Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4082

Introduced by Representative Edsel A. Galeos _

HOUSE BILL NO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution states that, “The State shall protect and
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to
make such education accessible to all

‘The value of education has been recognized by no less than the fundamental law of our
land. Access to quality education has been enshrined in our Constitution to ensure that it shall
always remain a policy consideration when the government determines laws, systems, and plans.

‘The Cebu Normal University (CNU) is one of the oldest educational institutions in Cebu.
It has a main campus in Cebu City and two extension campuses located in the Municipalities of
Balamban and Medellin, Province of Cebu. As of Fiscal Year 2023, it offers 32 programs across
various disciplines of which all its undergraduate programs are issued with Certificates of Program
‘Compliance (COPC) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). It is one of the leading
higher education institutions nationwide and is known for upholding academic excellence. Both
the faculty and students of the University are actively involved in research and extension services
‘which contribute to national, regional, and local development.

As of 2020, the Province of Cebu already has a population of 3,325,385. As the population grows,
‘so does the demand for essential services including education. Thus, there is a need to establish
and create an additional campus to accommodate the influx of enrollees.

This measure seeks to establish a regular campus of the Cebu Normal University located in the
Municipality of Argao, Province of Cebu. The Municipality of Argao is among the first-class
income municipalities in the Province of Cebu, it lies in the southeast portion of the Province of
Cebu and is approximately 66 kilometers from Cebu City. The creation of a new campus will
significantly improve access to higher education, especially for the residents of the Municipality
‘of Argao and the surrounding areas. The measure aims to bridge the gap caused by limited access
to educational institutions due to high housing costs and inadequate transportation options. It will
also enhance infrastructure, provide additional resources for academic programs, and secure
increased funding for other academic endeavors such as research initiatives and extracurricular
activities, benefiting both the students and the faculty.

For the foregoing reasons, passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

EDSEL A.\GALEOS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No._ 4082

Introduced by Representative Edsel A. Galeos

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING REGULAR CAMPUS OF THE CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ARGAO, PROVINCE OF CEBU, TO BE KNOWN
AS THE CEBU NORMAL  UNIVERSITY-ARGAO CAMPUS, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 Cebu Normal University-
Argao Campus Act of 2025”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is the declared policy of the State to
establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of higher
‘education relevant to the ever-changing needs of the people and society with primary focus
on quality research and development and higher education leading to medical, nursing and
healthcare programs.

‘The State recognizes that education sector is an essential element for the attainment
of sustained national and local development and progress.

‘Therefore, the State shall establish, promote and support centers and programs
leading to the realization of this objective, such as scholarship programs, improvement of
the quality of education, popularization and sustainability of higher education programs
directed towards the development, promotion and continual enhancements of the
knowledge, competences, skills, and potentials of the young populace and leamers in
various fields of specialization.

In the realization of the foregoing, the State shall also provide adequate resources
Jementation and sustainability of higher education institutions (HEIs) campuses
ictive operational efficiency, effectiveness and productivity that develops,
utilizes and maintains state-of-the-art technologies and sound architecture infrastructures
to ensure meaningful student experience and establishing conducive working environment
to the officials, faculty, non-teaching personnel, students and clients.

SECTION 3. Establishment of the CNU-Argao Campus. — There is hereby
established a regular campus of Cebu Normal University in the Municipality of Argao,
which shall be known as the “Cebu Normal University- Argao Campus or CNU-A\



SECTION 4. General Mandate. — The CNU-Argao Campus shall offer
undergraduate and graduate courses such as, but not limited to, education, tourism, science
and technology, information and communications technology (ICT), nautical, maritime
education, artificial intelligence, data management, special needs education, early
childhood education, lifelong leaming, forestry, environmental protection and
livelihood technology education, criminology, engineering, electronics and
manufacturing, foresight and futures management, real estate management, business and
economics, food technology innovation and incubation, marine sciences, fishery, utilities
and logistics, energy such, but not limited to, renewable energy and petroleum engineering,
disaster risk reduction and management, 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. Furthermore, in order to maximize the quality of nursing,
law and medical programs and produce more leaders, professionals and educators therein,
the CNU-Argao Campus shall offer at least two-year curriculum for the BS in Nursing,
Juris Doctor and Doctor of Medicine programs and the successful completers therein shall
be allowed to continue and graduate in the CNU Main Campus and/or such Campus of the
University duly designated by the Board, under the 2+2 model, subject to the requirements
of the policies and standards prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education and
authorization by the Board of Regents of the University.

It is also mandated to undertake research and extension services in support of the
socioeconomic development and to provide progressive leadershij

SETION 5. Supervision and Management. - The University President shall have
overall supervision and management of the CNU-Argao Campus. The Campus shall be
headed by a Campus Director who shall be appointed/designated by the Board, subject to
its guidelines, qualifications and standards, and upon the recommendation of Search
Committee duly constituted for the purpose of selecting the Campus Director: provided,
‘That pending the submission of the report by the Search Committee duly constituted by
the Board, the University President shall designate from among the faculty members or
employees of the University to serve as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Campus Director or
in acting capacity subject to the confirmation by the Board and applicable policies of the
Civil Service Commission. Provided, however, that in order to ensure smooth transition,
the incumbent designated Campus Director of CNU-Argao Campus, if qualified, shall
serve as the first Campus Director, subject to the pertinent provisions of the University
Code and policies promulgated by the Board,

‘The Campus Director shall be assisted by a Dean who shall be appointed or
designated with the duties and functions determined by the University President, subject
to the confirmation by the Board.

SECTION 6. Compliance with the Requirements of the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED). ~The CNU shall ensure compliance of the CNU-Argao Campus with
the policies, standards, and guidelines of the CHED for the operation of the campus,
including those related to the offering of courses and the introduction of new or revised
programs prior to the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 7. Management of Personnel, Assets, Liabilities, and Records. ~ All
assets, both real and personal, personnel, and records of the CNU-Argao Campus, as well


as its liabilities or obligations, shall be transferred to the CNU. The positions, rights, and
security of tenure of faculty members and personnel therein employed under existing laws
prior to the effectivity of this Act shall be respected.

All parcels of land belonging to the goverment occupied by the CNU-Argao
‘Campus shall be transferred to the CNU: Provided, that should the CNU-Argao Campus
‘or the CNU 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 local government unit
concerned or the Republic of the Philippines, as the case may be.

SECTION 8. Development Plans. — sixty (60) working days from the
effectivity of this Act, the University shall submit Medium-Term Development Plan and
such plans to its Board of Regents for review and endorsement to the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM) for the provision of plantilla positions and budgetary
requirements of the Campus for its operations and maintenance.

SECTION 9. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292,
otherwise known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997", shall form part
of this Act.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. —'The amount necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

‘The Municipality of Argao shall continue to provide assistance to the CNU-Argao Campus
until such time that the amount necessary for the hiring of faculty and administrative staff,
operation and maintenance of the CNU-Argao Campus shall be authorized by the DBM or
included of the annual GAA, as the case may be.

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) working
days from the approval of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED, issue
rules and regulations to implement its provisions.

SECTION 12. 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.

SECTION 13. Repeating Clause. — All other laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
complete publi in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation,

Approved