Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

338

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: REP. RACHEL MARGUERITE “CUTIE” DEL MAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The attached bill is to give full meaning of the Constitutional
provisions which provide that: Article II, Sec. 17. “The State shall give
priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture and sports to
foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote
total human liberation and development.”

The humble beginnings of Cebu Normal University started as the
Cebu Normal School by virtue of Act No. 74 enacted by the Philippine
Commission in 1902. Thereafter, Republic Act No. 975 was enacted which
categorized CNS as a tertiary level institute and was authorized to confer the
degree, Bachelor of Science major in Elementary Methods and in 1959, it
offered Bachelor of Sciences in Elementary Education. Eventually, in 1960,
the Graduate School was and had its first batch of graduate in 1966. In
1967, R.A. No. 5128 converted CNS into Cebu Normal College and in 1976 it
became Cebu State College (CSC) by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 944. In
1988, was converted into Cebu Normal University with the passage of R.A.
No. 8688.

However, since the enactment R.A. No. 8688 in June 1988, CNU has
not fully achieved its intents and purposes in some aspects which are
equally essentials in making the University at par with other Universities
and for it to become responsive to the developments in various sectors in the
Philippines. The offering of doctor of medicine, nursing and allied health
sciences, juris doctor or law, public health, dentistry, pharmacy,
pharmaceuticals, radiology, bio-medical technology, midwifery, public health
education, tourism, hotel and hospitality management, business and
economics in addition to the education degree programs with various fields
of specializations, these have not been fully explored and utilized the
University’s strategic advantage being located at the heart of Cebu City as
the trade and economic center of Central Visayas and other parts of Central
Visayas Region. Thus, the mandates and curricular programs of the
University need to be further strengthened and expanded by including these
programs.



The undergraduate and graduate Nursing programs are issued with
the appropriate Certificates of Program Compliance (COPC) by the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Specifically, the BS in Nursing
(COPC No. 083, s. 2020 per CHED En Banc (CEB) Reso. No. 286-2020),
Master of Nursing (COPC No. 074, s. 2022), Doctor of Science in Nursing
(COPC No. 076, s. 2022), and Master in Nursing (COPC No. 073, s. 2022)
issued per CEB Reso. No. 363-O-2022, and PhD in Nursing (per CEB Reso.
No. 724-2024, s. 2024). Effective September 2024, the CNU offered the one-
year Master of Nursing Education (MNE) to further contribute in producing
nursing educators.

Additionally, the COPC for the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program is
covered per CEB Reso. No. 818-2024. By 2025, the CNU-VSMMC College of
Medicine will produce its first batch of twenty-two (22) graduates and
thereafter they are expected to take the Medical Licensure Examinations in
2026.

The application of CNU for the Juris Doctor program has been
evaluated and the corresponding government permit/clearance is expected
to be issued by the Legal Education Board (LEB) anytime starting January
2025 thus, the offering thereof is expected to begin during First Semester of
Academic Year 2025-2026 and thereafter, thereby contribute in producing
high quality professionals and leaders in the justice system of the
Philippines. Moreover, the tourism programs of the University had been
issued Level Il Re-Accredited by the AACCUP and the University aims to
contribute to the development plan of making Cebu Island as the tourism
hub in the Philippines.

Amongst of the monumental accomplishments of the University
include, 100% passing in nursing board examinations straight for the last
13 years. In 2024 Philippine Nursing Licensure Examinations (PNLE), the
University produced Top 1 and eight (8) within Top 10, which epitomizes its
outstanding performance as the Center of Excellence in Nursing, This made
CNU as a Top Performing School in the 2024 PNLE. Currently, CNU is
ranked 3 in the list of Top 10 Cebu universities according to metrics-based
ranking in EduRank. CNU has also been conferred Rank 95 by the World
University Rankings for Innovation (WURI).

As regards faculty complement, CNAHS is composed of 26% with
doctoral degree, 61% with masters degree and 13% with masters units while
the CNU-VSMMC COM has a total of 34 registered Doctors of Medicine and
110 part-time faculty members in various specializations assigned to the
different subjects under the prescribed curriculum. The CNU has allocated
five (5) vacant plantilla for the faculty members required under the Juris
Doctor while the CTHHM has a total of 42% doctoral holders, 42%% masters
and 16% with masters units. Further, there are a number of existing faculty
members who have completed business and economics graduate programs
who can readily be tapped for curricular offerings thereof.


The current Main Campus of CNU in Cebu City is inadequate to
absorb or accommodate applicants for admission, especially those poor but
deserving students, seeking for high quality educational services, due to
limitations in space, absorptive and enrollment capacities, despite of the
Free Higher Education under R.A. No. 10961. With an initial one thousand
four hundred sixty (1,460) square meters lot allocated by the PLGU-Cebu
Province, under the leadership Honorable Governor Gwendolyn Pilar F.
Garcia, covered with a Usufruct Agreement signed in November 2024
between the CNU presented by its University President, Dr. Daniel A. Ariaso
Sr, CESO II, and the PLGU-Province of Cebu represented by Hon. Gov.
Gweldolyn Pilar F. Garcia, the University seeks to establish the Central
Cebu City Campus in the said lot strategically located in Sambag II, Cebu
City.

The establishment of the CNU Central Cebu City and inclusion of the
additional mandates or curricular programs thereof would surely give true
flesh and meaning to the constitutional and statutory mandates as well as.
the government's thrust under the leadership of President Ferdinand R.
Marcos, Jr. of making education accessible to all. This noble undertaking
also contributes in realizing the common dreams of every Filipino, among
others, in availing of high quality educational services, “no one left behind”,
reducing poverty, eradicating illegal drugs, fighting criminality of all sorts,
and thereby giving flesh to the efforts of sustaining development and
progress in local, regional, and national levels.

Therefore, immediate passage of this bill is strongly recommended.

RACHEL ‘CUTIE” DEL MAR


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

338

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: REP. RACHEL MARGUERITE “CUTIE” DEL MAR

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A REGULAR CAMPUS OF CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY
IN CENTRAL CEBU CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CEBU NORMAL
UNIVERSITY CENTRAL CEBU CITY CAMPUS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR, 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 CNU
Central Cebu City Campus Act”.

SEC. 2. Establishment. - There is hereby established a Regular
Campus of Cebu Normal University in Central Cebu City to be known as the
Cebu Normal University-Central Cebu City Campus or CNU-CCCC, for
brevity.

SEC. 3. General Mandate and Curricular Programs. — The CNU
Central Cebu City Campus shall primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine,
Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Juris Doctor or Law, Public Health,
Dentistry, Pharmacy, Pharmaceuticals, Radiology, Bio-Medical Technology,
Midwifery, Public Health Education, Tourism, Hotel and Hospitality
Management, Business and Economics and such programs within its areas
of competency and specialization, pursuant to the mandates of the CNU,
and according to its capability, as the Board of Regents, hereinafter referred
to as the Board, may deem necessary for the accomplishment of its
objectives, and those which respond to the human resources development
needs of the Province of Cebu and the Central Visayas Region. The Campus
shall also offer an Integrated Liberal Arts as well as preparatory courses
consisting of basic science, clinical and specialized courses, and graduate
degree using a learner-centered, competency-based, and community-
oriented approach and such modalities appropriate to various programs or
degrees. The primary goal of the CNU Central Cebu City Campus shall be to
develop a corps of leaders and professional physicians, nurses, health
workers, tourism, hotel, business and economics and various areas to


strengthen the healthcare system, tourism and business industry and the
economic development of the country, as well as to respond to the human
resource development needs of the Province of Cebu and Region VII.

The CNU Central Cebu City Campus is also mandated to undertake
research and extension services and provide progressive leadership in these
areas.

Toward the said end, the Board shall authorize the offering of medical,
nursing and allied health sciences and law programs in other campuses of
the University using the 2+2 model or such arrangements, and adopt
affirmative programs or actions to ensure access to the degree programs and
trainings provided herein in various parts of the Province of Cebu and in
Region VII.

SEC. 4. Governance. - The CNU Central Cebu City Campus, as an
institution within the CNU System, shall be governed by the Board of
Regents of the CNU, hereinafter referred to as the Board, whose powers are
defined under Republic Act No. 8688 otherwise known as, "An Act
Converting The Cebu State College Into A State University To Be Known As
The Cebu Normal University, And Appropriating Funds Therefor " and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) promulgated by the CNU Board
of Regents, and other applicable laws and regulations, unless otherwise
provided or amended elsewhere in this Act.

SEC. 5. Administration. - The administration of the CNU Central
Cebu City Campus shall be vested in the Campus Director of the Campus
insofar as may be authorized by the Board and/or the University President.

The Campus shall be headed by a Campus Director who shall be
appointed by the Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and
standards set by the Board, and upon the recommendation of the University
President of CNU, following a process of consultation with the constituents
of the Campus. The Campus Director 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 University
President of CNU shall constitute the search committee for the Campus
Director.

The powers and duties of the Campus Director, in addition to those
specifically provided for in this Act, shall include those usually pertaining to
the Office of the Campus Director of similar state universities and colleges
and those delegated by the University President of CNU, and as provided
under the IRR of R.A. No. 8688 and the University Code promulgated by the
CNU Board of Regents.

The salary of the Campus Director shall be in accordance with
Republic Act 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 Campus Directors of similar educational institutions.

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

The Campus Director shall be assisted by College Deans,
Chiefs/Heads of academic programs, internationalization, research and
development, publications, innovation, commercialization, administrative,
finance, student affairs, security and safety, and such offices as the Board of
Regents may create upon recommendation by the University President,
faculty members and administrative staff, who shall be
appointed /designated by the Board upon recommendation by the University
President, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

SEC. 6. The Colleges and the Deans. - The CNU Central Cebu City
Campus shall operate and maintain the College of Medicine (COM), College
of Law, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (CNAHS), College of
Tourism, Hotel, and Hospitality Management (CTHHM), College of Business
and Economics (CBE), and such Colleges as the Board of Regents may
create taking into consideration the CNU’s mandates and the national,
regional and institutional development plans and thrusts. Provided, That for
purposes of this Act, the existing College of Medicine established by the
Cebu Normal University-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (CNU-
VSMMC COM) may be maintained subject to applicable laws, rules and
regulations.

Each College shall be headed by a Dean who shall be appointed by the
Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the
Board, and upon the recommendation of the University President of CNU,
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 from the effectivity of this Act, the University
President of CNU 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 universities and colleges and those
delegated by the University President of CNU, and as provided under the IRR
of R.A. No, 8688 and the University Code promulgated by the CNU Board of
Regents.


The salary of the College Deans shall be in accordance with Republic
Act 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 College 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 University President, 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.

Each Dean of the College shall be assisted by an Associate Dean,
College Secretary, Academic Heads, Faculty Members and Administrative
Staff, who shall be appointed by the Board.

SEC. 7. The Faculty, Entry-Level Salary, Re-classification or
Promotion, and Industry Immersion. - The Board shall, upon the
recommendation by the President of the CNU, appoint the faculty members
of the Campus: 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
Campus: 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
religious denomination.

The entry-level salary for the Medical and Law faculty members shall
be at least Associate Professor IV and V, respectively while for the nursing
and allied health sciences shall be at least Assistant Professor III: provided,
that they shall meet the minimum qualifications and requirements for
appointment, re-classification or promotion, and industry immersion
prescribed by the Board of Regents and the University subject to pertinent
policies promulgated by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Civil Service Commission
(csc).

SEC. 8. Scholarship Programs and Admission. - The CNU Central
Cebu City Campus shall provide scholarship and other affirmative action
programs to assist poor but deserving student who qualify for admission to
the CNU Central Cebu City Campus.

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


SEC. 9. Mandatory Return Service. - Students who have availed
themselves of the scholarship program under Republic Act No. 11509,
otherwise known as the "Doktor Para sa Bayan Act", as well as those in the
Nursing and Allied Health Sciences and Law or recipients of scholarship
programs under relevant laws enacted by the Congress of the Philippines or
policies promulgated by the Commission on Higher Education and/or Board
of Regents shall render a return service in accordance with relevant law or
policies. Students availing themselves of other nationally-funded scholarship
programs to complete the various programs under the Campus may be
required to render a return service depending on the contract signed
between the student and the University represented by the its University
President.

SEC. 10. Highly Technical Research Centers or Institutes. ~The
following highly technical research centers or institutes shall are hereby
established and shall be operated, maintained and sustained by the
University:

1.1. Under the College of Medicine:

a. Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI).

b. Research Center for Applied Health and Behavioral Medicine
(RCAHBM).

c. Research Institute for Collaborative Community Health
Partnerships (RICCHP).

d. Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences and Technology
(RIBST).

e. Research Institute for Digital Health, Medical Simulation and
Innovation Technology (RIDHMSIT).

f. Research Institute for Innovative Medical Education and
Services (RIIMDES).

g. Such research centers/institutes that the CNU Board of
Regents may create from time to time.

1.2. Under the College of Nursing and Related Health Sciences:

. Research Institute for Ageing and Health (RIAH).
. Research Center Women’s Health and Protection (RCWHP).

. Research Center for Health Policies and Governance (RCHPG).
. Research Center for Health Promotion and Protection

(RCHPP).
e. Research Institute for Population and Sustainable
Development (RIPSD).

f. Such research centers/institutes that the CNU Board of
Regents may create from time to time.

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1.3. Under the College of Law:

a. Research Institute for International Law Studies (RIILS).


b. Research Institute for Legal Profession and Paralegal Services
(RILPPS).

c. Research Institute for Indigenous and Local Legal System
(RIILLS).

d. Research Institute for Maritime and Energy Studies (RIMES);

e. Research institute for Human Rights and People’s
Participation (RIHRPP).

f. Research Institute for Sustainable Public Procurement and
Procurement Management (RISPPRM)

g. Such research centers/institutes that the CNU Board of
Regents may create from time to time.

1.4, Under the College of Tourism, Hotel and Hospitality
Management:

a. Research Institute for Sustainable Travel and
Aviation /Airline (RISTAR).

b. Research Institute for Culinary Arts, Food Science, and
Innovation (RICCAFSI).

c. Research Institute for Hospitality Innovation and Leadership

(RIHIL).

d. Research Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Development
(RITHD).

e. Research Institute for Culture, Heritage and Cebuano
Studies (RICHCS).

f. Research Institute for Eco-tourism and Sustainable
Development (RICTSD).

g. Such research centers/institutes that the CNU Board of
Regents may create from time to time.

1.5. Under the College of Business and Economics (CBE):

a. Research Institute for Rural, Urbanization and National
Development (RIRUND).

b. Research Institute for International Trade and Industry
(RILTI).

c. Research Institute for Labor Rights Protection (RILRP).

d. Research Institute for Human and Economic Sustainable
Development (RIHESD).

e. Research Institute for Business and Economics
Professionalization and Development (RIBEPD).

f, Such research centers/institutes that the CNU Board of
Regents may create from time to time.

The Research Centers/Institutes shall be under the direct supervision
of the University President through the Vice President for Research,
Publications, Innovation, Commercialization and Extension (RPICE). Each
research center/institute shall be managed by a Director with entitlements
provided to similar administrative positions in the University duly prescribed


under existing laws, rules and regulations. Each Director shall be assisted
by researchers duly designated from among the faculty members of the
University and technical and administrative staff duly hired and/or
designated from among the employees of the University, subject to
applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Further, the Board of Regents, upon the recommendation by the
University President, shall determine the duties, functions and mandates of
each institute or center as provided for under this Act or as may be
established by the Board of Regents or subsequent laws. Furthermore, the
funding requirements of the research centers/institutes shall be charged
against the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA), research and
development funds, income, grants and financial assistance from both the
government and private sectors, and/or such appropriate fund/s of the
University, subject to usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

SEC. 11. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. — The
Campus shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy,
pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution.

SEC. 12. Construction, Establishment, Utilization and
Management of Buildings. - The Campus is hereby authorized to
construct building/s for the establishment and operation of, among others,
serve as tertiary base hospital, auxiliary services and income generating
projects in the CNU Central Cebu City Campus located in Barangay
Sambang Il, Cebu City, which shall primarily serve as a base hospital and
clinical practice of its College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Allied
Health Sciences and if its capabilities warrant, cater to the base hospital
needs of other state universities and colleges in Visayas and other parts of
the country offering doctor of medicine programs.

The University President shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement
with any state university or college availing of the tertiary hospital of the
University as the base hospital thereof.

Such building/s shall also house and be utilized for the fourfold
functions, operations and mandates of the Colleges created under this Act
and such offices, departments or units as the University President and/or
Board of Regents may determine.

The buildings or structures so constructed in the Campus shall also
serve for auxiliary services and income generating projects, and such
entrepreneurial undertakings of the University to further augment its
financial capability.

SEC. 13. Loan or Transfer of Supplies, Apparatuses, or
Equipment, and Detail of Personnel to the College. - Heads of national
government agencies and instrumentalities and local government units may,
upon the request of the Board through the President of the CNU, loan or


transfer supplies, apparatuses, or equipment, and detail of personnel to the
Campus: Provided, That such loan, transfer or detail shall not be
detrimental to public service.

The personnel to be detailed to the Campus shall perform such duties
as may be deemed required by the Campus Director upon recommendation
by Dean of the College and the time spent for such duties, duly approved by
the University President, shall be counted as part of the detailed personnel's
regular service.

SEC. 14, Assets, Liabilities, and Personnel. ~ All appropriations,
assets, both real and personal, personnel, and records of the Campus, as
well as its liabilities or obligations, shall be titled or named after the CNU.

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

SEC. 15. Authority to Loan or Transfer. - The heads of bureaus
and offices of the national government are hereby authorized to loan or
transfer, upon request of the president of the University, such apparatus,
equipment or supplies as may be needed by the University, and to detail
employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of bureau or
office, such apparatus, equipment, supplies or services of such employees
can be spared without serious detriment to public service. Employees so
detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the president of
the University, and the time so employed shall be counted as part of their
regular services.

SEC. 16. Land Grants and Other Real Properties of the
University. - The State may support the University in the form of a lump
sum amount in the annual General Appropriations Act and other financial
benefits, and in kind, through land grants and donations, use or purchase
of other real properties. To carry out the intent of these grants, income
derived from the development of all land grants and real properties shall be
used to further the curricular programs and mandates of the Campus as
well as the fourfold functions of the of the university namely, instruction,
research, extension and production services, as may be determined and
decided by the Board.

Such parcels of land ceded by law, decree or presidential issuance to
the University are hereby declared to be reserved for the purpose
intended. The absolute ownership of the University over those landholdings,
including those covered by original and transfer certificates of title in the
name of the University and their future derivatives, is hereby confirmed.
Where the issuance of proper certificates of title for those landholdings is yet


pending, the appropriate government office may expedite the issuance
thereof within six (6) months from the date of effectivity of this
Act: Provided, That all registration requirements necessary for the issuance
of the said titles have been submitted and complied with.

The Board may plan, design, approve and cause the implementation of
land leases: Provided, That such mechanisms and arrangements shall
sustain and protect the environment in accordance with law, and be
exclusive of the academic core zone of the campuses of the
University: Provided, further, That such mechanisms and arrangements
shail not conflict with the academic mission of the University.

The Board may approve the implementation of the joint
ventures: Provided, That in the event real properties of the University are
involved, only the income derived by the University from the use of the real
properties shall be subject of its participation or obligation in the joint
ventures: Provided, further, That no joint venture shall result in the
alienation of the real properties of the University.

Any plan to generate revenues and other sources from land grants
and other real properties entrusted to the University shall be consistent with
the academic mission and orientation of the university as well as protect it
from undue influence and control of commercial interests: Provided, That
such programs, projects or mechanisms shall be approved by the Board
subject to a transparent and democratic process of consultation with the
constituents of the University.

SEC. 17. Tax Exemptions. - The provisions of any general or special
law to the contrary notwithstanding:

(a) All revenues and assets of the University or Campus/College used
actually, directly and exclusively for educational and sustainable
development purposes or in support thereof shall be exempt from
all taxes and duties;

(b) All grants, gifts, bequests, endowments, donations and
contributions of real and personal properties of all kinds made to
and used actually, directly and exclusively for educational and
sustainable development purposes by the University 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:
Provided, That the allowable deductions shall be equivalent to one
hundred fifty percent (150%) of the value of such donation.
Valuation of assistance other than money shall be based on the
acquisition cost of the property. Such valuation shall take into
consideration the depreciation value of the property in case the
property has been used;


(c) Importation by the University or Campus/College of economic,
technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical and
cultural books, supplies and materials duly certified by the Board
and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), including
scientific, information and communications technology, and
educational computer and software equipment, shall be exempt
from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of Republic
Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization
and Tariff Act (CMTA)";

(d) The educational services rendered by the University shall be except
from value-added tax in accordance with Section 109(H) of the
NIRC of 1997, as amended; and

{e) All academic monetary incentives and nonmonetary awards
provided by the donors and other benefactors shall be exempt from
taxes.”

SEC. 18. Compliance with CHED and Legal Education Board (LEB)
Requirements. - The CNU shall ensure continuing compliance with the
applicable policies, standards, and guidelines of the CHED and the LEB, as
the case may be.

SEC. 19. Rules of Construction. - No statutory or other issuances
shall diminish the powers, rights, privileges and benefits accorded to the
University under this Act, or those enjoyed at present by virtue of other
issuances not otherwise modified or repealed under this Act, unless
subsequent legislation expressly provides for their repeal, amendment or
modification. Any case of doubt in the interpretation of any of the provisions
of hereof shall be resolved in favor of the academic freedom and fiscal
autonomy of the University.

SEC. 20. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of Republic Act
No. 8292, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of
1997,” and Republic Act No. 8688 “An Act Converting the Cebu State
College Into a State University to Be Known as the Cebu Normal University,
And Appropriating Funds Therefor” and their respective Implementing Rules
and Regulations (IRRs) shall form an integral part of this Act and its IRR
and shall serve as part of the governing charter of the Campus.

SEC. 21. Parity Clause. - All other powers. functions, privileges,
responsibilities, and limitations under existing laws shall be deemed granted
to or imposed upon the University and its officials whenever appropriate

SEC. 22. Development and Investment Plans, and Organizational

Structure. - Within One Hundred Twenty (120) days after the approval of
this Act, the University shall accomplish the following:

10


(a) Submit a five (5) year development and investment plans,
including its corresponding program budget to the CHED and
DBM;

(b) Set up its organization, as well as its academic structure, and
designate the designated officials and hiring of faculty members
and administrative personnel of the College and the research
institutes or centers of the University, subject to applicable laws,
rules, and regulations;

(c) Update the Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP);
and

(d) Secure additional plantilla positions, including technical, support
to technical, and key administrative positions for the Campus and
its Colleges, and augmentations of personnel services allocation
from the DBM, in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness
of the administration and management of the University, toward
the attainment of its mandates, vision, mission, and objectives.

The Board may direct for the updating of the deliverables in Section
{a\(c) above every five (5) years or as often as necessary which shall be in
harmony with the national development plan.

SEC. 23. Transitory Provision. - To provide strategic direction and
leadership as the Campus and College transitions, and to ensure the
attainment of its distinctive and purposeful mandates as such, as declared
and provided for in this Act, the incumbent Campus Director and the
concerned College Deans of CNU, if qualified, shall serve a new term as its
first Campus Director or Dean of the College, as the case may be, subject to
one (1) reappointment: Provided, That such reappointment is pursuant to
the guidelines prescribed by the Board, upon recommendation by the
University President.

SEC. 24. Appropriations. - An amount of Two Billion Pesos
{PhP2,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to be used, among others, for
the construction of the building/s as mandated under Section 11 in this Act,
hiring of qualified faculty members and staff, procurement of vehicles and
state-of-the-art facilities necessary for the operations of the tertiary hospital,
auxiliary services, income generating projects and such entrepreneurial
undertakings and of the college or University as its Board of Regents may
deem appropriate. Thereafter, the amount necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the

University Code and Manual of Operations. - Within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in consultation with the CHED, shall

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formulate the rules and regulations to fully implement the provisions of this
Act.

Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the promulgation of the
IRR, the University President shall, upon consultation with and review by
the Academic Council and Administrative Council, submit to the Board of
Regents for action on the University Code and Manual of Operations and
such policies of the offices, colleges, departments, units, sections and
services of the Campus.

Provided, That the IRR, University Code and the Manual of Operations
and such policies may be reviewed, updated or enhanced at least every five
(5) years or as often as may be necessary.

SEC. 26. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 27. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 28. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,

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