Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV:
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.B. No,_272

Introduced by Congresswoman BELLAFLOR J. ANGARA-CASTILLO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Art. XIV Sec. 4(1) of the Constitution mandates the State to exercise reasonable
supervision and regulation of all educational institutions. Included in this mandate is the State’s
responsibility to ensure a safe and secure environment for students to pursue their studies
within these institutions without fear for their physical well-being.

There has been a steady increase in the crime rate in campuses all over the country. It is
necessary for both students, their parents and/or their guardians to have access to information
with regard to campus crime statistics, as well as crime prevention plans in these campuses to
equip them in making an informed choice as to which school to send their children.

At the same time, students currently enrolled in their respective universities need to
know the measures undertaken by their institution, as well as courses of action in cases of
emergency to guarantee security and expedient assistance, if need be.

In view of the foregoing, early and immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ol dédCnsrnro

BI
Represehtative
Lone District, Aurora Province


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES _)
First Regular Session )

572

H.B.No.___

Introduced by Congresswoman BELLAFLOR J. ANGARA-CASTILLO

ANACT
MANDATING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND TECHNICAL-
VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE
ACADEMIC COMMUNITY FROM INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL THREATS, THEREBY
CREATING A CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “The Campus Safety Act.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. It is the responsibility of the State under the
Constitution to promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and
social well-being of the youth. The State shall ensure the safety and security of the
academic community, majority of whom are students, in all institutions of higher and
technical education in the country.

Sec. 3. Scope. This Act shall apply to all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),
and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs).

Sec. 4. Safety and Security Services. All HEIs and TVIs shall endeavor to deliver
adequate safety and security services to students, which include the provision of safe
and secure environment and the conduct of programs and activities that promote safety
and security from both internal and external threats.

For this purpose, the following shall be provided by HEIs and TVIs:

(a) A safe, accessible and secure environment, buildings and facilities
that shall comply with government standards. Licensed and competent security
personnel shall ensure the safety and security of the students, faculty, nonteaching
personnel and other members of the academic community and their belongings; and

(b)  Anestablished mechanism for students to help in crime prevention,
safety and security of the concerned HEI and TVI.

Sec. 5. Creation of a Crime Prevention Committee. A Crime Prevention
Committee (CPC) shall be established in every HEI and TVI to formulate policies and
strategies that shall help protect the academic community from both internal and
external threats to their safety and security, such as theft, robbery, rape and other forms
of violence within and outside the area where the HEI or TVI is located. The
composition of CPC shall be determined by the respective governing boards of the HEIs
and TVIs.


Sec. 6. Duties and Responsibilities of the CPC. The CPC shall have the following
duties and responsibilities:

A. To formulate, in consultation, with the School Head, Chief of Police where the
college or university is located, Punong Barangay, and other security specialists as they
deem fit, a Crime Prevention Strategy. Such Crime Prevention Strategy shall include,
but not be limited, to the following:

1) A statement of current campus policies regarding procedures and facilities for
students and others to report criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on
campus and policies concerning the institution's response to such reports;

2) A statement of current policies concerning security and access to campus facilities,
including campus residences, and security considerations used in the maintenance of
campus facilities;

3) A statement of current policies concerning campus law enforcement including but
not limited to:

a) The enforcement authority of security personnel, including their
working relationship with national and local police agencies, and

b). Policies which encourage accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes
to the campus police and the appropriate police agencies;

4) A description of the type and frequency of programs designed to inform students
and employees about campus security procedures and practices and to encourage
students and employees to be responsible for their own security and security of others;

5) A description of programs designed to inform students and employees about the
prevention of crimes;

6) A statement of policy concerning the monitoring and recording through local police
agencies of criminal activities committed by off-campus student organizations which
are recognized by the institution and which count, among its members, the students
attending the institution, including those student organizations with off-campus
housing facilities; and

7) A statement of policy regarding the possession, use aid sale of alcoholic beverages
and the enforcement of laws against underage drinking; a statement of policy against
the possession, use and sale of illegal drugs; the enforcement of drug laws; and a
description of any drug or alcohol abuse education programs;

B, To formulate crime prevention programs for the implementation of the CPC;

C. To coordinate with college/school principals or deans, as the case may be, in
the maintenance of peace and order within the school/college/university premises;

D. To recommend to the school/college/university the conduct of seminars or
trainings on the crime and drug prevention and control in coordination with the
National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) regional office, local police station or
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Patrol 117;


E, To conduct intensive information drive on the Crime Prevention Strategy
which includes its semestral distribution of copies and orientation thereon; and

F, To submit to Commission on Higher Education (CHED), or to the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), through their respective
regional offices, the composition of the CPC and the Crime Prevention Strategy, as well
as its programs of activities and projects for the academic year two (2) months after the
closing of enrolment in the First Semester and accomplishment report within two (2)
months after finishing the second semester or trimester of the academic year.

Sec. 7. Approval and Review of the Crime Prevention Strategy. The Crime Prevention
Strategy, after approval of the Board of Trustees/Regents, shall be submitted to the CHED or
TESDA and shall be subject to its review. If found unsatisfactory by the CHED or TESDA,
taking into consideration the circumstances of each college or university, it shall be returned to
the Board fot appropriate action: Provided, That pending its review, the plan shall be
implemented by the college or university concerned.
The Crime Prevention Strategy shall be subject to review or reassessment
annually by the Board or as often as required by circumstances.

Sec. 8. Duties of the CHED Regional Offices and the TESDA Regional Offices. The
CHED Regional Offices and the TESDA Regional Offices shall coordinate, supervise and
monitor the implementation of the Crime Prevention Strategy, as approved, and projects of
CPCs, jointly with the NAPOLCOM in the region.
The CHED and the TESDA shall consolidate regional reports for submission to
the Office of the CHED Chairperson and the Office of the TESDA Director-General,
respectively.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days upon the
effectivity of this Act, the CHED and the TESDA, in coordination with the Department
of Education (DepEd), the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges
(PASUC), the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA),
and the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

In the rules and regulations to be implemented pursuant to this Act, the
Chairperson of the CHED and the Director-General of the TESDA shall jointly
prescribe the appropriate administrative sanctions on HEIs and TVIs that fail to comply
with the requirements under this Act.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,