Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Hon. ALAN 1 B. ECLEO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 None other than the 1987 Constitution mandates 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.”  
Pursuant to Sustainable Development Goal 2013-2014, it is aimed that by 2030, 
equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational 
and tertiary education including university will be ensured. For school years 2017-2018 
to 2019-2020 in the whole Province of Dinagat Islands, there are 3,838 Grade 12 
student graduates projecting a graduation rate of 98.47%. Despite this great number, 
these graduates still struggle to continue their education due to a factor attributable to 
inaccessibility of an affordable quality tertiary education considering that there is no 
public or national Government-funded College in the Province of Dinagat Islands. This 
jeopardizes employment rate in the province considering that college graduates have 
a much smoother transition from school-to-work compared to high school graduates. 
As commerce, trade, and other proficient industries continue to progress in the Lone 
District of Dinagat Islands, a competent labor and workforce must be prioritized such 
as that on Fisheries, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Mining Engineering, Marine 
Engineering,  Hospitality Management, and Food Technology. 
Without the establishment of a State College in the Province, the vicious cycle 
of poverty will not be broken. As population increases and times are changing, 
educational needs consequently arise and transform.  
The Province of Dinagat Islands, being geographically remote and isolated, 
makes life difficult if not impossible for the poor Dinagatnons to go to college. There 
are merely limited college institutions that have been assisting the province of Dinagat 
Islands and its educational demands for years, not to mention that these are private 
institutions which further limit the options for those who are willing to study but could 
not afford tuition fees. The Province has 33 secondary schools but it has only one 
college which means that a relatively great number of Dinagatnons usually travel to 
Surigao City for tertiary level of education and quite a number opt to travel all the way 
to Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City and Marawi City. Believing that every 
Dinagatnons deserves equal opportunity to accessible, affordable tertiary education, 
March 1, 2022
1:00 pm
10813


the Dinagat Island deemed it timely and essential to establish Dinagat Island State 
College. Hence, there is a compelling need for the establishment of a local State 
College in the province so that the youth can increase in competence and improve the 
lives of their family which will therefore lead to progressive local economic growth.  
In line with the preceding, this bill proposes the creation of the Dinagat Islands 
State College with the end view of bolstering the economy through the provision of an 
adequate and integrated system of education relative to the needs of the people and 
the society. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
     ALAN 1 B. ECLEO 
Representative, Lone District of Dinagat Islands 


      Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Hon. ALAN 1 B. ECLEO 
AN ACT 
CREATING A STATE COLLEGE IN THE LONE DISTRICT OF DINAGAT ISLANDS 
TO BE KNOWN AS THE DINAGAT ISLANDS STATE COLLEGE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Dinagat Islands State 
College Charter.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State shall promote, foster, nurture, and 
protect the right to accessible, equitable and quality education. Through a refocused 
institutional culture and improved governance, the Dinagat Islands State College shall 
aim to become one of the State’s main higher education provider in the region.  
SEC. 3. Creation of the Dinagat Islands State College. – There is hereby 
created a Dinagat Islands State College hereinafter referred to as the State College.  
SEC. 4. General Mandate. The State College shall provide a unified corporate 
structure to guarantee common academic standards and institutional identity. It shall 
foster complete unity and deep collaboration among its constituency towards the 
following strategic goals:  
a.) To uphold academic freedom; 
b.) To create greater critical mass and economies of scale that will enable the 
State College to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness;  
c.) To build greater synergy among the constituency to establish and improve 
the State College academic portfolio, boost academic performance to higher levels 
and enhance teaching quality in more diverse academic disciplines; and 
10813


d.) To utilize governance structures more effectively by having a single 
governing board that can better focus on responding to development needs and 
combining disconnected academic and non-academic functions that can create 
additional capacity for other appropriate pursuits. 
SEC. 5. Administration. –The State College shall have the general powers of a 
corporation set forth in Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, as amended, otherwise known as 
“The Corporation Code of the Philippines.” The administration of the State College and 
the exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested exclusively in the Board of 
Regents. However, nothing in this Section shall diminish the powers of the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) under Republic Act No. 7722 pertaining to 
its exercise of oversight powers and reasonable supervision over higher education 
institutions. 
SEC. 6. Governing Board. – The Governing Board of State College shall be the 
Board of the Regents, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be composed 
of the following: 
a.) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) or his/her 
representative, as Chairperson;  
b.) The President of the State College, as Vice Chairperson; 
c.) The Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of 
the House of Representatives; 
e.) The Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority 
(NEDA); 
f.) The Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST); 
g.) The President of the faculty union/association; 
h.) The President of the College student council; 
i.) The President of the alumni association; and 
j.) The two (2) prominent from the private sector who have distinguished 
themselves in their profession or fields of specialization and are active in dominant 
industries in the region that are directly relevant to the College’s need and external 
affairs, as members.  
The Board of Regents shall appoint the two (2) prominent alumni from a list of 
at least five (5) qualified persons who are residents of the Province of Dinagat Islands, 
as recommended by the search committee constituted by the State College President, 
in a consultation the Chairman of the CHED, based on the normal standards and 
qualifications for the position. 


The term of office of the president of the federation of alumni associations shall 
be co-terminus with their respective terms of office, as set forth in their respective 
constitutions and by-laws. 
The two (2) prominent citizens shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the 
date of their appointment. 
SEC. 7. Promulgation and Implementation of Policies. – The Board shall 
promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies on 
education, including those stated in Section 2 hereof, and other pertinent provisions 
of the Philippine Constitution on education, science, and technology, and other fields 
deemed important for economic growth in the City.            
SEC. 8. Powers and Duties of the Board of Regents. – The Board shall have 
the following specific powers and duties, in addition to its general powers granted to 
the board of directors of a corporation under existing laws: 
a.) Promulgate rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be necessary 
to carry out the purposes and functions of the Regional College System; 
b.) Receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support of the 
Regional College System in the manner it may determine in its discretion, in order to 
carry out the purposes and functions of the Regional College System;  
c.) Import duty-free economic, technical, and cultural books or publications, 
upon certification by the CHED that such books are economic, technical, vocational, 
scientific, philosophical, historical, or cultural purposes, in accordance with the 
provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code, as amended;  
d.) Receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties 
of all kinds and to administer and dispose of the same when necessary for the benefit 
of the Regional College System, and subject to the limitations, directions, and 
instructions of the donor, if any.  
Such donations shall be exempt from the donor’s tax and the same shall be 
considered as allowable deductions from the gross income in the computation of the 
income tax of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal 
Revenue Code (NIRC), as amended;  
Provided, That such donations shall not be disposed of, transferred, or sold; 
 
e.) Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as but not 
limited to, matriculation fees, graduation fees and charges shall, including government 
and subsidies and other income generated by the State College, constitute special 
trust funds and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank, and 
all interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use 
of the State College. In cases where tuition and other fees adjustment shall be 
implemented, a documented consultation compendium on the proposed increase 
should be submitted to the Board in order to support the Board’s action.  


 
Any provision of existing laws, rules, and regulations to the contrary 
notwithstanding, all income generated by the State College from tuition fees, 
programs, and other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and 
land grants, shall be retained by the constituent units of the Regional College System, 
and may be disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension or other 
programs or projects of the College: Provided, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed 
for the specific purposes for which these are collected. 
 
If, for reasons beyond its control, the State College shall not be able to pursue 
any project for which the funds have been appropriated and allocated under its 
approved program of expenditures, the Board may authorize the use of said funds for 
any reasonable purpose which, in its discretion, may be necessary and urgent for the 
attainment of the objectives and goals of the State College: 
 
f.) Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment 
and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, including 
necessary supplies, materials, and equipment; 
 
g.) Designate, upon recommendation of the President of the State College, the 
vice presidents, deans, directors, heads of departments, head of campus, faculty 
members, and other officials and employees of the College;  
 
h.) Fix and adjust salaries of faculty members and administrative officials and 
employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation and Position 
Classification System and other pertinent budget and compensation laws governing 
hours of service, and such other duties and conditions as it may deem proper; grant 
them, as its discretion, leaves of absence under such regulations as it may 
promulgate, any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding; and remove 
them for cause in accordance with the requirements of due process of law; 
 
i.) Approve curricula, instructional programs and rules of discipline drawn by the 
Administrative and the Academic Councils herein provided;  
 
j.) Set policies on the minimum system-wide requirements for admission, 
graduation of students and grant of honors;  
 
k.) Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding 
contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and technology, 
agriculture or in any field of specialization within the academic competence of the State 
College: Provided, That such degrees shall not be conferred in consideration of any 
payment, gift or other valuable consideration. Provided further that the same is 
consistent and compliant with the CHED Guidelines in giving of honorary degrees. 
 
l.) Establish research and extension centers of the State College where such 
will promote the development of the latter;  
 
m.) Establish professorial chairs in the State College and provide fellowships 
for the qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students; 


 
n.) Delegate any of its powers and duties to the president or other officials of 
the State College, as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of 
the affairs of the State College; 
 
o.) Authorize an external management audit of the State College, subject to the 
rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit (COA) and institute reforms, 
including academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results and 
recommendation;  
 
p.) Collaborate with other governing boards of the State Colleges and 
universities well as private colleges and universities in working towards the 
development of the State College to become more efficient, relevant, productive, and 
competitive; 
 
q.) Enter into joint ventures, which may be initiated by the constituency, with 
business and industry for the profitable development and management of the 
economic assets of the State College; Provided, these ventures shall not affect the 
academic character of the State College;  
 
r.) Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with the local 
government unit (LGU), as well as public or private institutions and agencies, local and 
foreign, in the furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the State College;  
 
s.) Develop academic arrangements for institution-capability building with 
appropriate institutions and agencies, public and private, local and foreign, and appoint 
experts or specialists as consultants, part-time or visiting or exchange professors, 
scholars, or researches, as the case may be; 
 
t.) Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative decision-making 
and transparency within the State College,  
u.) Extend the term beyond the age of retirement but not beyond the age of 
seventy (70) of the State College President whose performance has been 
unanimously rated by the Board as outstanding, after unanimous recommendation by 
the Performance Evaluation Committee (PEC). 
SEC. 9. Meetings of the Board. – The Board of the Regents of the State College 
shall regularly convene at least once every quarter. However, the Chairperson of the 
Board may, upon three (3) days prior written notice, call a maximum of four (4) special 
meetings within a year, whenever necessary.  
All regular meetings of the Board shall be held in either the main campus or in 
any of the constituent units as may be determined by the Regional College System 
President in consultation with the chancellor, except for the certain meritorious and 
expedient reasons where special meetings may be help in venues outside the Region. 
A quorum of the Board of Regents shall consist of a majority of all its members 
holding office at the time of the meeting; Provided, That the Chairperson of the Board 
or the State College President is among those present in the meeting. 


In the absence of the Chairperson of the CHED, a duly designated 
Commissioner of the CHED shall represent the Chairperson in the meeting however, 
that during this meeting, the State College President as Vice-Chairperson shall be the 
presiding officer: Provided, further, That this proviso notwithstanding, the Chairperson 
of the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as the regular 
Chair of the Board, in which case said CHED Commissioner shall act as the presiding 
officer. 
In case the Chairpersons of the Congressional Committees on Education shall 
not be able to attend the said meeting, their respective representative shall have the 
same rights and responsibilities as a regular member of the Board, except in cases of 
the appointment of the State College officials, including the State College President, 
wherein the Chairpersons shall send an official communication to the Board 
transmitting their approval of the appointment/designation.  
The members of the Board shall not receive any salary or honoraria but shall 
be entitled to reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred, either in 
their attendance to meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business 
authorized by resolution of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations. 
 
SEC. 10. State College President. – The State College shall be headed by the 
full-time president who shall be appointed by the Board subject to the guidelines, 
qualification and standards set by the Board and upon recommendation of a duly 
constituted search committee; Provided, the candidate shall be a doctorate degree 
holder. The State College President shall have a term of four (4) years and shall be 
eligible for reappointment for another term. 
 
In case of vacancy in the office of the State College President by reason of 
death, compulsary retirement, resignation, removal for cause or incapacity to perform 
the functions of the office, the Board shall have the authority to designate an officer-
in-charge of the State College within six (6) months from the date of vacancy, pending 
the appointment of new State College President; Provided, the officer-in-charge shall 
only serve a period of not more than one (1) year. The State College President 
appointed by the Board after the occurrence of any aforementioned events shall serve 
the unexpired portion of the term, subject to re-appointment for another term if 
warranted. 
 
The powers and duties of the President of the State College, in addition to those 
specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the 
President of similar universities. 
 
The salary of the State College President shall be in accordance with the 
Revised Compensation and Position Classification System and shall be comparable 
to that being received by the Presidents of similar educational institutions. 
 
SEC. 11. Vice-President. – The State College President shall be assisted by a 
vice president for academic affairs, a vice president for administration and finance and 


a vice president for research and extension and development, and such other vice 
presidents as may be determined by the Board, but not exceeding five (5) vice 
presidents serving at a time. They shall be designated by the Board, upon the 
recommendation of the State College President. They shall serve as staff and may 
assume line functions upon the direction of the State College.  
 
SEC. 12. Secretary of the College of the Board. – There shall be a Secretary of 
the College and of the Board of Regents to be appointed by the Board, who shall keep 
such records of the College and the Board, as may be designated by the Board. 
 
SEC. 13. Executive Administrative Council. – There shall be a College-wide 
administrative council headed by the State College President, with membership 
consisting of the vice-presidents for administration and finance, deans, and other 
officials as may be deemed necessary by the Board. The Executive Administrative 
Council shall set the direction and administrative policies on a College-wide basis and 
shall perform oversight functions on administrative matters. 
 
SEC. 14 Administrative Council. – There shall be an administrative council in 
the State College with the President as Chairman, the deans and directors of equal 
rank within the College as members. The Administrative Council shall formulate and 
recommend plans, programs, and policies for administration, finance, and production 
for approval of the Board. 
 
The Presidents of the student council of the College may be allowed to attend 
the meetings of the Administrative Council as an observer. 
 
SEC. 15 Academic Council. – The Academic Council is the supreme academic 
advisory body in the State College and shall be responsible for the following functions: 
 
a.) Set academic policies and minimum academic standards; 
 
b.) Perform oversight functions on all academic matters pertaining to the State 
College and its programming;  
 
c.) Formulate, evaluate, and recommend to the State College President policies 
and procedures which pertain to the development, maintenance, and improvement of 
the State College program in academic matters; 
 
d.) Fix the requirement for admission to any college or unit or any academic 
program or course offering and for graduation and conferment of a degree, and the 
grant of honors subject to the minimum system-wide requirement;  
 
e.) Prescribe the academic programs including their institutions, revision, 
abolition, and merger, subject to the approval of the Board; 
 
f.) Recommend to the Board the graduation of students and the grant of honors; 
 
g.) Undertake a periodic review of academic courses, programs standards, 
thrust and policies; 


 
h.) Adopt the necessary measures to enable students to exercise their 
established religious beliefs consistent with the accepted norms and morals of society. 
Students shall be given options to fulfill their academic responsibilities, such as but not 
limited to, make-up classes or examinations on missed school days or examinations 
which coincided with the exercise of their established religious beliefs; 
 
i.) Adopt internal rule of procedures consistent with the provisions of this Act; 
and 
 
j.) Perform other corollary functions consistent to the goals and objectives of 
the State College. 
 
SEC. 16. Research, Extension, and Enterprise Development (REED) State 
College Council. – There shall be a REED State College Council which shall perform 
oversight functions and provide direction on REED matters in the College. The REED 
State College Council shall be headed by the Vice President for Research Extension 
and Development, with the Chairpersons of each academic department as members. 
 
SEC. 17. Faculty. – No political beliefs, gender preference, physical disability, 
cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin, and religious opinion of affiliation shall 
be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of the faculty members of the State College: 
Provided, That the appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and 
standards set by the Board consistent with existing policies and laws: Provided, 
further, That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against any particular church 
or religious sect. 
 
SEC. 18. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. – The State College 
shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to paragraph 2, 
Section 5 of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution. 
 
SEC. 19. Academic Council. – All assets, real and personal, personnel and 
records of the State College, as well as liabilities or obligations, are hereby transferred 
to the State College. The positions, rights and security of tenure of the faculty members 
and personnel employed in the College under existing laws prior to this Act shall be 
respected. 
 
All assets donated to the State College under its former juridical personality 
shall be deemed donated to and hence a property of the new State College as a duly 
constituted body or judicial entity.  
SEC. 20. Compliance with CHED Requirements. The provisions of this Act 
notwithstanding, the establishment of the institution into a state college shall become 
effective only upon prior compliance with CHED Memorandum  Order No. 14, series 
of 2019 (Policies and Guidelines in the issuance of COPC to SUCs and LUCs) and 
upon the declaration by the CHED, based on the recommendation of a panel of experts 
it shall constitute for the purpose, that the institution has complied with the 
requirements for a college status based on CHED Memorandum Order No. 46, series 
of 2012 (Policy Standard to Enhance Quality Assurance in Philippine Higher Education 


Through an Outcomes-Based and Typology-Bases QA): Provided, That the panel may 
issue such a recommendation when the institution has substantially complied with the 
requirements for the grant of status as a state college.  
The following operational requirements for a state college, as established by 
the CHED, shall be complied with: 
a.) Full- time permanent faculty members who have the relevant degrees as 
required by the CHED and experience in the subject areas they handle; 
b.) Degree Programs characterized by a core curriculum that holistically 
develops thinking, problem solving, decision making, communication, technical, and 
social skills in line with the mission of the College; 
c.) Learning resources and support structures that are appropriate for 
developing knowledge and skills in the specific natural science, social science, 
humanities, and professional disciplines offered by the College, including laboratories, 
books and journals, etc.; 
d.) Links with the community that would ensure the development of relevant 
academic and extension programs as well as the application of their learning 
outcomes; and 
 e.) Outreach programs involving students in social-development oriented 
experiences that allow them to contextualize their knowledge within social and human 
experiences. 
After five (5) years of operation, it shall be evaluated by the CHED to determine 
its compliance with the requirements for College classification according to the 
horizontal typology of higher education institutions. Moreover, the College shall 
undergo the institutional sustainability assessment (ISA) process to ensure that an 
internal Quality Assurance system has been established leading to sustainable 
offering of quality programs and services.  
SEC. 21. Income Generating Projects. – To augment the budget allocation of 
government for higher education, the State College shall engage in Income 
Generating Projects (IGPs) to enhance limited resources and later be self-sufficient 
and autonomous pursuant to Republic Act 8292, also known as the Higher Education 
Modernization Act of 1997. The IGP management of the State College should look 
into the possibility of establishing functional linkages with other institutions for fund 
accessing, technology innovation, development, transfer and, more importantly, 
getting accreditation or seeking membership in different trade organizations or 
enterprise development councils at the local and even national levels. 
 
SEC. 22. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act 
following its approval. 


 
SEC. 23. Land Grants and Other Real Properties of the State College. – The 
State shall provide support to the State College in the form of lump sum amount, 
through general appropriations and other financial benefits, and in kind, through land 
grants and donations and use of other real properties. To carry out the intent of these 
grants, income derived from the development of all land grants and real properties 
acquired by the State College shall be used to further the ends of the State College, 
as may be decided by the Board. 
 
The Board shall plan, design, approve, or cause the implementation of financial 
mechanisms, such as joint ventures and long-term leases, to give the Regional 
College System the most advantageous position in generating revenues and other 
resources from the land grants and other real property entrusted by the Filipino people: 
Provided, That such long-term leases shall not conflict with the State College’s 
academic mission, as well as, sustain and protect the environment: Provided, finally, 
That funds from the long-term leases shall not be meant to replace, in whole or in part, 
the annual appropriation provided by the national government to the State College. 
 
SEC. 24. Tax Exemptions. – The importation of economic, technical and 
cultural books or publications, which are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, 
philosophical, historical or cultural purposes made by the College, upon certification 
by the CHED, shall be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions 
of Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act 
(CMTA)” 
All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions made to the College 
to be used actually, directly and exclusively by the College shall be exempt from 
donor’s tax and the same shall be allowed as allowable deductions from the gross 
income of the donor 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. 
 
SEC. 25. Development Plan and Institutionalization. – Within one hundred 
twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the Board of Regents shall accomplish 
the following: 
 
a.) Submit a medium-term development plan, including its corresponding 
recommendation to the Department of Budget and Management; 
 
b.) Accordingly set up its organizational, administrative, as well as, academic 
structure, including the appointment of the State College key officials; and 
 
c.) Determine the courses and programs to be offered in the State College; 
 
d.) Preprare and implement a LUDIP designed to improve and optimally utilize 
their resources. 
 
SEC. 26. Suppletory Application. – The provisions of the Republic Act 8292, 
otherwise known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997,” shall be an 


integral part of this Act and shall serve as part of the governing charter of the State 
College. 
 
SEC. 27. Parity Clause. – All other powers, functions, and privileges, 
responsibilities, and limitations granted to, or imposed upon state College and their 
officials under existing laws shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the State 
College and its officials whenever appropriate. 
 
SEC. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within a period of ninety (90) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Higher Education shall 
promulgate rules and regulation as may be necessary for the effective implementation 
of this Act.  
 
SEC. 29. 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 thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
 SEC. 30. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,