EIGHTEENTHCONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
(0rt;te o( ll)f IforcTtarp
•19 
AUG 28 P4-.39
S E N A T E
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SARANGANI STATE COLLEGE IN  THE MUNICIPALITY 
OF ALABEL, PROVINCE OF SARANGANI, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Province of Sarangani was established in March 16, 1992 by virtue of 
Republic Act 7228—making it the 76th out of the 81 provinces of the Philippines.
Sarangani has the distinct geography of being bisected by General Santos City 
and the beautiful Sarangani Bay. As the country's southernmost province, it is also a 
prime convergence point for the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei 
Darussalam-Indonesia- 
Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) region.
In recent years, the economy of the Province of Sarangani has been 
accelerating, with its agriculture, aquaculture, mariculture and even tourism 
industries expanding considerably. For Instance, Sarangani contributed significantly 
to the 8.2-percent gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of SOCCSKSARGEN in 
2017, which outpaced the GDP expansion rate of the country at the time.
Such strong performance can be explained in part by the multi-sectoral 
efforts to make the province more competitive. In fact, in 2017, according to the 
Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness (CMCI), Sarangani leaped 18 notches to 
become the country's 6th most competitive province. In the following year, it would 
inch up in rankings to become the country's 5th most competitive—and hence, most 
conducive to investments—province.


With such progress, the time is ripe for the province to have a new state 
college where it can educate its youth, enhance their skills, and deepen the talent 
pool available for further economic expansion.
Hence, the foregoing measure aims to establish the Sarangani State College 
at the province's capital, Mabel. The college's general mandate will be to provide 
advance instruction and research in agriculture and fisheries, allied sciences, 
education, arts, and the related sciences. On top of this, the college will be expected 
to provide extension services, undertake projects and programs, and provide 
necessary instructional and research leadership for the progress of the Province of 
Sarangani, as well as the entire SOCCSKSARGEN Region (XII).
To help the Province of Sarangani along its path to progress, the swift 
passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTHCONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
—
^ciiaiL5
(S«icf of tt)f i& fcrrtsrjr'
S E N A T E
S. B. No. 984
*19 
AUG 28 P4 ’*40
RECEr.-uDr>\
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SARANGANI STATE COLLEGE IN  THE MUNICIPALITY 
OF ALABEL, PROVINCE OF SARANGANI, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Establishment. -  There is hereby established a state college in the
2 
Municipality of Alabel, Province of Sarangani, to be known as the Sarangani State
3 
College, hereinafter referred to as the College, Its main campus shall be located in
4 
the same municipality.
5 
Sec. 2. General Mandate. -  The College shall primarily provide advance
6 
instruction and research in agriculture and fisheries, education, marine and maritime
7 
studies, engineering, and arts and sciences. It shall also undertake extension and
8 
development programs, and provide the necessary instructional and research
9 
leadership in agricultural, environmental, and technological development in the
10 
Province of Sarangani and in Region XII.
11 
Sec. 3. Curricular Offerings. -  The College shall offer undergraduate and
12 
graduate courses in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, engineering, education, arts
13 
and sciences, and other degree courses within its areas of specialization and
14 
according to its capabilities, as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary to carry
15 
out its objectives and in order to meet the needs of the Province of Sarangani and of
16 
Region XII.


1 
Sec. 4. Administration. -  The College shall have the general powers of a
2 
corporation set forth in Republic Act No. 11232 otherwise known as the "Revised
3 
Corporation Code of the Philippines." The administration of the College and the
4 
exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested exclusively on the Board of Trustees
5 
and the President of the College.
6 
Sec. 5. The Governing Board. -  The governing board of the College shall be
7 
the Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be chaired
8 
and co-chaired by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
9 
and the President of the College, respectively, with the following as members:
10 
a) 
Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture of the Senate;
11 
b) 
Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the
12 
House of Representatives;
13 
c) 
Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority
14 
(NEDA);
15 
d) 
Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture (DA);
16 
e) 
Regional Director of the TESDA;
17 
f) 
President of the federation of faculty associations of the College;
18 
g) 
President of the federation of student councils of the College;
19 
h) 
President of the federation of alumni association of the College; and
20 
i) 
Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished
21 
themselves in their professions or fields of specialization of the College.
22 
The Board shall appoint the two (2) prominent citizens from among a list of at
23 
least five (5) qualified persons in the Province of Sarangani, as recommended by the
24 
search committee to be constituted by the College President, in consultation with the
25 
Chairperson of the CHED and other members of the Board, based on the normal
26 
standards and qualifications of the position,
27 
The two (2) prominent citizens shall serve for a term of two (2) years from
28 
the date of appointment.
29 
Sec. 6. Promulgation and Implementation o f Policies. -  The Board shall
30 
promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies on
31 
education and other pertinent provisions of the Constitution on education,
32 
agriculture, fisheries, science and technology, as well as the policies, standards and


1 
thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher
2 
Education Act of 1994."
3 
Sec. 7. Powers and Duties o f the Board o f Trustees. -  The Board shall have
4 
the following specific powers and duties, in addition to its general powers of
5 
administration and the exercise of all the powers granted to the board of directors of
6 
a corporation under existing laws:
7 
a) 
Approve the curricula, instructional programs, and rules of discipline drawn by
8 
the Administrative and the Academic Councils herein provided;
9 
b) 
Appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of the College, the vice
10 
presidents, deans, directors, heads of the campuses, faculty members, and
11 
other officials and employees of the College;
12 
c) 
Fix and adjust the salaries of faculty members, administrative officials and
13 
employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation and
14 
Position Classification System and other pertinent budget and compensation
15 
laws governing hours of service and such other duties and conditions as it
16 
may deem proper; to grant them, at its discretion, leaves of absence under
17 
such regulations as it may promulgate, any provision of existing law to the
18 
contrary notwithstanding; and to remove them for cause in accordance with
19 
the requirements of due process of law;
20 
d) 
Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as matriculation
21 
fees, graduation fees, and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to
22 
impose, after due consultation with the involved sectors. The fees and
23 
charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the
24 
College, shall constitute special trust funds, and shall be deposited in any
25 
authorized government depository bank, and all interests that shall accrue
26 
therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the College. Any
27 
provision 
of 
existing 
law, 
rules, 
or 
regulations 
to 
the 
contrary
28 
notwithstanding, any income generated by the College from tuition fees and
29 
other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and land
30 
grants, shall be retained by the College, and may be disbursed by the Board
31 
for instruction, research, extension or other programs/projects of the College:
32 
Provided, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes


1 
for which these are collected; Provided, however, That if, for reasons beyond
2 
its control, the College shall not be able to pursue any project for which the
3 
funds have been appropriated and allocated under its approved program of
4 
expenditures, the Board may authorize the use of said funds for any
5 
reasonable purpose which, in its discretion, may be necessary and urgent for
6 
the attainment of the objectives and goals of the College;
7 
e) 
Adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees for
8 
greater access of poor but deserving students in accordance with Republic Act
9 
No. 10931, or the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act";
10 
f) 
Establish professorial chairs in the College and provide fellowships for
11 
qualified faculty members, and scholarships to deserving students;
12 
g) 
Receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support of the
13 
College in the manner it may determine, in its discretion, in order to carry out
14 
the purposes and functions of the College;
15 
h) 
Set the policies on admission and graduation of students;
16 
i) 
Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding
17 
contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and
18 
technology, agriculture, fisheries or any field of specialization within the
19 
academic competence of the College, and to authorize the awarding of
20 
certificates of completion of non-degree and non-traditional courses;
21 
j) 
Establish research and extension centers to promote the development of the
22 
College;
23 
k) Develop academic arrangements for institution capability building with
24 
appropriate institutions and agencies, public and private and local and
25 
foreign, and appoint experts/specialists as consultants; part-time, visiting or
26 
exchange professors, scholars, researchers, as the case may be;
27 
I) 
Adopt modern and innovative modes of transmitting knowledge for the
28 
promotion of greater access to education such as the use of information
29 
technology, the dual training system, open distance learning, and community
30 
laboratory, among others;
31 
m) 
Collaborate with the governing boards of the state universities and colleges
32 
(SUCs) within the Province of Sarangani, under the supervision of the CHED,


1 
in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in
2 
restructuring the College to make it more efficient, relevant, productive and
3 
competitive;
4 
n) 
Absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the Province of Sarangani as
5 
branches and centers, in coordination with the CHED, and in consultation with
6 
the DBM, to ensure equal access to educational opportunities, as mandated
7 
by the Constitution;
8 
o) 
Authorize an external management audit of the College, to be financed by the
9 
CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit (COA),
10 
and institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis
11 
of the audit results and recommendations;
12 
p) 
Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with both local
13 
government units (LGUs), institutions and agencies, both public and private
14 
and local and foreign, in the furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the
15 
College;
16 
q) 
Import economic, technical, and cultural books and publications;
17 
r) 
Enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable
18 
development and management of the economic assets of the College, the
19 
proceeds from which shall be used 
for the development and strengthening of
20 
the College;
21 
s) 
Receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties
22 
of all kinds and to administer and dispose of the same, when necessary, for
23 
the benefit of the College, and subject to the limitations, directions and
24 
instructions of the donor, if any;
25 
t) 
Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment
26 
and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property,
27 
including necessary supplies, materials and equipment;
28 
u) 
Extend the term of the President of the College beyond the age of retirement,
29 
but not beyond the age of seventy (70) based on the guidelines,
30 
qualifications, and standards set by the Board: Provided, That the President's
31 
performance has been rated by the Board as outstanding, and after
32 
unanimous recommendation by the search committee;


1 
v) 
Delegate any of its powers and duties to the President and other officials of
2 
the College, as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration
3 
of the affairs of the College
4 
w) 
Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative decision-making
5 
and transparency within the College;
6 
x) 
Where most advantageous to the College, privatize the management of
7 
nonacademic services such as health, food, building or grounds or property
8 
maintenance, and such other similar activities; and
9 
y) 
Promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
10 
purposes and functions of the College.
11 
Sec. 8. Meetings o f the Board. -  The Board shall regularly convene at least
12 
once ever7 quarter. However, the Chairperson of the Board may, upon three (3)
13 
days' prior written notice, call a maximum of two (2) special meetings whenever
14 
necessary.
15 
A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of all its members holding
16 
office at the time of the meeting: Provided, however, That either the Chairperson of
17 
the Board or the President of the College must be present in the meeting.
18 
In the absence of the CHED Chairperson, a Commissioner of the CHED duly
19 
designated by the CHED Chairperson as representative in the meeting, shall have all
20 
the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, however, That during
21 
the meeting, the President of the College, as Vice Chairperson, shall be the Presiding
22 
Officer: Provided, further. That this provision notwithstanding, the Chairperson of
23 
the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as the regular
24 
Chairperson of the Board, in which case said CHED Commissioner shall act as the
25 
Presiding Officer.
26 
In case the Chairpersons of the House and Senate Committees on Education
27 
shall not be able to attend the Board meeting, they may designate their respective
28 
representatives to attend the said meeting, who shall have the same rights and
29 
responsibilities as a regular member of the Board.
30 
The members of the Board shall not receive any salary, but shall be entitled
31 
to reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending the


1 
meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business authorized by
2 
resolution of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations.
3 
Sec. 9. The College President -  The President shall serve for a term of four
4 
(4) years and shall be eligible for reappointment for another term. Within six (6)
5 
months from the date of approval of this Act, the Board shall constitute the Search
6 
Committee for the Presidency.
7 
In case of vacancy in the Office of the President by reason of death,
8 
compulsory retirement, resignation, removal for cause or incapacity of the President
9 
to perform the functions of the office, the Board shall have the authority to
10 
designate an OIC of the College pending the appointment of a new President.
11 
In case of vacancy in the Office of the President as mentioned in the
12 
immediately preceding paragraph, the successor or the OIC shall serve only for the
13 
unexpired portion of the term.
14 
The powers and duties of the President of the College, in addition to those
15 
specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the
16 
President of similar colleges, and those delegated by the Board.
17 
The salary of the President of the College shall be in accordance with the
18 
Revised Compensation and Position Classification System as modified by Joint
19 
Resolution No. 4 dated June 17, 2009 and other pertinent budget and compensation
20 
laws, and shall be comparable to that being received by the Presidents of similar
21 
educational institutions.
22 
The President of the College shall be assisted by a Vice President for
23 
Academic Affairs and a Vice President for Administration, who shall be appointed by
24 
the Board upon recommendation of the President.
25 
Sec. 10. The Administrative Council-There shall be an Administrative Council
26 
consisting of the President of the College, as Chairperson, and the vice presidents,
27 
deans, directors, and other officials of equal rank, as members whose duty is to
28 
review and recommend to the Board the policies governing the administration,
29 
management and development plan of the College.
30 
Sec. 11. The Academic Council. -  There shall be an Academic Council to be
31 
composed of the President of the College, who shall act as Chairperson, and all the
32 
academic staff with the rank of at least an assistant professor, as members.


1 
The Academic Council shall have the power to review and recommend the
2 
curricular offerings and rules of discipline of the College, subject to the approval of
3 
the Board. It shall fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as for
4 
their graduation and the conferment of degrees, subject to review and approval by
5 
the Board through the President of the College. It shall have the disciplinary power
6 
over students of the College and shall formulate academic policies and rules and
7 
regulations on discipline, subject to the approval of the Board.
8 
Sec. 12. The Secretary o f the College. -  The Board shall appoint a Secretary,
9 
who shall serve as such for both the Board and the College, and who shall keep all
10 
records and proceedings of the Board in addition to other duties and responsibilities.
11 
The Secretary shall serve upon each member of the Board the appropriate notice of
12 
the Board meetings.
13 
Sec. 13. The Treasurer o f the College. -  The Treasurer of the Philippines shall
14 
be the ex officio treasurer of the College.
15 
Sec. 14. The Faculty. -  No political belief, gender preference, cultural or
16 
community affiliation or ethnic origin, and religious opinion or affiliation shall be a
17 
matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the College: Provided,
18 
however, That said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications and
19 
standards set by the Board: Provided, further. That no member of the faculty shall
20 
teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.
21 
Sec. 15. Scholarship Program /  Admission. -  The College shall provide a
22 
scholarship program and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but
23 
deserving students who qualify for admission to the College. No student shall be
24 
denied admission to the College by reason of sex, religion, cultural or community
25 
affiliation or ethnic origin.
26 
Sec. 16. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. -  The College shall
27 
enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to paragraph 2,
28 
Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution.
29 
Sec. 17. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus /  Equipment /  Supplies and
30 
Detail o f Personnel. -  The heads of the bureaus and offices of the national
31 
government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon the request of the
32 
President of the College, such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed
8


1 
by the College, and to detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of
2 
the head of bureau or office, such apparatus, equipment, supplies or services of
3 
such employees can be spared without serious detriment to the public service. The
4 
employees so detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the
5 
President of the College, and the time so employed shall be counted as part of their
6 
regular service.
7 
Sec. 
18. 
Development 
Plan, 
Management Audit /  Organizational /
8 
Administrative /  Academic Structure. -  Within the period of one hundred twenty
9 
(120) days after the approval of this Act, the College shall accomplish the following:
10 
a) 
Submit a five (5) - year development plan, including its corresponding
11 
program budget to the CHED, for corresponding recommendation to the
12 
DBM;
13 
b) 
Undergo a management audit in cooperation with the CHED; and
14 
c) 
Accordingly set up its organizational, administrative, as well as academic
15 
structure, including the appointment of the College key officials.
16 
Sec. 19. Compliance with CHED Requirements. -  The provisions of this Act
17 
notwithstanding, the establishment of the institution into a state college shall
18 
become effective only upon the determination and declaration by the CHED, based
19 
on the recommendation of a panel of experts it shall constitute for the purpose, that
20 
the institution has complied with the requirements for a college status based on
21 
CHED Memorandum Order No. 46, Series of 2012 (Policy-Standard to Enhance
22 
Quality Assurance (QA) in Philippine Higher Education Through an Outcomes-Based
23 
and 
Typology-Based 
QA): 
Provided, 
That 
the 
panel 
may 
issue 
such 
a
24 
recommendation 
when 
the 
institution 
has 
substantially 
complied 
with 
the
25 
requirements for the grant of status as a state college.
26 
The following operational requirements for a state college, as established by
27 
the CHED, shall be complied with:
28 
a) 
Full-time permanent faculty members who have the relevant degrees as
29 
required by the CHED and experience in the subject areas they handle;
30 
b) 
Degree programs characterized by a core curriculum that holistically develops
31 
thinking, problem solving, decision-making, communication, technical, and
32 
social skills in line with the mission of the College;


1 
c) 
Learning resources and support structures that are appropriate for developing
2 
knowledge and skills in the 
specific natural science, 
social 
science,
3 
humanities, and professional disciplines 
offered by the College, 
including
4 
laboratories, books and journals, etc.;
5 
d) 
Links with the community that would ensure the development of relevant
6 
academic and extension programs as well as the application for their learning
7 
outcomes; and
8 
e) 
Outreach 
programs 
involving 
students 
in 
social-development oriented
9 
experiences that allow them to contextualize their knowledge within actual
10 
social and human experiences.
11 
After five (5) years of operation, it shall be evaluated by the CHED to
12 
determine its compliance with the requirements for a College classification according
13 
to the horizontal typology of higher education institutions (HEIs).
14 
Moreover, the College shall undergo the institutional sustainability assessment
15 
(ISA) process to ensure that an internal quality assurance (IQA) system has been
16 
established leading to sustainable offering of quality programs and services.
17 
Sec. 20. Annual Report. -  On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the second
18 
month after the opening of the regular classes each year, the Board shall file with
19 
the Office of the President of the Philippines, through the Chairperson of the CHED,
20 
and with both Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress, condition and
21 
needs of the College.
22 
Sec. 21. Tax Exemption. -  The importation of economic, technical and cultural
23 
books or publications, which are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific,
24 
philosophical, historical, or cultural purposes made by the College, upon certification
25 
by the CHED, shall be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions
26 
of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and
27 
Tariff Act (CMTA)".
28 
All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions made to the
29 
College to be used actually, directly and exclusively by the College shall be exempt
30 
from donor's tax and the same shall be allowed as allowable deductions from the
31 
gross income of the donor for purposes of computing the taxable income of the
10


1 
donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of
2 
1997, as amended.
3 
Sec. 22. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary to carry out the provisions
4 
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
5 
Sec. 23. Suppletory Application. -  The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292,
6 
otherwise known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997", shall be an
7 
integral part of this Act and shall serve as part of the Governing Charter of the
8 
College.
9 
Sec. 24. Parity Clause. -  All other powers, functions, and privileges,
10 
responsibilities and limitations to state colleges and their officials under existing laws
11 
shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the College and officials, whenever
12 
appropriate.
13 
Sec. 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Board, in consultation
14 
with the CHED, shall formulate the guidelines to fully implement the provisions of
15 
the Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity.
16 
Sec. 26. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is
17 
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
18 
not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
19 
Sec. 27. Repealing Clause. -All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
20 
executive orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or
21 
parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
22 
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
23 
Sec. 28. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
24 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
11