Chapter 4 Provincial Science and Technology Offices (PSTOs) SEC. 11. Provincial Science and Technology Offices (PSTOs). – The Provincial Science and Technology Office shall serve as the implementing arm of the Department in the provinces/cities. However, whenever practicable, such PSTOs shall be established within state colleges and universities or LGUs upon mutual terms and conditions between such SUCs or LGUs and the Department. In the event that the PSTOs is established within an SUC, it shall be considered as the implementing arm of the Department in the province/cities where such SUC is situated. The provincial S&T Office shall be headed by a Provincial S&T Director with a rank of Director I. Chapter 5 Sectoral Planning Council SEC. 12. Sectoral Planning Councils. – There shall be five (5) Sectoral Planning Councils which shall be responsible in their respective sectors for formulating policies, plans, programs, projects, and strategies for science and technology development, for programming and allocating funds for monitoring of research and development projects and for generating external funds. (1) Regional Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (RCIERD) – It is mandated to serve as the central agency in planning, monitoring and promotion of scientific and technological research for application in the industry, energy, utilities and infrastructure sectors. It has the authority to set and specify research and development (R&D) goals and priorities and rationalize the allocation of available resources for its delineated sectors; (2) Regional Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (RCARRD) – Consolidate research and make it a vital force in the regions development whose mandates were gradually broadened to cover natural resources research agriculture and forestry; Regional Council for Health Research and Development (RCHRD) – Responsible for coordinating and monitoring research activities aimed at improving health; (3) (4) Regional Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (RCAMRD) – Envisioned to set the direction for fisheries and aquatic resources research and development; and (5) Regional Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (RCASTRD). – Is tasked primarily with the development, integration and coordination of the national research system for advanced science and technology and related fields. 145