This study was conducted for a two-fold purpose: 1) To assess the research culture in three locally- funded universities in Metro Manila, Philippines, namely: University of Makati (UMak), University of Pasay City (PLP), and University of Caloocan City (UCC); and 2) To propose a model and a program for institutional research capability-building of all locally-funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Country. The researcher concluded that there is a compelling need for locally-funded HEIs in the Philippines to improve their institutional research capability, research output, research dissemination, and research utilization components, hence, the Proposed Model and Program for Institutional Research Capability-Building of all locally-funded HEIs in the Country.