President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the establishment of a National Science Complex and Technology Incubation Park through what the Palace described as a “major move to bolster the country’s scientific and technological capabilities.”

Executive Order (EO) 583, signed on Dec. 8, 2006, also directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P500 million for the project.

The science complex, which will occupy a 21.9- hectare area within the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Diliman, Quezon City, will be organize, managed and operated by the UP Board of Regents.

It will be composed of nine science-related institutes: National Institute of Geological Sciences, Marine Science Institute, National Institute of Physics, National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Institute of Chemistry, the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, Department of Mathematics and Natural Science research Institute.

The complex will “serve as the national hub for the generation and application of new scientific knowledge in the natural and applied sciences and mathematics,” Mrs. Arroyo was quoted in a statement.

All these efforts, she added, “presuppose the availability of highly trained manpower to lead and direct scientific and technological activities in the academe, the private sector, and the government.”

Mrs. Arroyo said UP has the capability to supply competent manpower and technical support to the Science and Technology Park and its component technology business incubators.

In September 2006, the Board of regents approved the establishment of a national science complex and authorized UP President Emerlinda R. Roman to seek the support of Malacañang for the project.

Meanwhile, on Dec. 21, 2006, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte , Jr. approved and signed an ordinance adjusting the zoning classification of a portion of UP Diliman to be devoted to the UP North Science and Technology Park along Commonwealth Ave.

Mr. Belmonte said the classification of the area is in line with the city government’s thrust of becoming the country’s information and communication technology capital.