Republic Act No. 5448

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1. Creation of Special Science Fund

There is hereby created a Special Science Fund, hereafter referred to as the Fund, to be constituted from the proceeds of the taxes imposed in Sections three and four of this Act to promote scientific and technological research and development, foster invention, and utilize scientific knowledge as an effective instrument for the promotion of national progress.

Section 2. Expenditure of the Fund subject to congressional action

Expenditure of the Fund shall be in pursuance of appropriations made by law: Provided, That for the period from the date of the effectivity of this Act up to June thirty, nineteen hundred sixty-nine, the collections accruing to the Fund shall be used to fund the unprogrammed appropriations from the General Fund for the said science agencies which cannot be released for lack of funds. Expenditure for subsequent fiscal years shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 3. Imposition of additional tax on privately-owned passenger automobiles, motorcycles and scooters

An additional tax is hereby imposed on every new or current model of privately-owned passenger automobile, motorcycle and scooter to be paid by the owner thereof, in the amount based on the respective shipping or factory weight of private passenger automobiles as indicated in the following schedule:

(1) 1,000 kilos or less ₱35.00

(2) 1,001 kilos to 1,500 kilos 100.00

(3) 1,501 kilos to 2,000 kilos 250.00

(4) 2,001 kilos and above 450.00

Provided, However, That the owner of a private motorcycle and scooter shall pay a fixed additional tax to ₱15.00, and that of a jeep, ₱20.00: Provided, finally, That on all used automobile, motorcycle or jeep other than current model, the taxes above prescribed shall be reduced by ten per cent (10%) for each year after its manufacture and/or assembly but in no case shall the additional tax assessed and collected from the owner thereof be less than thirty per cent (30%) of the full tax.

The additional tax imposed herein shall be collected at the same time, in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as the registration fees imposed under Republic Act Numbered Four thousand one hundred thirty-six: Provided, However, That from the effectivity of this Act, the words "Science Tax" shall be printed across all official receipts issued covering the payment of the tax herein imposed. (As amended by Rep. Act No. 5470.)

Section 4. Imposition of additional stamp taxes

In addition to the documentary stamp taxes imposed under Sections 211 to 235 of Commonwealth Act Numbered Four hundred sixty-six, as amended, otherwise known as the National Internal Revenue Code, there are hereby imposed science stamp taxes equal to one hundred per cent thereof except that in addition to the documentary stamp taxes on tax clearance certificates under Section 225 thereof, the science stamp taxes shall be as follows: fifty pesos on each certificate for a first-class passenger; thirty pesos on each certificate for a second or tourist-class passenger; and five pesos on each certificate for a third-class or steerage passenger: Provided, However, That no science tax shall be imposed on freight tickets covering goods, merchandise, or effects carried as accompanied baggage of passengers on land and water carriers primarily engaged in the transportation of passengers: And Provided, further, That no science tax shall be imposed on each certificate issued by a notary public or by any person authorized to administer oath.

The tax imposed herein shall be collected at the same time, in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as the documentary stamp tax imposed under the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

Section 5. Turnover of the collection; release of the Fund is ministerial

The Commissioner of Internal Revenue and the Commissioner of the Land Transportation Commission shall turnover their collections of the taxes and penalties mentioned in Sections three and four hereof to the Treasurer of the Philippines monthly within the first ten days of the succeeding month which shall accrue to and form part of the Special Science Fund. No person of the collections may be transferred or diverted to the general or any other fund or expended for any purpose other than those specified in this Act. It shall be the ministerial duty of the Budget Commissioner and the National Treasurer, as well as of the officers and employees under their supervision and control, to effect releases from the Fund upon order and/or authorization of the Chairman of the National Science Development Board, on recommendation by the agencies under the National Research Council of the Philippines, as the case may be.

Section 6. Rules and Regulations

The Secretary of Finance and the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, as the case may be, shall promulgate such rules and regulations relating to the collection of the taxes accruing to the Special Science Fund as may be necessary. The Chairman of the National Science Development Board and the Chairman of the National Research Council of the Philippines may also promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act including the adoption of an appropriate design for the science stamp.

Section 7. Annual Report

The Chairman of the National Science Development Board and the Chairman of the National Research Council of the Philippines shall each submit within fifteen days from the opening of the regular session of Congress to the President of the Philippines and to the presiding officers of both Houses of Congress, an annual report which shall include an account of the programs, projects and detailed expenses undertaken pursuant to his Act, which shall be incorporated in their respective annual reports.

Section 8. Duration of the Fund

The proceeds of the taxes imposed in this Act shall, to the extent specified therein, constitute the Fund: Provided, That after five years from the effectivity of this Act, the taxes herein imposed shall accrue to the General Fund unless otherwise provided by law.

Section 9. Penal provisions

Any person who fails or refuses to turn over collections of the taxes mentioned in this Act within the period fixed in Section five hereof, or who delays, obstructs or prevents the same; or who fails or refuses to effect releases from the Fund, or who delays, obstructs or prevents the same; or who orders, causes, or effects the transfer or diversion of the collections of this Fund shall be punished with a fine not exceeding ten thousand pesos or imprisonment not exceeding six years or both in the discretion of the Court. If the offender is a government official or employee, he shall, in addition, be dismissed from the service with prejudice reinstatement and with disqualification for election to any public office. If he is an alien, he shall, in addition, be deported after payment of fine, without further deportation proceedings.

Section 10. Separability clause

If any clause, sentence, provision or section of this Act or application thereof to any person or circumstance should for any reason be held invalid and unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Act which can be given forces and effect without the invalid or unconstitutional provisions or application, and to this end the provisions and applications of this Act are declared to be separable.

Section 11. Repealing clause

All Acts, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Section 12

This Act shall take effect on January first, nineteen hundred sixty-nine.

Approved: September 25, 1968.