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DATHES 2 2 2023 S, &
2, Hon oi

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

- QE ne Rss
HeusE BILL No, 7289

Introduced by Representative ZALDY “JECOY” S. VILLA

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE SIQUIJOR STATE COLLEGE ALL ITS EXISTING
EXTENSION CAMPUSES, ALL IN THE PROVINCE OF SIQUIJOR INTO A
STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF
SIQUIJOR (SUS), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This measure seeks to convert the Siquijor State College (SSC) and all its existing campuses,
all in the Province of Siquijor into a state university to be known as the State University of
Siquijor (SUS),

The rationale for SSC to be a university is that is committed to provide technology-driven
and a leamer-centered instruction in a vibrant academic environment promoting
collaboration, creativity and innovation and to serve as a center of excellence in Higher and
Technical-Vocational Education in the province. The institution shall be at the forefront of
education and research in such courses as Criminal Justice, Arts and Sciences, Business
Management, Education, Technology, Maritime Education, Engineering, Health and Allied
Sciences as well as other relevant fields of study

The establishment of a state university with extensive curricular offering in the province of
Siquijor by converting the state college into a university is the key to progress in the
province. Education can be a magnet to usher in socio-cultural and economic development
in the province. Siquijor and its neighboring provinces through education can cement its
world-class like the majestic and allure

In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this measure is earnestly sought for

ZALDE 4 YY” S. VILLA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House BILL No.1289

Introduced by Representative ZALDY “JECOY” S. VILLA

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE SIQUIJOR STATE COLLEGE ALL ITS EXISTING
EXTENSION CAMPUSES, ALL IN THE PROVINCE OF SIQUIJOR INTO A
STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF
SIQUIJOR (SUS), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Conversion. — The Siquijor State College (SSC) in the Municipality of Larena
including its existing branches, namely: Siquijor State College-Lazi Campus formerly the
Lazi Skills Development Center, all located in the Province of Siquijor, is hereby converted
into a state university to be known as the State University of Siquijor, hereinafter referred
to as the University. The main campus shall be North Poblacion, Larena, Siquijor.

SECTION 2. General Mandate. — The university shall primarily provide advance
instruction and professional training in education, law, arts and sciences, public
administration, information technology, accountancy, business and industry, agriculture and
forestry, maritime education, engineering, nursing and health allied courses and other
relevant fields of study. It shall also undertake research and extension services and provide
progressive leadership in its areas of specialization

SECTION 3. Curricular Offerings. — The University shall cover undergraduate, graduate
and short-term technical courses within its areas of specialization and according to its
capabilities as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary to carry out its objectives in order
to meet the needs of the Province of Siquijor: Provided, That the University shall retain its
original mandate as an educational institution in accordance with Republic Act 7947:
Provided, further, That in the case of graduate courses, The University shall strengthen its
masteral and doctorate degree programs in education, philosopy and public administration
and allied courses.

SECTION 4. Administration. — The University shall have the general powers of a
corporation set forth in Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, as amended, otherwise known as
“Corporation Code of the Philippines”. The administration of the University and the


SECTION 6. Promulgation and Implementation of Policies. — The Board shall promulgate
and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies on education and
other pertinent provision of the Philippine Constitution on education, agriculture, science
and technology, as well as the policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under Republic
Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994”.

SECTION 7. Powers and Duties of the Board of Trustees. ~ The Board shall have the
following specific powers and duties, in addition to its general powers of administration and
the exercise of all the powers granted to the board of directors of a corporation under existing
laws:

(a) To promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
pre ‘ 7
Purposes and functions of the University;

(b) To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support of the
University in the manner it may determine, in its discretion, in order to carry out
the purposes and functions of the University;

(c) To import duty-free economic, technical and cultural books and or publications,
upon certification by the CHED that such imported books and or publications
are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical or
cultural purposes, in accordance with the provisions of the Tariff and Customs
Code of the Philippine, as amended;

(d) To receive in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real properties of all kinds
and to administer and dispose of the same when necessary for the benefit of the
University and, subject to the limitations, directions and instructions of the
donor, if any;

Such donations shall be exempt from the donor's tax and the same shall be
considered as allowable deductions from the gross income in the computation of
the income tax of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National
Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, as amended: Provided, That such
donations shall not be displayed, transferred or sold;

(e) To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges such as, but not limited
to, matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the Board may
deem proper to impose, after due consultations with the involved sectors.

Such fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income
generated by the University, shall constitute special trust funds and shall be
deposited in any authorized government depository bank, and all interests that
shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the
University

Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the contrary
notwithstanding, any income generated by the University from tuition fees and


other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and land grants,
shall be retained by the University, and may be disbursed by the Board for
instruction, research, extension or other programs or projects of the University

Provided, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for
which these are collected

If, for reason beyond its control, the University shall not be able to pursue any
project for which funds have been appropriated and allocated under its approved
program of expenditures, the Board may authorize the use of said funds for any
reasonable purpose which, in its discretion, may be necessary and urgent for the
attainment of the objectives and goals of the University;

(£) To adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees for
greater access to poor but deserving students;

(g) To authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment
and other facilities, and the purchased and acquisition of real and personal
properties, including necessary supplies, materials and equipment;

(h) To appoint, upon recommendation of the President of the University, Vice
President, deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty members and other
officials and employees of the University:

(i) To fix and adjust salaries of faculty members and administrative officials and
employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation and Position
Classification System and other pertinent budget and compensation laws
governing hours of service and such other duties and conditions as it may deem
proper; to grant them, at its discretion, leaves of absence under such regulations
as it may promulgate, any provision of existing laws to the contrary
notwithstanding; and to remove them for cause in accordance with requirements
‘of due process of law;

(j) To approve the curricula, instructional programs and rules of discipline as herein
provided;

(k) To set policies on admission and graduation of students;

(J) To award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding
contribution in the fields of agriculture, public service, arts, science and
technology, education or in any field of specialization within the academic
competence of the University; and to authorize the awarding of certificate of
completion of non-degree and nontraditional courses;

(m)To establish and absorb non charted tertiary institution within the Province of
Siquijor as branches and extension centers of the University in coordination with
the CHED, and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM), and to offer therein programs or courses to promote and carry out equal


and greater access to educational opportunities as mandated by the Constitution;

(n) To establish research and extension centers of the University where such will
promote the development of the latter;

(0) To establish professional chairs in the University and to provide fellowships for
qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students;

(p) To delegate any of its powers and duties provided for hereinabove to the
President or Officer-in-Charge and or other officials of the University as may
deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the
University;

(q) To authorize external management audit of the University, to be finance by the
CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit (COA);
and to institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis
of audit results and recommendations;

() To collaborate with other governing boards of state universities and colleges,
under the supervision of the CHED and in consultation with the DBM, and work
towards the restructuring of the University to become more efficient, relevant,
productive and competitive.

(s) To enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable
development and management of the economic assets of the University, the
proceeds from which shall be used for the development and strengthening of the
same;

(t) To develop consortia and other economic forms of linkage with local
government units (LGUs), institutions and agencies, both public and private,
local and foreign, in the furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the
University;

(u) To develop academic arrangements for institutional capability building with
appropriate institutions and agencies, public and private, local and foreign, and
to appoint experts or specialist as consultants, part-time or visiting or exchange
professor, scholars or researchers, as the case may be;

(v) To set up the adoption of modern and innovative modes of transmitting
knowledge such as the use of information technology, the dual learning system,
open learning or distance education and community laboratory for the promotion
of greater access to higher education and graduate studies, as the case may be;

(w)To establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative decision-making
and transparency within the University;

(x) To privatize, where most advantageous to the University, the management of


nonacademic services such as health, food, building, grounds or property
maintenance and such other similar activities; and

(y) To extend the term of the President of the University beyond the age of
retirement, but not beyond the age of seventy (70), whose performance has been
unanimously rated by the Board as outstanding base on the guidelines,
qualifications and or standards set by the Board, after unanimous
recommendation by the search committee.

SECTION 8. Meetings of the Board. ~ The Board shall regularly convene at least once
every quarter. However, the Chairperson of the Board may, upon three (3) days prior written
notice, call a maximum of two (2) special meetings whenever necessary.

A quorum of the Board shall consist of majority of all its members holding office at the time
of the meeting: Provided, however, That the Chairperson of the Board or the President of
the University is among those present in the meeting

In the absence of the Chairperson of the CHED, a Commissioner of the CHED, duly
designate by him or her, shall present him or her in the meeting with all the rights and
responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, further, That this proviso notwithstanding,
the Chairperson of the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as
the regular Chair of the Board, in which case said CHED Commissioner shall act as
Presiding Officer.

In case the Chairperson of the Congressional Commission on Education shall not be able to
attend the Board meeting, they may duly designate their respective representatives to attend
the said meeting, who shall have the same rights and responsibilities as a regular member
of the Board,

The members of the Board shall not receive any salary but shall be entitled to
reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred, either in their attendance to
meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business authorized by resolution
of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations,

SECTION 9. The University President. — The University shall be headed by a President,
who shall render full-time service. He or she shall be appointed by the Board, subject to
guidelines, qualifications and/or standards set by the Board, upon recommendation of a duly
constituted search committee. He or she shall have a term of four (4) years and shall be
eligible for reappointment for another term: Provided, that in order to effect a smooth
transition to a state university, the incumbent President of Siquijor State College shall ipso
facto become the first President of the University.

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent President
of the University, the Board shall constitute the Search Committee for the Presidency (SCP).

In case of vacancy in the Office of the President by reason of death, compulsory retirement,
resignation, removal for cause or incapacity of the President to perform the functions of his


or her office, the Board shall designate and Officer-in-Charge of the University within six
(6) months from the date of vacancy, pending the appointment of a new President.

In case of vacancy in the Office of the President as mentioned in the immediately preceding
paragraph, his or her successor or the Officer-in-Charge shall serve only the unexpired
portion of the term.

‘The powers and duties of the President of the University, in addition to those specifically
provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the President of similar
universities, and those delegated by the Board.

The salary of the President of the University shall be in accordance with the Revised
Compensation Classification System and shall be comparable to that being received by the
Presidents of similar educational institutions.

‘The President of the University shall be assisted by a Vice President for Academic Affairs,
Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation and a Vice President for
Administration, who shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the
President.

SECTION 10. Heads of University Campuses. - Campus Directors shall head the
University campuses and they shall render full-time service. They shall be appointed by the
Board upon recommendation of the search committee and the University President, subject
to the guidelines, qualifications and or standards set by the Board: Provided, That the
incumbent college administrators of the extension campuses shall serve as Campus
Directors of their respective campuses.

SECTION 11. The Administrative Council. — There shall be an Administrative Council
consisting of the President of the University as Chairperson, Vice President, deans, directors
and other officials of equal rank as members, whose duty to review and recommend to the
Board the policies governing the administration, management and development of the
University for appropriate action.

SECTION 12. The Academic Council. — There shall be an Academic Council to be
composed of the President of the University, who shall act as Chairperson, and all academic
staff with the rank of at least an assistant professor, as members.

The Academic Councils shall have the power to review and recommend the curricular
offerings and rules of discipline of the University, subject to the appropriate action of the
Board. It shall fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as for their
graduation and conferment of degrees, subject to review and or approval by the Board
through the President of the University. It shall have the disciplinary power over students
of the University and shall formulate academic policies and rules and regulations on
discipline, subject to the approval by the Board.

SECTION 13. The Secretary of the University. - The Board shall appoint a secretary, who
shall serve as such for both the Board and the University and shall keep all records and


proceedings of the Board. He or she shall serve upon each member of the Board the
appropriate notice of the Board meetings.

SECTION 14. The Treasurer of the University. — The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be
the ex officio treasurer of the University.

SECTION 15. The Faculty. — No religious opinion or affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry
in the appointment of faculty members of the University: Provided, That the said
appointment shall be subject to guidelines, qualifications and or standards set by the Board:
Provided, further, That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against any particular
church or religious sect.

SECTION 16. Scholarship Program/Admission. ~The University shall provide scholarship
program and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who
qualify for admission to the University.

No student shall be denied admission to the University by reason of sex, religion, cultural
or community affiliation and ethnic origin.

SECTION 17. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. ~ The University shall
enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to paragraph 2, Section 5 of.
Article XIV of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.

SECTION 18. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus/Equipment Supplies and Detail of
Personnel. — The heads of the bureaus and offices of the national government are hereby
authorized to load or transfer, upon the request of the President of the University, and to
detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgement of the head of the bureau or office,
such apparatus, equipment, supplies or services of such employees can be shared without
serious detriment to the public service.

The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the President of
the University, and the time so employed shall be counted as part of their regular services

SECTION 19. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. ~ All assets, fix and movable, personnel
and records of the SSC, as well as liabilities or obligations, are hereby transferred to the
University: Provided, however, That the positions, rights and security of tenure of the
faculty members and personnel therein employed under existing laws prior to the conversion
into a University shall be respected.

All parcels of land belonging to the government and occupied by the SSC are hereby
declared to be property of the University, and shall be titled under that name: Provided, That
should the University cease to exist or be abolished or should such parcels of land
aforementioned be no longer needed by the University, the same shall revert to the LGUs
concerned

SECTION 20. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the SSC.


‘Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of
the SSU shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 21. Development plan, Management Audit, Organizational/ Administrative
Academic Structure. ~ Within the period of one hundred twenty (120) days after the
approval of this Act, the University shall accomplish the following:

(a) Submit a five (5) year development plan, including its corresponding program
budget to the CHED, for corresponding recommendation to the DBM;

(b) Undergo a management audit in cooperation with the CHED; and

(©) Accordingly set up its organizational, administrative as well as academic
structure, including the appointment of the key officials of the University.

SECTION 22. Filing of Report. — On or before the fifteenth (15") day of the second (2™)
month after the opening of the regular classes each year, the Board shall file with the Office
of the President of the Philippines through the Chairperson of the CHED, and with both
Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress, conditions and needs of the
University

SECTION 23. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292,
otherwise known as “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997”, shall be an integral
part of this Act and shall serve as part of the Governing Charter of the University.

SECTION 24. Parity Clause. — All other powers, functions and privileges, responsibilities
and limitations to state universities and or their officials under existing laws shall be deemed
granted to or imposed upon the University and or its officials, whenever appropriate.

SECTION 25. /mplementing Rules and Regulations. — The Board, in consultation with the
CHED, shall formulate the guidelines to fully implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 26. Separability Clause, ~ If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 27. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 28. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.