Exhibit (b)

                               CERTIFICATIONS


                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Jimmy D. Gambill, Chief Executive Officer of the FRANKLIN STRATEGIC MORTGAGE
PORTFOLIO (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

      1.    The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
            ended 9/30/05 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Registrant.

Dated: November 21, 2005

                       /s/JIMMY D. GAMBILL
                       Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration


















                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Galen G. Vetter, Chief Financial Officer of the FRANKLIN STRATEGIC MORTGAGE
PORTFOLIO (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

      1.    The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
            ended 9/30/05 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Registrant.

Dated: November 21, 2005

                                          /s/GALEN G. VETTER
                                          Chief Financial Officer