NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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23 JAN 18 P5 :22
SENATE
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE BENGUET STATE 
UNIVERSITY 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
The Commission on Higher Education has currently awarded Benguet State 
University SUC Level IV, the highest category' in the SUC leveling classification of state 
universities and colleges. Despite this achievement, the university does not have a 
medical school. According to the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (June 
2021), the Cordillera Administrative Region is home to only two (2) of the fifty-eight 
(58) medical colleges (CAR). As a result of the region's lack of medical education 
institutions, the cost of medical education in the Cordillera province is high, including 
transportation and lodging allowances.
According to the World Bank, there is one physician for every 1,000 Filipinos. 
As a result, the Doktor para sa Bayan Act was passed, which establishes a medical 
scholarship and return service program for deserving students in State Universities 
and Colleges (SUCs) to combat the country's doctor shortage. However, the passage 
of the legislation would be unwise if more accessible institutions, particularly in far-


flung rural areas such as Benguet and its neighboring provinces in the Cordillera 
Administrative Region, are not provided.
This bill proposes to establish a College of Medicine at Benguet State University, 
which will be located in La Trinidad, Benguet, and will be known as Benguet State 
University- College of Medicine. Furthermore, it aims to provide an opportunity for 
residents of Benguet and neighboring provinces to obtain quality medical education 
and training close to their homes, thereby lowering the overall cost of medical 
education.
With the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestlyssought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
T'l
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23 JAN 18 P5 23
SENATE
S. No. 1699
RtCEiVfDBV;
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE BENGUET STATE 
UNIVERSITY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LA TRINIDAD, PROVINCE OF 
BENGUET, TO BE KNOWN AS THE "BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE 
OF MEDICINE", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
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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. Genera! Mandate. The BSU - College of Medicine, hereinafter 
referred to as the "College", shall primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine Program, 
including the Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INT ARMED) Program, consisting 
of basic science and clinical courses, and using learner-centered and competency- 
based approach. The primary goal of the College shall be to develop a corps of 
professional physicians to 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.
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The College is also mandated to undertake the extension services and provide
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progressive leadership in these areas.


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SEC. 3. Governance. Being an institution within the BSU System, the
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governance of the Coliege shall be vested in the Board of Regents of the BSU,
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hereinafter referred to as the Board, whose powers are defined under Presidential
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Decree No. and other applicable laws and regulations, unless otherwise provided or
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amended elsewhere in this Act.
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SEC. 4. Administration. The administration of the College is vested in the
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Dean of the BSU insofar authorized by the Board of the University.
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SEC. 5. The College Dean. The College shall be headed bv a Dean who shall
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be appointed bv the Board, subject to its guidelines on qualifications and standards,
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and based on the recommendation of the Chancellor, following a process of
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consultation with the constituents of the College. The Dean shall render full-time
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service, serve a term of three (3) years, and may be reappointed to another term.
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Within six (6) months of the effectivity of this Act, the Chancellor of BSU shall
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constitute the Search Committee for the Deanship- The powers and duties of the Dean
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of the College, in addition to those specifically provided for in this Act, shall include
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those usually pertaining to the Office of the Dean of similar state colleges and those
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delegated by the Chancellor.
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The salary of the Dean of the College shall be in accordance with Republic Act No.
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11466 or the "Salary Standardization Law of 2()19", and such other laws amendatory
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thereto, which may hereinafter be enacted, and shall be comparable to that being
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received by the Deans of similar educational institutions.
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In case of a vacancy in the Office of the Dean by reason of death, compulsory,
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retirement, resignation, renewal for cause, or incapacity of the Dean to perform the
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functions of the office, the Board upon the recommendation of the Chancellor, shall
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designate an Officer-in-Charge of the College, pending the appointment of a new
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Dean: Provided, That the Officer-in-Charge shall serve only during the unexpired
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portion of the term.


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The Dean of the College shall be assisted by a College Secretary, who shall be
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appointed by the Chancellor.
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SEC. 6. The Faculty. The Board shall appoint, upon the recommendation of
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the Chancellor and the nomination by the President of the University, the faculty
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members of the College; Provided, That no political belief, gender preference, cultural
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or community affiliation or ethnic origin, nor religious opinion or affiliation shall be a
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matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the College: Provided,
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further. That said appointment shaii be subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and
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standards set by the Board: Provided, finally. That no of the faculty shall teach for or
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against any particular church or religious sect.
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SEC. 7. Scholarship Programs and Admission. The Coiiege shaii provide
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scholarships and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving
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students who qualify for admission to the College.
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No student shall be denied admission to the College by reason of gender, religion,
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cultural or community affiliation, physical disability, or ethnic origin.
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SEC. 8. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. The College
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shall enjov academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to paragraph 2,
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Section 5 of Article X IV of the Constitution.
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SEC. 9. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment or
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Supplies and Detail of Personnel. Upon the request of the Board, through the
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President of the BSU, the heads of the bureaus and offices of the national government
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may loan or transfer to the College such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be
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needed by it, and detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head
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of bureau or office, the apparatus, equipment, supplies or services of such employees
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can be spared without serious detriment to pubiic service.
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The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the Dean
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of the College, and the time so served shall be counted as part of their regular service.


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SEC. 10. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. All existing appropriations,
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assets, both real and personal, personnel, and records of the College, as well as its
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liabilities or obligations, shall be titled or named after the BSD.
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All parcels of land belonging to the government to be occupied by' the College shall
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be the property of the BSD, and shall be titled under its name: Provided, That should
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the College ceases to exist or be abolished or should such aforementioned parcels of
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land be no longer needed by the BSD, the same shall revert to the concerned local
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government unit or to the Republic of the Philippines, as the case may be.
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SEC. 11. Duty and Tax Exemptions. The importation by the College of
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medical books or publications, medical equipment or instruments which are for
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medical, laboratory or scientific purposes shall, upon certification by the Commission
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on Higher Education (CHED), be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the
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provisions of Repubiic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization
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and Tariff Act (CMTA)",
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All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions made to and used
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actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes by the College, shall be
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exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction
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from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor in
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accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 
1997, as
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amended.
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SEC. 12. Suppietory Application. The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292,
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otherwise known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997", shall form
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part of this Act,
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SEC. 13. Parity Clause. All other powers, functions, and privileges,
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responsibilities, and limitations under existing laws shall be deemed granted to or
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imposed upon the College and its officials, whenever appropriate.
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SEC. 14. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provision
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of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


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SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days
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from the approval of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED, issue
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the rules and regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 16. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any part or provision of this
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Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not
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affected are in full force and effect.
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
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and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
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are amended, repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 18. 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.
Approved.