Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2495

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable EULOGIO “LEO” R. RODRIGUEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIV, Section | of the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates that the State shall
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.

Under this constitutional mandate, Republic Act No. 10229 was signed into law on
October 19, 2012 to convert the Catanduanes State Colleges into a state university, now known
as the Catanduanes State University (CATSU), with a main campus operating in the capital
town of Virac and a satellite campus in the Municipality of Panganiban, approximately 60
kilometers from the Virac Campus. The enactment of RA 10229 positions CATSU as one of
the leading educational institutions in the Bicol region, offering relevant and in-demand fields
of study while strengthening its research program.

Building upon the law’s vision and achievements, this proposed measure provides for
the continued development of the CATSU by converting the satellite campus in the Panganiban
into a regular campus, to be known as the CATSU-Panganiban Campus.

If converted into a regular campus, CATSU-Panganiban will have its budgetary line
item, independent from the main campus. This budgetary independence enables the campus to
plan and implement programs more effectively. Moreover, securing a dedicated budget for
CATSU-Panganiban allows it to expand its offerings, based on the academic programs
approved by the CATSU Board of Regents, to better serve the educational needs of students in
this underserved part of Catanduanes.

The enactment of this measure will alleviate the financial and logistical burden on
residents of the northern, northeastern, and eastern parts of the province. The proposed
Panganiban campus capacitates students to pursue their educational and professional
aspirations, opportunities that may currently be available only at the Virac Campus.

Finally, aside from the educational goals, the Municipality of Panganiban stands to
benefit from the potential increase in economic activities and local employment opportunities
resulting from the conversion.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

EULOGIO RIG!


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable EULOGIO “LEO” R. RODRIGUEZ

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE PANGANIBAN SATELLITE CAMPUS OF THE
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
PANGANIBAN, PROVINCE OF CATANDUANES, INTO A REGULAR CAMPUS OF
THE CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY, TO BE KNOWN AS THE
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY-PANGANIBAN CAMPUS, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Catanduanes State
University (CATSU)-Panganiban Campus Act”.

SEC. 2. Conversion of CATSU-Panganiban Campus. ~ The CATSU-Panganiban
Satellite Campus located in the Municipality of Panganiban, Province of Catanduanes, is
hereby converted into a regular campus of the CATSU to be known as the CATSU-Panganiban
Campus. Provided, That upon the effectivity of any law renaming the Catanduanes State
University, the Panganiban Campus, as converted by virtue of this Act, shall also be
automatically renamed.

SEC. 3. General Mandate. — The CATSU-Panganiban Campus shall primarily provide
short-term, technical-vocational, undergraduate, and graduate courses within its areas of
competency and specialization, pursuant to the mandate of the CATSU, and according to its
capability, as the Board of Regents, hereinafter referred to as the Board, may deem necessary
to respond to the human resource development needs of the Province of Catanduanes and the
Bicol Region.

It shall be mandated to undertake research and extension services, and production
activities in support of the socioeconomic development and to provide progressive leadership
in these areas.

SEC. 4. Supervision and Management of the CATSU-Panganiban Campus. - The
CATSU-Panganiban Campus shall be headed by a Campus Administrator, to be appointed by
the Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board, and upon
the recommendation of a Search Committee duly constituted for the purpose of selecting the
Campus Administrator.


SEC. 5. Compliance with the Requirements of the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED). ~The CATSU shall ensure the compliance of the CATSU-Panganiban Campus with
the policies, standards, and guidelines of the CHED for the operation of the Campus, including
those related to the offering of courses and introduction of new or revised courses and programs
prior to its conversion as a regular campus.

SEC. 6. Management of Personnel, Assets, and Record of the Campus. - All assets,
both real and personal, personnel, and records of the CATSU-Panganiban Campus, as well as
its liabilities or obligations, shall be transferred to the CATSU. The positions, rights, and
security of tenure of faculty members and personnel therein employed under existing laws prior
to the conversion into a regular campus shall be respected.

All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the CATSU-Panganiban
Satellite Campus shall be transferred to the CATSU: Provided, That should the campus or the
CATSU cease to exist or be abolished or should such aforementioned parcels of land be no
longer needed by the CATSU, the same shalll revert to the concerned local government unit or
to the Republic of the Philippines, as the case may be.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act, including those required to fund the plantilla positions of teaching and non-teaching
personnel of the CATSU-Panganiban Campus, shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 8. 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. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED and the Department of
Budget and Management, issue rules and regulations to implement its provisions.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not be affected and shall
remain in force and in effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters
of instruction, administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. — This his Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,