Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 378

Introduced by Representative JONATHAN KEITH T. FLORES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Bukidnon State University (BukSu) has established itself as an institution of
excellence in healthcare education. Notably, BukSu has eared the distinction of being one
of the top-performing nursing schools in the Philippines, achieving a 97.50% passing rate
in the Professional Regulation Commission’s November 2024 Philippine Nurses Licensure
Exam. Moreover, BukSu was recognized as the 9th Top Performing School during the May
2024 Nurses Licensure Examination, with three graduate placing among the topnotchers.

It is evident that the University has remained firm in its mandate to provide
equitable, accessible, and quality education, particularly for marginalized communities in
Norther Mindanao. Through the years, the University has been proactive in improving its
status in the medical field and producing an increasing number of medical professionals
for the country.

The establishment of a College of Medicine in BukSu is a monumental step toward
advancing the study of medicine in the country, considering that it would be the first
medical school in the Province of Bukidnon. Likewise, the College is envisioned as an
inclusive learning environment that will enable students, especially those from Bukidnon’s
Indigenous People (IP) communities, to excel academically and emerge as leaders in the
medical field

Thus, this bill seeks to establish a College of Medicine in Bukidnon State University
- Main Campus located in Malaybalay City, Province of Bukidnon. Furthermore, said
medical school shall be officially named the “Bukidnon State University — College of
Medicine”

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought

2"{ District of Bukidnon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3 78

Introduced by Representative JONATHAN KEITH T. FLORES

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE BUKIDNON STATE
UNIVERSITY IN MALAYBALAY CITY, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Establishment. - There is hereby established a medical school in the
Bukidnon State University located in Malaybalay City, Province of Bukidnon, which shall be
known as the “Bukidnon State University-College of Medicine”.

SEC. 2. General Mandate. — The Bukidnon State University (BukSU) - College of
Medicine, hereinafter referred to as the “College”, shall primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine
Program, including an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine Program, consisting of basic science
and clinical courses, and using a learner-centered, competency-based, and community-oriented
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 Bukidnon and Northern Mindanao Region.

The College is also mandated to undertake research and extension services and provide
progressive leadership in these areas.

SEC. 3. Governance. ~ Being an integral unit of the BukSU System, the governance of the
College shall be vested in the Board of Regents of the BukSU, hercinafter referred to as the Board,
whose powers and functions are defined under Republic Act (RA) No. 9456, entitled "An Act
Converting the Bukidnon State College in the City of Malaybalay, Province of Bukidnon, Into a
State University, to be Known as the Bukidnon State University and Appropriating Funds
Therefor", and other applicable laws and regulations, unless otherwise provided or amended
elsewhere in this Act.

SEC. 4. Administration. — The administration of the College shall be vested in the Dean
of the College insofar as may be authorized by its Board

SEC. 5. The College Dean. ~ The College shall be headed by a Dean who shall be
appointed by the Board, subject to its guidelines, qualifications, and standards, upon the
recommendation of the President of the BukSU, and pursuant to the policies, standards, and
guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The Dean shall render full-time
service, serve a term of three (3) years, and may be reappointed to another term.


Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the President of the BukSU shall
constitute the Search Committee for the Deanship.

The powers and duties of the Dean shall include those usually pertaining to the Office of
the Dean of similar state universities and colleges and those delegated by the President.

The salary of the Dean of the College shall be in accordance with RA No. 11466, otherwise
known as the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019”, and such other laws amendatory thereto,
which may hereinafter be enacted, and shall be comparable to that being received by the Deans of
similar educational institutions.

In case of vacancy in the Office of the Dean by reason of death, compulsory retirement,
resignation, removal for cause, or incapacity of the Dean to perform the functions of the office, the
Board shall, upon the recommendation of the President, designate an Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of
the College, pending the appointment of a new Dean: Provided, That the OIC shall serve only
during the unexpired portion of the term.

The Dean of the College shall be assisted by a College Secretary, who shall be appointed
by the Board.

SEC. 6. The Faculty, — The Board shall, upon the recommendation of the President of the
BukSU, appoint the faculty members of the College: Provided, That no political belief, sex, gender,
cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin, nor religious opinion or affiliation shall be a
matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the College: Provided, further, That
said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board
in accordance with the policies of the CHED: Provided, finally, That no member of the faculty
shall teach for or against any particular religious denomination.

SEC. 7. Scholarship Programs and Admission, - ‘The College shall provide scholarships
and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for
admission to the College. Students who have availed themselves of the scholarship program under
RA No. 11509, otherwise known as the “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act”, shall render a return service
in accordance with the said law. Students availing themselves of other nationally-funded
scholarship programs to complete the medicine degree program under the College may be required
to render a return service depending on the contract to be signed between the student and the
College.

No student shall be denied admission to the College by reason of sex, gender, religion,
cultural or community affiliation, physical disability, ethnic origin, or any other forms of
discrimination.

SEC. 8. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. — The College shall enjoy
academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV
of the Constitution.

SEC. 9. Loan or Transfer of Supplies, Apparatuses, or Equipment, and Detail of
Personnel to the College. — Heads of national government agencies and instrumentalities may,
upon the request of the Board through the President of the BukSU, loan or transfer of supplies,
apparatuses, or equipment, and detail personnel to the College: Provided, That such loan, transfer
or detail shall not be detrimental to public service.

‘The personnel to be detailed to the College shall perform such duties as may be deemed
required by the Dean of the College and the time spent for such duties shall be counted as part of
the detailed personnel’s regular service


SEC. 10. Assets, Liabilities, and Personnel. — All appropriations, assets, both real and
personal, personnel, and records of the College, as well as its liabilities or obligations, shall be
titled or named after the BukSU.

All parcels of land belonging to the government to be occupied by the College shall be the
property of the BukSU and titled under its name: Provided, That should the BukSU cease to exist
or be abolished or such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the BukSU, the
same shall revert to the local government unit concemed or to the Republic of the Philippines, as
the case may be.

SEC. 11. Duty and Tax Exemptions. - The importation by the College of medical books
or publications, medical equipment or instruments which are for medical, laboratory or scientific
purposes shall, upon certification by the CHED, be exempt from customs duties in accordance
with the provisions of RA No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff
Act (CMTA)”.

Alll grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions made to and used actually,
directly, and exclusively for educational purposes by the College. shall be exempt from donor's
tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from gross income for purposes of
computing the taxable income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National
Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

SEC. 12. Compliance with the CHED Requirements. - The provisions of this Act
notwithstanding, the establishment of the medical course shall become effective only upon the
determination and declaration by the CHED, based on the recommendation of a panel of experts,
which shall constitute for the purpose that the institution has complied with the policies, standards,
and guidelines of the CHED for the Doctor of Medicine Program: Provided, That the panel of
experts may issue such a recommendation when the institution has substantially complied with the
requirements provided in the aforesaid order.

EC. 13. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of RA No. 8292, otherwise known as
the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997”, shall form part ofthis Act

SEC. 14. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the approval
of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED, issue rules and regulations to
implement its provisions

SEC. 16. Separability Clause. — \f, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected are in full force
and effect.

SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and rules
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are amended, repealed,
or modified accordingly

SEC. 18, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,