Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 89.4.4

Introduced by Honorable FREDERICK W. SIAO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to convert the Iligan City National School of Fisheries
(ICNSF) into the Tligan City Polytechnic State College (ICSPC).

Section 2, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides, in part, that
"The State shall establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate, and
integrated system of education relative to the needs of the people and society."

Providing access to quality and affordable education has always been a
principal objective of the government together with the aspiration of attaining its
sustainable existence. Moreover, education is essential in achieving human
progress and development as it affords people with the opportunities to enable
them to acquire a better future. Education plays an important role in fostering

peace, democracy and economic growth as well as mitigating poverty especially in
the countryside.

The Tligan City National School of Fisheries (ICNSF) was formally
established on May 4, 1973 by virtue of Republic Act No. 4625. In its more
than forty years of existence, it has provided educational opportunities to the
youth of lligan City and its nearby provinces and municipalities, thus, preparing
them for gainful employment to meet the demands of the fisheries industry in
the country. Recently, the ICNSF has emerged as one of the top model schools

for the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum of the "K-12 Program" of the
Department of Education (DepEd).


Converting the ICNSF into a Polytechnic State College will make Iligan City
home to a viable educational institution that will be vital in helping further
develop and strengthen the country's fisheries’ industry. Currently, the ICNSF is
a public technical-vocational (Tech-Voch) school with approximately eleven
hectares of land area at Purok I, Barangay Buru-un, Iligan City. It is the
only public secondary school with Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) accredited courses in Aquaculture National Certificate (NC)
Level II, Fish/Food Processing NC Level II, Bread and Pastry Production NC Level
II and Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC Level II.

The conversion of the ICNSF ito a Polytechnic State College will widen its
curriculum and address the needs of the growing student population in Iligan
City and its neighboring provinces and municipalities for easier access to
quality and affordable education.

In view of the foregoing, appreval of this Bill is earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House al Wo. 8944

Introduced by Honorable FREDERICK W. SIAO

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE ILIGAN CITY NATIONAL SCHOOL OF FISHERIES
(ICNSF) INTO THE ILIGAN CITY POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
(ICPSC) DEFINING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Conversion.- The present lligan City National School of
Fisheries (ICNSF) in Iligan City, is hereby converted into the Iligan City

Polytechnic State College (ICPSC), hereinafter referred to as the Polytechnic State
College.

Sec. 2. Purpose.— The Polytechnic State College shall primarily offer
professional and technical instructions and trainings in both the graduate and
undergraduate levels in the fields of fishery education, marine transportation,
tourism, trade and the arts. It shall also offer vocational and technology
courses in welding technology, vocational technology, fishery technology, hotel
and restaurant services, hotel and household services, baking technology, electronic
services and repair. The Polytechnic State College shall continue to offer the Junior
High School and Senior High School Program under the technical-vocational
curriculum of the. K to 12 Program of the Department of Education.


It shall serve as the center for development of the fisheries industry and
shall provide technological, professional and occupational training on the
utilization and development of appropriate technologies. It shall also undertake
research and extension services and provide progressive leadership in the area
of fishery education,

The Polytechnic State College shall offer undergraduate, graduate and
short-term technical courses within its area of specialization as the Board of
Trustees may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, particularly in order to
meet the needs of the city and the province.

Sec. 3. Powers of the Polytechnic State College.- The Polytechnic
State College will have the structure and powers of a higher education
institution, geared towards the development of technical education and skills
development goals of the country, particularly in developing and strengthening
the country's fisheries industry.

The Polytechnic State College shall have the general powers of a
Corporation set forth in Batas Pambansa Big. 68, as amended, otherwise known
as the Corporation Code of the Philippines." The administration of the
Polytechnic State College and the exercise of its corporate powers shall be
vested exclusively in its Board of Trustees,

Sec. 4. The Governing Board; Manner of Appointment.—

a) Composition —The governing body of the Polytechnic State College shall
be the Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, composed of
the following:

1) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),

Chairperson;

2) President of the Polytechnic State College, Vice-Chairperson;

3) Regional Director of the National Economic and Development

Authority (NEDA) or a duly authorized representative, member;

4) Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology

(DOST) or a duly authorized representative, member;


5) President of the faculty association © of the Polytechnic State

College, member;

6) President of the student council of the Polytechnic State College,

member;

7) President of the alumni association of the Polytechnic State College,

member;

8) Two (2) prominent citizens who have distinguished themselves in

their professions or fields of specialization chosen from among a list of at

least five (5) qualified persons in Iligan City, as recommended by the

search committee constituted by the President of the Polytechnic State

College in consultation with the Chairperson of the CHED based on the

normal standards and qualifications for the position. The two (2) private

sector representatives shall be appointed by the Board upon

recommendation of the duly constituted search committee. The City

Government of Iligan shall be represented in the search committee.

b) Term of Office — The president of the faculty and alumni ‘associations
and the student trustees shall sit in the Board until the expiration of their term of
Office in such capacities. The prominent citizens shall serve for a term of two (2)
years from the date of appointment,

SEC. 5. 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 admi

istration and the exercise of all powers granted to the board of
directors of a corporation under existing laws

4) To promulgate rules and regulations not contrary to law as
may be necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the
Polytechnic State College;

b) To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for
the support of the Polytechnic State College in the manner it may determine, in

its discretion, to carry out the purposes and functions of the Polytechnic State
College;


c) To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and
personal properties of all kinds, to administer and dispose of the same when
necessary for the benefit of the Polytechnic State College, subject to 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), as amended. Provided, that such donations shall not be disposed
of, transferred or sold;

d) To fix tuition fees and other necessary school fees and
charges including 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
incomes generated by the Polytechnic State College, 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 fund for the
use of the Polytechnic State College.

Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the contrary
notwithstanding, any income generated by the Polytechnic State College from
tuition fees and other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services
and land grants, shall be retained by the Polytechnic State College, and may be
disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension, or other programs
and projects of the Polytechnic State College. Provided, that all fiduciary fees
shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for which they are collected,

If for reasons beyond its control, the Polytechnic State College 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 Polytechnic State College;


©) To adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and
school fees for greater access by poor but deserving students;

f) To authorize the construction or repair of the buildings,
equipment and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real
and personal properties, Including necessary supplies, materials and
equipment. Purchases and other transactions entered into by the Polytechnic
State College through the Board shall be exempted from all taxes and duties;

9) To appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of
the Polytechnic State College, vice presidents, deans, directors,
heads of departments, faculty members and other officials and employees;

h) To fix and adjust the salaries of faculty members and
administrative officials and employees subject to the provisions of the Revised
Compensation and Position Classification System, as amended, 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 regulations as it may promulgate, any
Provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding; and to remove them
for cause in accordance with the requirements of due process of law;

i) To approve the curricula, institutional programs and rules of
discipline drawn by the administrative and academic councils as herein
provided;

J) To set policies on admission, graduation and certification of
students;

k) To award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition
of outstanding contribution in the field of education, public service, arts, science
and technology or in any field of specialization within the academic competence of
the Polytechnic State College and to authorize the award of certificates of
Completion of non-degree and non-traditional courses;


!) To absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the province
of Lanao del Norte in coordination with the CHED and in consultation with the
Department of Budget and Management, and to offer therein needed programs or
courses, to promote and carry out equal access to educational opportunities
mandated by the Constitution;

m) To establish research and extension centers of the Polytechnic

State College where such will promote the development of the latter;

n) To establish chairs in the Polytechnic State College and to
provide fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarship grants to
deserving students;

0) To delegate any of its powers and duties provided for
hereinabove to the President or other officials of the Polytechnic State
College as it may deem appropriate so as to expedite the administration
of the affairs of the Polytechnic State College;

p) To authorize an external management audt of the institution,
to be financed by the CHED and to institute. reforms, including academic
and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results and recommendations;

a) To collaborate with CHED, TESDA and other governing boards
of state universities and colleges within the region, under the supervision of
the CHED and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management,
in the restructuring of the Polytechnic State College to become more
efficient, relevant, productive and competitive in producing _ professionals,
technologists and technicians;

r) To enter into joint ventures with business and industry for
the profitable development and management of the assets of the Polytechnic
State College, the proceeds of which will be used for the
development and strengthening of the Polytechnic State College;

$) To develop partnerships and other forms of linkages with local
Yovernment units, institutions and agencies, both public and private, local

and foreign, in furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the Polytechnic
State College;


t) To develop academic arrangements for _institutional
capability building with appropriate institutions and agencies, public or
private, local or foreign, and to appoint experts or specialists as
consultants, or visiting or exchange professors, scholars, researchers, as the
case may be;

u) To set up the adoption of modem and _ innovative
modes of transmitting knowledge such as the use of information technology,
the dual system, open learning, community laboratory, and competency-based
training for the promotion of greater access to higher education,
professional and technological education and skills development;

v) To establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative
decision-making and transparency within the Polytechnic State College;

w) To privatize, where most advantageous to the Polytechnic
State College, management and non-academic services such as health, food,
building or grounds or property maintenance and similar such other activities;
and ‘

x) To extend beyond the age of retirement but not later than the
age of seventy (70) the term of the President of the Polytechnic State College
whose performance has been unanimously rated as outstanding and upon
unanimous recommendation by the Search Committee for the President of
the Polytechnic State College.

SEC.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 provisions of the
Philippine Constitution on education, science and technology, arts, culture
and sports; as well as the policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under
Republic Act No. 7722 and also in accordance with the policies, standards
and programs of the Technical Education and Skills — Development
Authority (TESDA), the designated government authority in technical
education and skills development.


SEC.7. Board Meetings; Quorum. — The Board shall regularly
convene at least once every quarter. The Chairperson of the Board of
Trustees may call a special meeting whenever necessary. Provided, that
members are notified in writing at least three (3) days prior to said meeting.

A majority of all members holding office shall constitute a quorum for
board meetings. Provided, that the Chairperson of the CHED who is the
Chairperson of the Board or the President of the Polytechnic State College is
among those present in the meeting. In the absence of the Chairperson of the
CHED, a duly designated Commissioner of the CHED, shall represent the
Chairperson of the CHED in the meeting with all the rights and responsibilities of
aregular member. Provided, however, that in the said meeting, the
President of the Polytechnic State College as vice chairperson shall be the
presiding officer. Provided, further, that this proviso notwithstanding, the
Chairperson of the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED
Commissioner as the regular Chairperson to the Board of the Polytechnic State
College, in which case said CHED Commissioner shall act as the presiding
officer. The members shall serve without compensation, but they shall be
reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in their attendance of meetings of
the Board or in connection with their official business authorized by resolution of
the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations.

SEC.8. Administration. -— The administration of the
Polytechnic State College shall be vested in a President who shall render
full-time service. The President shall be appointed by the Board upon the
recommendation of a duly constituted search committee. The President shall
have a term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for reappointment for
another term. In order to effect a smooth transition to a Polytechnic State
College, the current head of the ICNSF shall become the first President of the
Polytechnic State College.


The President shall be assisted by a vice president for academic affairs
who shall be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the
President of the Polytechnic State College without prejudice to the
appointment of more thru one (1) vice president when so warranted.

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of the
incumbent President, the Board shall create a search committee for the
presidency.

In case of vacancy by reason of death, compulsory retirement,
resignation, removal for cause or incapacity of the President to perform the
functions of the office, the Board shall have the authority to designate
an officer-in-charge of the Polytechnic State College 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, the successor shall hold office only for
the unexpired portion of the term.

The powers and duties of the President of the Polytechnic State
College in addition to those specifically provided in this Act shall be those
usually pertaining to the office of the president of other educational institutions.

The salary of the President of the University shall be in accordance
with the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System, as modified
by Joint Resolution No. 4 dated June 17, 2009 and other pertinent budget
and compensation laws, and shall be comparable to that being received by
the presidents of similar educational institutions.

SEC.9. Secretary. - The Board shall appoint a Secretary, who
shall serve as such for both the Polytechnic State College and the Board, and
shall keep all records of the Board.

SEC.10. Treasurer. — The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be
the ex-offido Treasurer of the Polytechnic State College.


SEC. 11, Administrative Council.- There shall be an
administrative council consisting of the President of the Polytechnic
State College as Chairperson, vice-presidents, deans, directors and other
officials of equal rank as members whose duty is to review and recommend
to the Board, policies governing the administration, management and
development planning of the institution.

SEC.12. Academic Council.- There shall be an academic
Council consisting of the President of the Polytechnic State College as
Chairperson, vice-presidents and all members of the instructional staff with
the rank not lower than assistant professor, as members. The academic council
shall have the power to review and recommend the curricular offerings and rules
of discipline of the Polytechnic State College, for the approval .of the Board, It
shall fix the requirements for admission to the Polytechnic State College, as
well as for graduation and the conferring of certificates and diplomas, subject

to review and approval by the Board through the President of the Polytechnic State
College.

SEC. 13. Academic Freedom.- Pursuant to paragraph 2,
Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines, all institutions of higher learning, public or private, shall enjoy
academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

SEC. 14. Admission and Scholarships. — No student shall be
denied admission to the Polytechnic State College by reason of gender,
nationality, religion., cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin, or
political affiliation,

The Polytechnic State College shall provide a scholarship program
and other subsidies to assist poor but deserving students who quality for
admission to the Polytechnic State College


SEC. 15. Faculty, — No religious opinion or affiliation, political
beliefs, gender, preference, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin,
shall be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the
Polytechnic State College: Provided, however, that no member of the
faculty shall teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.

SEC. 16. Development Plan; = Management —_— Audit;
Organizational, Administrative and Academic Structure. - Within the
period of one hundred twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act,
the Polytechnic State College shall accomplish the following;

a) Submit a five (5) year development plan, including program
budgets to CHED and TESDA, for corresponding recommendation to the
Department of Budget and Management;

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

c) Set up its organizational, administrative as well as

academic structure, including the appointment of key Polytechnic State
College officials.

SEC. 17. Transfer of Assets.- All assets, real and personal,
personnel and records of the ICNSF based in the City of Iligan, as well as
liabilities or obligations, are hereby transferred to the Polytechnic State
College. The position, rights and security of tenure of personnel therein
employed under existing laws shall be respected.

All parcels of land belonging to the government and occupied
by the ICNSF are hereby declared to be the property of the Polytechnic
State College and shall be titled under that name.


SEC. 18. Loan of Equipment.- The heads of bureaus and offices
of the national government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer upon
request of the President of the Polytechnic State College such apparatus,
equipment or supplies as may be needed by the Polytechnic State College,
and to detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head
of bureau or office, such apparatus, equipment, supplies or services of such
employees can be spared wthout serious detriment to the public service.
Employees detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the
President of the Polytechnic State College and the time so employed shall be
counted as part of their regular services.

SEC. 19. Auditing.- All accounts and expenses of the
Polytechnic State College shall be audited by the Commission on Audit or
its duly authorized representative.

SEC. 20. Filing of Report. — Not later than the fifteenth day of
the second 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 CHED and
TESDA, and to both Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress,
Conditions and needs of the Polytechnic State College.

SEC. 21. Appropriations.- The amount necessary for the
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of
the ICNSF. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued
operation and maintenance of the Polytechnic State College shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 22, Repealing Clause. — || laws, presidential decrees,
executive orders, memoranda, rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified
accordingly.


SEC. 23. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act
is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions
not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 24, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general

circulation.

Approved,