Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Eighteenth Congress 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.______ 
Introduced by Representative Rudy S. Caoagdan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to separate the University of Southern Mindanao-
Kidapawan City Campus (USM-KCC) from the University of Southern 
Mindanao-Main Campus (USM-Main Campus) located in the Municipality of 
Kabacan, Province of Cotabato, and convert it into state college to be known as 
the Kidapawan City State College.  
The existing USM-KCC is part of the USM-Main Campus.  But while 
USM-KCC is located in the City of Kidapawan, Province of Cotabato which is 
within the Second Legislative District of North Cotabato, the USM-Main 
Campus is located in the Municipality of Kabacan under the Third Legislative 
District of North Cotabato.  
In order to equitably allocate funds for the improvement of the public 
educational institutions within the Second Legislative District of North 
Cotabato, and to give USM-KCC more flexibility in terms of decision-making 
and expansion of academic standards, as well as fiscal autonomy, it is necessary 
to separate USM-KCC which is within the Second Legislative District of North 
Cotabato from the USM-Main Campus which is in another legislative district, 
and convert it to a state college.  
Additionally, the 2020 Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index 
(CMCI) annually released by the National Competitiveness Council statistically
shows that Kidapawan City makes up for 13.8 per cent of the population and
revenues of the province of Cotabato, much more than that of the Municipality
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of Kabacan which accounts for 6.0 per cent of the province’s population and 
revenues.  
The CMCI’s ranking of Kidapawan City as one of the most competitive 
component cities in Mindanao reflects the city’s economic strength and 
dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure development and resiliency. 
All these, in addition to the comparatively bigger population, revenues, and 
internal revenue allotment of this component city, provide more credence for 
Kidapawan City to be home to a new and independent state college.  
Thus, in furtherance of the State's mandate to establish, maintain, and 
support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education, it is timely 
and beneficial for the students of the University of Southern Mindanao to 
separate its Kidapawan City campus from the main campus in the Municipality 
of Kabacan, and convert it into state college to be known as the Kidapawan City 
State College.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RUDY S. CAOAGDAN 
     Representative 
 2nd District, North Cotabato 


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Eighteenth Congress 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.______ 
Introduced by Representative Rudy S. Caoagdan 
AN ACT 
1 
SEPARATING THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO-
2 
KIDAPAWAN CITY CAMPUS (USM-KCC) LOCATED IN THE CITY 
3 
OF 
KIDAPAWAN, 
PROVINCE 
OF 
COTABATO 
FROM 
THE 
4 
UNIVERSITY 
OF 
SOUTHERN 
MINDANAO-MAIN 
CAMPUS 
5 
LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KABACAN, PROVINCE OF 
6 
COTABATO, AND CONVERTING IT INTO A STATE COLLEGE TO 
7 
BE KNOWN AS THE KIDAPAWAN CITY STATE COLLEGE, AND 
8 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
9 
10 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
11 
Congress assembled: 
12 
13 
SECTION 1. Separation and Conversion. – The existing University of 
14 
Southern Mindanao-Kidapawan City Campus (USM-KCC) located in 
15 
Kidapawan City, Province of Cotabato is separated from the University of 
16 
Southern Mindanao-Main Campus (USM-Main Campus) located in the 
17 
Municipality of Kabacan, Province of Cotabato, and converted into a state 
18 
college to be known as the Kidapawan City State College.  
19 
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2 
After the effectivity of this Act, the Kidapawan City State College, 
1 
hereinafter referred to as the College, shall exist independently, separate and 
2 
distinct from USM-Main Campus, to be governed by their respective charters. 
3 
SEC. 2. General Mandate. – The College shall primarily provide advance 
4 
instruction and professional training in education, agriculture, engineering and 
5 
technology, agribusiness, information technology and other related fields of 
6 
study. It shall also undertake research, extension services, and production 
7 
activities in support of the socio-economic development of the Province of 
8 
Cotabato and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization. 
9 
SEC. 3. Curricular Offerings. – The College shall offer undergraduate 
10 
and graduate courses in the fields of education, agriculture, engineering and 
11 
technology, agribusiness, information technology and other degree courses 
12 
within its areas of specialization and according to its capabilities, as the Board 
13 
of Trustees may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, and in order to meet 
14 
the needs of the Province of Cotabato. 
15 
SEC. 4. Administration. – The College shall have the general powers of a 
16 
corporation set forth in Republic Act No. 11232, otherwise known as the 
17 
“Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines.” The administration of the 
18 
College and the exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested exclusively in 
19 
the Board of Trustees and the president of the College. 
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3 
 
SEC. 5. Governing Board. – The governing board of the College is the 
1 
Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which is composed of 
2 
the following:  
3 
(a) 
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as 
4 
chairperson;  
5 
(b) 
President of the College, as vice chairperson;  
6 
(c) 
Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture of 
7 
the Senate;  
8 
(d) 
Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education 
9 
of the House of Representatives;  
10 
(e) 
Chairperson of the Committee on Basic, Higher and Technical 
11 
Education under the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament, or thereafter, 
12 
a regular Member of Parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in 
13 
Muslim Mindanao;  
14 
(f) 
Regional director of the National Economic and Development 
15 
Authority;  
16 
(g) 
Regional director of the Department of Science and Technology;  
17 
(h) 
Regional director of the Department of Agriculture;  
18 
(i) 
President of the federation of faculty associations of the College;  
19 
(j) 
President of the federation of student councils of the College;  
20 
(k) 
President of the federation of alumni associations of the College; 
21 
and  
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4 
 
(l) 
Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have 
1 
distinguished themselves in their profession or fields of specialization; as 
2 
members.  
3 
 
The Board shall appoint the prominent citizens from among a list of at 
4 
least five (5) qualified persons in the Province of Cotabato, as recommended 
5 
by a search committee constituted by the College president, in consultation 
6 
with the chairperson of the CHED and the other members of the Board, based 
7 
on the normal standards and qualifications for the position set by the Board.  
8 
 
The president of the faculty association, the president of the student 
9 
council and the president of the alumni association of the College shall serve in 
10 
the Board only for the duration of their terms of office, as set forth in their 
11 
respective constitutions and by-laws.  
12 
 
The two (2) prominent citizens shall serve for a term of two (2) years 
13 
from the date of appointment.  
14 
 
SEC. 6. Promulgation and Implementation of Policies. – The Board 
15 
shall promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State 
16 
policies on education and other pertinent provisions of the Philippine 
17 
Constitution on education, agriculture, science and technology, as well as the 
18 
policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722, 
19 
otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994.” 
20 
 
SEC. 7. Powers and Duties. – In addition to its general powers of 
21 
administration and the exercise of all the powers granted to the board of 
22 


 
5 
 
directors of a corporation under existing laws, the Board shall have the 
1 
following specific powers and duties:  
2 
(a) 
Promulgate rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be 
3 
necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the College;  
4 
(b) 
Receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the 
5 
support of the College in the manner it may determine in its discretion, in order 
6 
to carry out the purpose and functions of the College;  
7 
(c) 
Import duty-free economic, technical and cultural books or 
8 
publications, machineries and equipment, upon certification by the CHED that 
9 
such imported books or publications, machineries and equipment are for 
10 
economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical or cultural 
11 
purposes, in accordance with the provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code of 
12 
the Philippines, as amended;  
13 
(d) 
Receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal 
14 
properties of all kinds, and  administer and dispose of the same when necessary 
15 
for the benefit of the College, subject to the limitations, directions and 
16 
instructions of the donor, if any.  
17 
Such donations shall be exempt from the donor's tax and the same shall 
18 
be considered as allowable deductions from the gross income in the 
19 
computation of the income tax of the donor, in accordance with the provisions 
20 
of the Tax Reform Act of 1997, as amended: Provided, That such donations 
21 
shall not be disposed of, transferred or sold;  
22 


 
6 
 
(e) 
Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges such as 
1 
matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem 
2 
proper to impose, after due consultations with the involved sectors: Provided, 
3 
That such fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income 
4 
generated by the College, shall be considered as special trust funds and shall be 
5 
deposited in any authorized government depository bank, and all interest 
6 
income that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use 
7 
of the College: Provided, further, That any provision of existing laws, rules and 
8 
regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, any income generated by the 
9 
College from tuition fees, and other charges, as well as from the operation of 
10 
auxiliary services and land grants, shall be retained by the College and may be 
11 
disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension or other programs or 
12 
projects of the College: Provided, finally, That all fiduciary fees shall be 
13 
disbursed for the specific purposes for which these are collected. If, for reasons 
14 
beyond its control, the College shall not be able to pursue any project for which 
15 
the funds have been appropriated and allocated under its approved program of 
16 
expenditures, the Board may authorize the use of said funds for any reasonable 
17 
purpose which, in its discretion, may be necessary and urgent for the attainment 
18 
of the objectives and goals of the College;  
19 
(f) 
Adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other 
20 
school fees for greater access to education of poor but deserving students in 
21 


 
7 
 
accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10931, or the “Universal 
1 
Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act”; 
2 
(g) 
Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, 
3 
equipment and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, 
4 
including necessary supplies, materials and equipment;  
5 
(h) 
Appoint, upon the recommendation of the president of the College, 
6 
the vice presidents, deans, directors, heads of campuses, faculty members, and 
7 
other officials and employees of the College;  
8 
(i) 
Fix and adjust the salaries of faculty members and administrative 
9 
officials and employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation 
10 
and Position Classification System and other pertinent budget and 
11 
compensation laws governing hours of service and such other duties and 
12 
conditions as it may deem proper; to grant them, at its discretion, leaves of 
13 
absence under such regulations as it may promulgate, any provision of existing 
14 
law to the contrary notwithstanding; and to remove them for cause in 
15 
accordance with the requirements of due process of law;  
16 
(j) 
Approve the curricula, instructional programs and rules of 
17 
discipline drawn by the administrative and academic councils herein provided;  
18 
(k) 
Set the policies on admission and graduation of students;  
19 
(l) 
Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their 
20 
outstanding contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science 
21 
and technology, or in any field of specialization within the academic 
22 


 
8 
 
competence of the College; and authorize the awarding of certificates of 
1 
completion of non-degree and non-traditional courses;  
2 
(m) 
Establish and absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the 
3 
Province of Cotabato as branches and centers, in coordination with the CHED, 
4 
and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), 
5 
and offer programs or courses to promote and carry out equal access to 
6 
educational opportunities, as mandated by the Constitution;  
7 
(n) 
Establish research and extension centers of the College where such 
8 
will promote the development of the latter;  
9 
(o) 
Establish professorial chairs in the College and provide fellowships 
10 
for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students;  
11 
(p) 
Delegate any of its powers and duties provided herein to the 
12 
president or other officials of the College, as it may deem appropriate, so as to 
13 
expedite the administration of the affairs of the College;  
14 
(q) 
Authorize an external management audit of the College, subject to 
15 
the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit (COA), and  institute 
16 
reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit 
17 
results and recommendations;  
18 
(r) 
Collaborate with the governing boards of other state universities 
19 
and colleges (SUCs) within the Province of Cotabato and Region XII, under the 
20 
supervision of the CHED, and in consultation with the DBM, and work towards 
21 


 
9 
 
the restructuring of the College to become more efficient, relevant, productive 
1 
and competitive;  
2 
(s) 
Enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the 
3 
profitable development and management of the economic assets of the College, 
4 
the proceeds from which shall be used for the development and strengthening of 
5 
the College;  
6 
(t) 
Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local 
7 
government units, institutions and agencies, both public and private, local and 
8 
foreign, in the furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the College;  
9 
(u) 
Develop academic arrangements for institutional capability 
10 
building with appropriate institutions and agencies, public and private, local and 
11 
foreign, and  appoint experts or specialists as consultants, part-time or visiting 
12 
or exchange professors, scholars or researchers, as the case may be;  
13 
(v) 
Set up the adoption of modern and innovative modes of 
14 
transmitting knowledge such as the use of information technology, the dual 
15 
training system, open distance learning, and community laboratory for the 
16 
promotion of greater access to education;  
17 
(w) 
Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative 
18 
decision-making and transparency within the College;  
19 
(x) 
Privatize, where most advantageous to the College, management of 
20 
non-academic services such as health, food, building or grounds or property 
21 
maintenance and such other similar activities; and  
22 


10 
(y)
Extend the term of the president of the College whose performance 
1 
has been unanimously rated by the Board as outstanding beyond the age of 
2 
retirement, but not beyond the age of seventy (70), based on the guidelines, 
3 
qualifications and standards set by the Board after unanimous recommendation 
4 
by the search committee.
5 
SEC. 8. Meetings of the Board. - The Board shall regularly convene at 
6 
least once every quarter. The chairperson of the Board may, upon three (3) 
7 
days prior written notice, call a maximum of two (2) special meetings 
8 
whenever necessary. 
9 
A quorum of the Board shall consist of majority of all its members 
10 
holding office at the time of the meeting: Provided, That the chairperson of the 
11 
Board or the president of the College is among those present in the meeting. 
12 
In the absence of the chairperson of the CHED, a commissioner of the 
13 
CHED, duly designated by the CHED chairperson, shall represent the latter in 
14 
the meeting. The designated CHED commissioner shall have all the rights and 
15 
responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, That during this meeting, the 
16 
president of the College as vice chairperson shall be the presiding officer: 
17 
Provided, further, That this provision notwithstanding, the chairperson of the 
18 
CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED commissioner as the regular 
19 
chairperson of the Board, in which case the said CHED commissioner shall act 
20 
as the presiding officer. 
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11 
 
In case the chairpersons of the congressional committees on education 
1 
may not be able to attend the Board meeting, they may duly designate their 
2 
respective representatives to attend the said meeting, who are entitled the same 
3 
rights and responsibilities as the regular members of the Board.  
4 
The members of the Board shall not receive any salary, but are entitled to 
5 
reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred, either in their 
6 
attendance to meetings of the Board or in connection with other official 
7 
business authorized by resolution of the Board, subject to existing laws and 
8 
regulations.  
9 
SEC. 9. College President. – The College shall be headed by a president 
10 
who shall render full-time service. The president shall be appointed by the 
11 
Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications and standards set by the Board, 
12 
upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee. The president 
13 
shall serve for a term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for reappointment 
14 
for another term: Provided, That in order to effect a smooth transition to a state 
15 
college, the incumbent president of the USM-KCC, if qualified, shall serve as 
16 
the first President of the College: Provided, further, That for said reason and 
17 
pending the appointment of a new president, the chairperson of the CHED shall 
18 
appoint an officer-in-charge of the College. Within six (6) months before the 
19 
expiration of the term of office of the incumbent president of the College, the 
20 
Board shall constitute the search committee for the presidency.  
21 


12 
In case of vacancy in the office of the president, by reason of death, 
1 
compulsory retirement, resignation, removal for cause or incapacity of the 
2 
president to perform the functions of the office, the Board shall designate an 
3 
officer in charge of the College within six (6) months from the date of vacancy, 
4 
pending the appointment of a new president.  
5 
In case of vacancy in the office of the president, as mentioned in the 
6 
immediately preceding paragraph, the successor or the officer in charge shall 
7 
serve only for the unexpired portion of the term.  
8 
The powers and duties of the president of the College, in addition to 
9 
those specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the 
10 
office of the president of similar state colleges and those delegated by the 
11 
Board.  
12 
The salary of the president of the College shall be in accordance with the 
13 
Revised Compensation and Position Classification System and shall be 
14 
comparable to that being received by the presidents of similar educational 
15 
institutions.  
16 
The president of the College shall be assisted by a vice president for 
17 
academic affairs and a vice president for administration, who shall be 
18 
appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the president.  
19 
SEC. 10.  Campus Director. – A campus director shall head the College 
20 
campus and render full-time service. The campus director shall be appointed 
21 
by the Board, upon the recommendation of the search committee and the 
22 


 
13 
 
president of the College, subject to the guidelines, qualifications and standards 
1 
set by the Board.  
2 
SEC. 11. Administrative Council. – There shall be an administrative 
3 
council consisting of the president of the College, as chairperson, and the vice 
4 
presidents, deans, directors and other officials of equal rank, as members, 
5 
whose duties are to review and recommend to the Board the policies governing 
6 
the administration, management and development planning of the College.  
7 
SEC. 12. Academic Council. – There shall be an academic council to be 
8 
composed of the president of the College, who shall act as chairperson, and all 
9 
the academic staff with the rank of at least an assistant professor, as members.  
10 
The academic council shall have the power to review and recommend the 
11 
curricular offerings and rules of discipline of the College, subject to the 
12 
approval of the Board. It shall fix the requirements for the admission of 
13 
students, as well as for their graduation and the conferment of degrees, subject 
14 
to the review and approval of the Board through the president of the College. It 
15 
shall have disciplinary power over students of the College and shall formulate 
16 
academic policies and rules and regulations on discipline, subject to the 
17 
approval of the Board.  
18 
SEC. 13. College Secretary. – The Board shall appoint a secretary, who 
19 
shall serve as such for both the Board and the College and shall keep all 
20 
records and proceedings of the Board. The secretary shall serve upon each 
21 
member of the Board the appropriate notice of the Board meetings.  
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14 
 
SEC. 14. College Treasurer. – The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be 
1 
the ex officio treasurer of the College.  
2 
SEC. 15. Faculty. – No political belief, gender preference, cultural or 
3 
community affiliation or ethnic origin, and religious opinion or affiliation shall 
4 
be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the College: 
5 
Provided, That said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, 
6 
qualifications and standards set by the Board: Provided, further, That no 
7 
member of the faculty shall teach for or against any particular church or 
8 
religious sect.  
9 
SEC. 16. Scholarship Program and Admission. – The College shall 
10 
provide a scholarship program and other affirmative action programs to assist 
11 
poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to the College. No 
12 
student shall be denied admission to the College by reason of sex, religion, 
13 
cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin.  
14 
SEC. 17. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. – The 
15 
College shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to   
16 
Section 5 (2), Article XIV of the Constitution of the Republic of the 
17 
Philippines.  
18 
SEC. 18. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment, 
19 
Supplies and Detail of Personnel. – The heads of the bureaus and offices of 
20 
the national government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon the 
21 
request of the president of the College, such apparatus, equipment or supplies 
22 


 
15 
 
as may be needed by the College, and to detail employees for duty therein 
1 
when, in the judgment of the head of bureau or office, such apparatus, 
2 
equipment, supplies or services of such employees can be spared without 
3 
serious detriment to public service. The employees so detailed shall perform 
4 
such duties as required of them by the president of the College, and the time so 
5 
employed shall be counted as part of their regular services.  
6 
SEC. 19. Tax Exemptions. – The College shall be entitled to the 
7 
following tax exemptions:  
8 
(a) 
All revenues and assets of the College used exclusively and solely 
9 
for educational purposes or in furtherance thereof shall be exempt from all 
10 
taxes and duties;  
11 
(b) 
All grants, bequest, endowments, donations and contributions 
12 
made to the College to be used actually, directly and exclusively by the 
13 
College shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be allowed as 
14 
allowable deductions from the gross income of the donor for purposes of 
15 
computing the taxable income of the donor in accordance with the provisions 
16 
of the Tax Reform Act of 1997, as amended;  
17 
(c) 
Importation of economic, technical, and cultural books or 
18 
publications, which are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, 
19 
philosophical, historical or cultural purposes made by the College upon 
20 
certification by the CHED shall be exempt from customs duties in accordance 
21 


 
16 
 
with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the 
1 
“Customs Modernization and Tariff Act”;  
2 
(d) 
The College shall be exempt from value-added tax as provided for 
3 
in Section 109 (1)(H) of the Tax Reform Act of 1997, as amended; and  
4 
(e) 
All educational monetary awards shall be exempt from income tax 
5 
as prescribed in the Tax Reform Act of 1997, as amended.  
6 
SEC. 20. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. – All assets, real and 
7 
personal, personnel and records of the USM-KCC, as well as the liabilities or 
8 
obligations, are hereby transferred to the College.  
9 
The positions, rights and security of tenure of faculty members and 
10 
personnel therein employed under existing laws prior to the conversion into a 
11 
College shall not be impaired: Provided, That all plantilla positions created for 
12 
the USM-Main Campus in the Municipality of Kabacan shall be retained in the 
13 
USM-Main Campus and those created for the USM-KCC shall be transferred to 
14 
the College.  All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the 
15 
USM-KCC are hereby declared to be property of the College and shall be titled 
16 
under that name: Provided, That should the College cease to exist or be 
17 
abolished or should such parcels of land be no longer needed by the College, the 
18 
same shall revert to the local government.  
19 
SEC. 21. Development Plan, Management Audit, and Organizational 
20 
Structure. – Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the approval of this 
21 
Act, the College shall accomplish the following: 
22 


 
17 
 
(a) 
Submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its 
1 
corresponding 
program 
budget 
to 
the 
CHED, 
for 
corresponding 
2 
recommendation to the DBM;  
3 
(b) 
Undergo a management audit in cooperation with the CHED; and  
4 
(c) 
Accordingly set up its organizational, administrative and academic 
5 
structure, including the appointment of the key officials of the College.  
6 
SEC. 22. Compliance with CHED Requirements. – The provisions of 
7 
this Act notwithstanding, the establishment or conversion of the institution into 
8 
a state college shall become effective only upon the determination and 
9 
declaration by the CHED, based on the recommendation of a panel of experts, 
10 
that the institution has complied with the requirements for a college status. The 
11 
CHED, through its regional office, shall regularly provide technical assistance 
12 
to the institution and monitor compliance with the requirements of the 
13 
Commission.  
14 
The CHED shall designate a panel of experts who shall prepare a 
15 
recommendation to the chairperson of the CHED, on whether the institution has 
16 
complied with the requirements for the grant of college status. The following 
17 
are the operational requirements for a state college:  
18 
(a) 
Equivalent or appropriate accreditation under CHED policies and 
19 
guidelines for colleges;  
20 
(b) 
Ratio of qualified full-time faculty with requisite degree to number 
21 
of students;  
22 


18 
(c)
Adequate library and laboratories; 
1 
(d)
Research and development output of practical and commercial
2 
application to the community; 
3 
(e)
Relevant linkages and outreach programs that are of service to the
4 
community; and 
5 
(f)
Relevant academic policies, systems and processes.
6 
The institution shall retain its status prior to the effectivity of this Act, unless in 
7 
the meantime it is able to comply with the requirements provided therein. 
8 
SEC. 23. Suppletory Application. – The provisions of Republic Act No. 
9 
8292, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997,” 
10 
shall be an integral part of this Act and shall serve as part of the governing 
11 
charter of the College. 
12 
SEC. 24. Parity Clause. – All other powers, functions and privileges, 
13 
responsibilities and limitations to SUCs and their officials under existing laws 
14 
shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the College and its officials, 
15 
whenever appropriate. 
16 
SEC. 25. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the 
17 
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations 
18 
of the USM-Main Campus in the Municipality of Kabacan. Thereafter, such 
19 
sums as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of the 
20 
College shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
21 


19 
SEC. 26. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90)
1 
days from the approval of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the 
2 
CHED promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
3 
implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 27. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is 
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not 
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affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 28. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
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orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of 
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this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 29. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,
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