up R & D projects with the Philippine counterparts on priority
programs/projects of the government and private sector and those
whose research plans have passed the evaluation of the concerned S &
T Council of the DOST;
c. Those who received a firm offer of acceptance from a locally-
based private firm, academic institution or government agency
engaged in priority R & D projects and S & T services; and
d. The activities of the identified receiving
institution/

cooperating agency (ies) are relevant to the expertise
or field of specialization of the applicant.

I. Procedure of Application

Qualified applicants shall file the following requirements:

• Accomplished Balik Scientist Program (BSP) Form No. 001,
with 2"x 2" ID photo and detailed curriculum vitae;
• Transcript of academic record, a photocopy of the diploma or
certificate attesting fulfillment of the required academic degree;
• Latest medical certificate from licensed medical
practitioner in the country of present residence with six months
validity prior to engagement as Balik Scientist;
• Statement of release whether temporary or permanent from
place of employment abroad;
• Certificate of good moral character from last employer;
• For short-term experts, schedule of activities and expected
output;
• For long-term experts and new graduates, a detailed
statement of research and/or development plans with "conforme" of
the receiving institution;
• Copy of a valid certificate of registration and a valid
professional license or a temporary special permit and/or any
foreign license, etc, if applicable.

Further inquiries and submission of applications should be
addressed to:

The Program Director
Balik Scientist Program
Department of Science and Technology
Gen. Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig
Metro Manila, Philippines
P.O. Box 3596 Manila, Philippines
TeleFax No.: (+632) 837-2940
Trunkline: (+632) 837-2071 to 82 loc. 2030/2049
E-mail: bsp@dost.gov.ph
balikscientist@yahoo.com