Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives my Ly ,

Quezon City. Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4553

Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In a 2017 study by The World Bank, there is | physician per 1,000 people in the Philippines
The shortage is not simply because there are not enough doctors, but also because of the imbalance
in the distribution of doctors, especially in the provinces where doctors and other healthcare-related
professionals are likely to migrate overseas in the promise of better pay

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines was already facing a serious shortage
of medical workers. At present, with the pandemic and the nation’s population growing and aging,
the scarcity of doctors is felt even more, The need to produce doctors is essential as more doctors
may mean improved patient outcomes, better quality patient care, and improved safety outcomes

This bill seeks to establish the Visayas State University- College of Medicine in the City of
Baybay, Province of Leyte

Visayas State University is a recipient of numerous awards from CHED and is also
internationally recognized as a 4-star university under the research-oriented category for ASEAN
universities last 2021. The proposed Visayas State University- College of Medicine will not only
ensure additional doctors in the Visayas Region, but it also aims to provide an accessible option for
students to enroll in a quality medical school closer to home.

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

Respectfully submitted,

CARL NICOLAST, RI
Representative
5" District, Leyte


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4953

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARI

ANACT
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE
KNOWN AS THE "VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE", AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Establishment, There is hereby established a medical school in the Visayas State University
(VSU) located in the City of Baybay, Province of Leyte, to be known as the "Visayas State University
College of Medicine”

SECTION 2. General Mandate. The VSU - College of Medicine, hereinafter referred to as the "College",
shall primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine Program, including the Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine
(INTARMED) Program, consisting of basic science and clinical courses, and using a leamner-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 Leyte. The College is also mandated to undertake extension services
and provide progressive leadership in these areas

SECTION 3. Governance. Being an institution within the VSU System, the govemance of the College
shall be vested in the Board of Regents of the VSU, hereinafter referred to as the Board, whose powers are
defined under Republic Act No. 9437, and other applicable laws and regulations, unless otherwise provided
or amended elsewhere in this Act.

SECTION. 4. Administration. The administration of the College is vested in the Dean of the VSU insofar
authorized by the Board of the University.

SECTION. 5. The College Dean. The College shall be headed by a Dean who shall be appointed by the
Board, subject to its guidelines on qualifications and standards, and based on the recommendation of the
Chancellor, following a process of consultation with the constituents of the College. 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 of the effectivity of this Act, the Chancellor of VSU shall constitute the Search Committee for the
Deanship. The powers and duties of the Dean of the College, in addition to those specifically provided for
in this Act, shall include those usually pertaining to the Office of the Dean of similar state colleges and those
delegated by the Chancellor.


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘The salary of the Dean of the College shall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 11466 or 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 a 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 upon the
recommendation of the Chancellor, shall designate an Officer-in-Charge of the College, pending the
appointment of a new Dean: Provided, That the Officer-in-Charge 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 Chancellor.

SECTION 6. The Faculty. The Board shall appoint, upon the recommendation of the Chancellor and the
nomination by the President of the University, the faculty members of the College: Provided, That no
political belief, gender preference, 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: Provided, finally, That no member of the Faculty shall teach for or against any particular church or
religious sect.

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

SECTION 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

SECTION 9. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment or Supplies, and Detail of
Personnel. Upon the request of the Board, through the President of the VSU, the heads of the bureaus and
offices of the national government may loan or transfer to the College such apparatus, equipment, or supplies
‘as may be needed by it, and detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of bureau
or office, the apparatus, equipment, supplies or services of such employees can be spared without serious
detriment to public service.

The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the Dean of the College, and
the time so served shall be counted as part of their regular service.

SECTION 10. Assets, Liabilities, and Personnel. All existing 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 VSU. Alll parcels of land belonging to the government to be occupied by the College shall
be the property of the VSU, and shall be titled under its name: Provided, That should the College cease to
exist or be abolished or should such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the VSU, the
same shall revert to the concemed local govemment unit or to the Republic of the Philippines, as the case

may be.


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SECTION 11. Duty and Tax Exemptions. The importation by the College of medical books or
publications, medical equipment, or instruments that are for medical, laboratory, or scientific purposes shall,
upon certification by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), be exempt from customs duties in
accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No, 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs
Modemization and Tariff Act (CMTA)",

All 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 deduction 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

SECTION 12. Suppletory Application. The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, otherwise known as the
“Higher Education Modemization Act of 1997", shall form part of this Act.

SECTION 13. Parity Clause. All other powers, functions, privileges, responsibilities, and limitations under
existing laws shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the College and its officials, whenever
appropriate.

SECTION 14. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provision of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act

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

provisions of this Act

SECTION 16. Separability Clause. If, 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.

SECTION 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

SECTION 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,