Republic of the Philippines

House of Representative:
Quezon City, Metro Manila

D,

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS By.

First Regular Session

Reet
BILLS AND INDEX SF

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This bill seeks to designate and develop regional state universities
that shall serve as the State’s vehicles in providing world-class, inclusive,
and accessible higher education in order to promote regional development
and empowerment.

Various studies have suggested the strong correlation between
regional development and the quality of higher education available thereat.
The report of Hedin (2009)! highlighted the crucial role of higher education
institutions (HEIs) in enhancing the regional impact of the people by offering
education that matches the needs of both private and public employers in
the region. It added that HEIs can significantly contribute to the
development of a knowledge-based economy in the regions by providing
applied and need /user-driven research,

In support of this position, the paper presented by the University of
the Philippines (UP) last March 2016 entitled, “Knowledge-based
Development and Governance: Challenges and Recommendations to the
2016 Presidential Candidates,” stressed the importance of the country’s
human or knowledge capital as a potent resource to achieve and sustain
inclusive growth because “the ability to harness the tools for developing
regions and cities largely depends on the skills and capacities of the
workforce to create new knowledge, innovate, and improve productivity.”

‘Taking off from these standpoints, it becomes imperative for the State
to implement measures to speed up the improvement of higher education
and consequently the quality of human capital in the regions if it is indeed
bent in hastening regional development. One of such measures could be the
designation and development of regional state universities (RSUs).

Hedin, S. Higher education institutions as drivers of regional development in the Nordic countries,
Nordregio Working Paper, Stockholm, 2009,

HovSE. OF REPRESENTATIVES:
RECEIVED

TRATION UNIT


‘The designation of RSUs borrows and expands the concept of hub-
and-spokes being proposed by UP. First, the RSUs shall be developed into
world-class educational institutions that shall be at the forefront of
upgrading the quality of manpower and education in the regions. Second,
the RSUs shall serve as R&D hubs that shall lead in the advancement of
regional research agenda, knowledge capital development, and technological
innovation. Third, these institutions shall also be centers for grassroots
development for arts, culture, and sports to promote holistic and inclusive
development in the regions.

It is expected that with the full development of the RSUs the State will
be able to encourage more firms to locate in the regions - especially those
who were initially turned off by the lack of qualified manpower ~ thus spur
growth in the countryside. In addition, by providing more employment and
career opportunities in the regions we will be able to reduce migration to
highly-urbanized areas and address the problem of regional brain drain.

In view thereof, the approval of this bill is earnestly requested.



Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1403

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE DESIGNATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF
REGIONAL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREOF.

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the
“Regional State Universities Development Act.”

SECTION 2. Objectives. — The State shall provide world-class,
inclusive, and accessible higher education to all regions in the country
in order to:

a. Provide quality human resources in the regions in strategic
fields to promote and support economic activity all over the
country with the aim of decentralizing growth and
development;

b. Serve as regional research and development hubs that shall
lead in knowledge capital development and technological
innovation, and coordinate with various stakeholders for the
advancement of regional research agenda that shall promote
the sustainable use of indigenous resources; support
agricultural development and industrialization; and addre:
regional issues and concerns;



c. Strengthen grassroots development in the fields of sports and
the arts to be able to produce world-class Filipino athletes
and talents;

d. Encourage foreign faculty and student exchanges and
international student enrollment to advance the
competitiveness of Filipino educators and graduates; and
boost the exposure of the regions to the global community;
and,

e. Address the problems of “brain drain” in the regions and
urban migration, especially in Metro Manila.

SECTION 3. Mandate of Regional State Universities. — The State
shall prioritize the development of regional state universities —
hereinafter referred as RSUs - that shall serve as major providers of
world-class tertiary education in the regions. The RSUs shall:

a. Offer at least one undergraduate from each of the following
fields:

Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries

Engineering and information technology

Natural and applied sciences and mathematics

Health and sports sciences

Social sciences, communication, and law

Business management, economics, accountancy,

tourism, and statistics

7. Humanities, fine arts, performing arts, and music

AVAL E

Provided, That a RSU will not be required to offer a program
in a particular field if a related program - with Level I
accreditation from any recognized accreditation body ~ is
already being offered in a state/local university or college
located within the region prior to the effectivity of this Act.

Provided further, That programs offered by the RSUs that are
under the aforementioned fields and with available
accreditation instruments must be accredited Level | by any
recognized accreditation body within three (3) years from the
date of the effectivity of this Act for existing programs and
within four (4) years from the date of first offering for new
programs.

Provided furthermore, That the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), in collaboration with recognized
accreditation bodies, shall ensure that all fields indicated in
Section 3 (a) shall have at least two (2) programs with
available accreditation instruments to provide the RSUs with
options;


b. Provide a safe and conducive learning environment through
the provision of state-of-the-art educational facilities and
equipment and adequate support infrastructures;

c. Support the development of their faculty and staff by
carrying out programs that will enhance and modernize
pedagogy and implementing scholarship programs that will
encourage the take up and completion of post-graduate
studies;

d. Promote research and development activities by offering
research grants in the fields of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and social sciences
and creating linkages with different local and foreign

arch bodies, academic institutions, advocacy groups, and

civil society organizations;

c. Implement programs that will facilitate the entry of
international students and promote foreign faculty and
student exchanges; and,

f. Serve as major centers for the development of sports and the
arts. As such, RSUs shall be equipped with adequate
facilities and equipment to support this mandate.

SECTION 4. Designation of Regional State Universities. — The
following state university campuses are hereby designated as Regional
State Universities:

a. Region 1 - Mariano Marcos State University - Batac, locos
Norte;

b. Region 2- Nueva Vizcaya State University - Bayombong,
Nueva Vizcaya;

c. Region 3 - Central Luzon State University - Mufioz, Nueva
Ecija;

d. Region 4A - University of the Philippines - Los Bafos,
Laguna;

e. Region 5 — Bicol University - Legazpi City, Albay;

f. Region 6 — Western Visayas State University - Iloilo City,
Hoilo;

g. Region 7 - Cebu Normal University - Cebu City, Cebu;

h. Region 8 - Visayas State University ~ Baybay, Leyte;

i. Region 9 - Western Mindanao State University - Zamboanga

City;
j. Region 10 - Central Mindanao University - Musuan,
Bukidnon;

k. Region 11 — University of Southeastern Philippines ~ Tagum
City, Davao del Norte;


1. Region 12 - University of Southern Mindanao - Kabacan,
North Cotabato;

m. Region 13 - Caraga State University - Butuan City, Agusan
del Norte;

n, MIMAROPA - Palawan State University - Puerto Princesa
City, Palawan;

o. CAR - Benguet State University - La Trinidad, Benguet;

p. NCR - University of the Philippines Diliman and University of
the Philippines Manila;

q. NIR - Negros Oriental State University - Dumaguete City,
Negros Oriental; and,

r. ARMM - Mindanao State University - Marawi City, Lanao del
Sur.

SECTION 5. RSU Development Plan. — The CHED - in
coordination with the administration of the identified schools, relevant
government agencies, local government units, business groups, and
civil society organizations - shall submit to Congress and to the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) within one (1) year
from the effectivity of this Act a 10-year Regional State Universities
Development Plan, to be referred hereinafter as the Plan, that shall
detail the programs and projects necessary to the performance of the
mandates of the RSUs and attainment of the objectives of this Act.
Provided, That the Plan shall be updated every three (3) years from the
effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 6. Implementation. — The CHED shall ensure the
effective and timely implementation of the Plan in coordination with
the RSUs’ administration and relevant government agencies. Provided,
That it shall be prohibited to set tuition fee and other fees increases as
preconditions to the implementation of the Plan.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. — Annual appropriations shall
include the amounts necessary to support the funding requirements
of all projects included in the Plan. The Plan shall be based on a
ceiling, for the first five (5) years, of Ten Billion Pesos
(P20,000,000,000.00).

SECTION 8. Research & Development Fund. — The sum of One
Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated annually
from the date of the effectivity of this Act to be used to provide
research grants to the RSUs. Provided, That the CHED shall manage
the fund and ensure that all RSUs shall benefit equitably from this
fund.

SECTION 9. Faculty and Staff Development Fund. — The sum of
Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated
annually from the date of the effectivity of this Act to be used to fund
the post-graduate studies of the faculty and staff of the RSUs.


Provided, That the CHED shall manage the fund and ensure that all
RSUs shall benefit equitably from this fund.

SECTION 10. Sports Development Fund. — Each RSU shall be
allocated the sum of Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00) upon the
effectivity of this Act that shall be used to jumpstart a credible sports
development program in line with the directions set by the Philippine
Sports Commission.

SECTION 11. Arts and Culture Development Fund. — Each RSU
shall be allocated the sum of Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00) upon
the effectivity of this Act that shall be used to support arts and
cultural development programs; with the end of promoting
appreciation and support to culture and the arts in the regions.

Any income derived from all artistic and cultural
activities of a RSU shall be placed in a revolving fund to be used to
support and maintain its arts and cultural development programs.

SECTION 12. Congressional Oversight Committee. — There is
hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and
oversee the implementation of the provisions of this Act. The
Committee shall be composed of six (6) members from the Senate and
six (6) members from the House of Representatives with the House
Chairperson of Higher and Technical Education and Senate
Chairperson of Education, Arts and Sports as Joint Chairpersons. The
four (4) members from each chamber shall be designated by the
Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
respectively. The minority shall have at least two (2) representatives
from both chambers.

SECTION 13. Sunset Review. — As the need arises, or within ten
(10) years after its effectivity, the Congressional Oversight Committee
shall conduct a sunset review of this Act. The term “sunset review”
shall mean a systematic evaluation of the accomplishments and
impact of this Act, as well as the performance and organizational
structure of its implementing agencies, for purposes of determining
remedial legislations.

SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education shall issue rules
and regulations as he/she may deem necessary for the
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


SECTION 16. —Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act
is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected
hereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 17. _Affectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation,

Approved,