^>enatE
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
23 JAN 26 ?2’A\
SENATE
S.B. No.
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE BENGUET STATE 
UNIVERSITY LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LA TRINIDAD, PROVINCE 
OF BENGUET, TO BE KNOWN AS THE BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY 
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the World Bank, there should be one doctor for every 1,000 
Filipinos. Due to shortage of doctors in the country, the "Doktor Para sa Bayan Act," 
was enacted into law which established a medical scholarship and return service 
program for deserving students in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). However, if 
more accessible institutions are not provided, particularly for remote rural areas like 
Benguet and its bordering provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region, the goal 
of the said law will not be realized.
The Commission on Higher Education has awarded the Benguet State University 
sue Level IV, the highest level in the SUC leveling categorization of state universities 
and colleges. Despite this accomplishment, the university still does not have a medical 
school. To date, only two (2) out of fifty-eight (58) medical colleges are located in the 
Cordillera Administrative Region. Hence, the lack of medical education institutions in 
the region results to high cost of medical education for aspiring doctors.
This bill seeks to establish a College of Medicine in the Benguet State University 
in La Trinidad, Benguet to be known as Benguet State University College of Medicine. 
This will also provide an opportunity for the people of Benguet and its neighboring 
provinces to aeguire guality medical education and training within the proximity of their 
homes.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ( 
/
I'MEf'C^RCOS


g5)enate
of ti(f fertretary
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
23 JAN 26 P2-41
ITTElVi
SENATE
S.B. No. 1788
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE BENGUET STATE 
UNIVERSITY LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LA TRINIDAD, PROVINCE 
OF BENGUET, TO BE KNOWN AS THE BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY 
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
SECTION 1. Establishment - There is hereby established a medical school in 
the Benguet State University (BSU) located in the Municipality of La Trinidad, Province 
of Benguet, to be known as the " Benguet State University-College of Medicine".
SEC. 2. General Mandate. - The Benguet State University-College of Medicine, 
hereinafter referred to as the "College", shall primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine 
Program, including an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine Program, consisting of basic 
science and clinical courses, and using a learner-centered, competency-based, and 
community-oriented approach. The primary goal of the College shall be to develop a 
corps of professional physicians to help strengthen the healthcare system of the 
country, as well as to respond to the human resource development needs of the 
Province of Benguet and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
The College is also mandated to undertake research and extension services and 
provide progressive leadership in these areas.
SEC. 3. Governance. -The governance of the College shall be vested in the 
Board of Regents of the BSU, hereinafter referred to as the Board, whose powers are 
defined under Presidential Decree No. 2010, entitled "Converting the Mountain State 
Agricultural College in the Municipality of La Trinidad, Province of Benguet, into a 
University, to be Known as the Benguet State University, and Appropriating Funds


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Therefor", as amended, and other applicable laws and regulations, unless otherwise 
provided or amended elsewhere in this Act.
SEC. 4. Administration. - The administration of the College shall be vested in 
the Dean of the BSU insofar as may be authorized by its Board.
SEC. 5. The College Dean. - The College shall be headed by a Dean who shall 
be appointed by the Board, subject to its guidelines on qualifications standards, and 
based on the recommendation of the President, following a process of consultation with 
the constituents of the College. The Dean shall render full-time service, serve a term of 
three (3) years, and may be reappointed to another term.
Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the President of the BSU 
shall constitute the Search Committee for the Deanship.
The powers and duties of the Dean of the College, in addition to those specifically 
provided for in this Act, shall include those usually pertaining to the Office of the Dean 
of similar state universities and colleges and those delegated by the President.
The salary of the Dean of the College shall be in accordance with Republic Act 
No. 11466, otherwise known as the "Salary Standardization Law of 2019", and such 
other laws amendatory thereto, which may hereinafter be enacted, and shall be 
comparable to that being received by the Deans of similar educational institutions.
In case of vacancy in the Office of the Dean by reason of death, compulsory 
retirement, resignation, removal for cause, or incapacity of the Dean to perform the 
functions of the office, the Board shall, upon the recommendation of the President, 
designate an Officer-in-Charge of the College, pending the appointment of a new Dean: 
Provided, That the Officer-in-Charge shall serve only during the unexpired portion of 
the term
The Dean of the College shall be assisted by a College Secretary, who shall be 
appointed by the Board.
SEC. 6. The Faculty. - The Board shall, upon the recommendation by the 
President of the BSU, appoint the faculty members of the College: Provided, That no 
political belief, gender preference, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin, nor 
religious opinion or affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty 
members of the College: Provided, further. That said appointment shall be subject to 
the guidelines on qualification standards set by the Board: Provided finally. That no 
member of the faculty shall teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.
SEC. 7. Scholarship Programs and Admission. - The College shall provide 
scholarships and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students 
who qualify for admission to the College. Students who have availed themselves of the


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scholarship program under Republic Act No. 11509, otherwise known as the "Doktor 
Para sa Bayan Act", shall render a return service in accordance with the said law. 
Students availing themselves of other nationally-funded scholarship programs to 
complete the medicine degree program under the College may be required to render a 
return service depending on the contract to be signed between the student and the 
College, No student shall be denied admission to the College by reason of gender, 
religion, cultural or community affiliation, physical disability, or ethnic origin.
SEC. 8. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. - The College shall 
enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 
5 of Article XIV of the Constitution.
SEC. 9. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment or Supplies, and 
Detail of Personnel. - Upon the request of the Board, through the President of the BSU, 
the heads of the bureaus and offices of the national government may loan or transfer 
to the college such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by it, and detail 
employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of bureau or office, the 
apparatus, equipment, supplies or services of such employees can be spared without 
serious detriment to public service.
The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the 
Dean of the College, and the time so served shall be counted as part of their regular 
service.
SEC. 10. Assets, Liabilities, and Personnel. - All appropriations, assets, both real 
and personal, personnel, and records of the College, as well as its liabilities or 
obligations, shall be titled or named after the BSU.
All parcels of land belonging to the government to be occupied by the College 
shall be the property of the BSU, and titled under its name: Provided, That should the 
BSU cease to exist or be abolished or should such aforementioned parcels of land be 
no longer needed by the BSU, the same shall revert to the Municipality of La Trinidad 
or to the Republic of the Philippines, as the case may be.
SEC. 11. Duty and Tax Exemptions. - The importation by the College of medical 
books or publications, medical equipment or instruments which are for medical, 
laboratory or scientific purposes shall, upon certification by the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of 
Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff 
Act"
All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions made to and 
used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes by the College, shall be 
exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from


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gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor in accordance 
with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
SEC. 12. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, 
otherwise known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997", shall form part 
of this Act.
SEC. 13. Appropriations. -The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
approval of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED, issue rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - Any law, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,