Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

1009
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. CATHERINE BARCELONA-REYES, M.D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks the conversion of the Camarines Norte State College including its
Satellite Colleges in the Province of Camarines Norte into a State University to be known
as the Camarines Norte State University (CNSU).

Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) provides special program in promoting
services in the field of research, extension and graduate studies for progressive leadership.
‘The CNSC has its satellite campuses: Abafio Campus, Mercedes Campus, Labo Campus,
and Jose Panganiban Campus, respectively. Entienza Campus in Sta. Elena, Camarines
Norte is also now a part of the CNSC since 2007. The Camarines Norte State College caters
to more than 5,143 students from different parts of Bicol region and other nearby provinces.
An average of 886 students graduate from the differént programs each year, the most
number coming from College of Business and Public Administration, College of Education,
and Arts and Sciences, Performance of CNSC in board examinations breaks record as some
become national placers.

Camarines Norte State College provides higher professional and technical instruction
and training in the area. The local officials of the province of Camarines Norte found it
fitting to reform and refocus the educational thrusts of the Camarines Norte State College in
order to suit the prevailing clamor of the people in their pursuit for a quality higher
education equal to the standards of a university.

The conversion of the Camarines Norte State College will have greater technological
impact on the rural areas where it is located and where the Satellite Colleges are
strategically situated. It will also provide advanced education and professional training in
the students’ chosen fields of education. This will greatly enhance simultaneous economic
growth in the province of Camarines Norte.


Consistent with the constitutional mandate which provides that the State must
establish and maintain a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to
the goals of national development, this bill becomes imperative.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly recommended.

CATHERINE /BARCELONA-REYES, M.D.
Representative
1" District, Camarines Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo.__ 2909

Introduced by HONORABLE CATHERINE BARCELONA-REYES, M.D,

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF DAET, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE
INTO A STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CAMARINES
NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Conversion. —- The Camarines Norte State College in the
municipality of Daet, Province of Camarines Norte is hereby converted into a state
university to be known as the Camarines Norte State University, hereinafter
referred to as the University.

SEC. 2. General Mandate. — The University shall primarily provide higher
technological and professional instruction and training in the fields of economics,
agriculture, health, engineering, education, management, finance, accounting,
forest research and conservation, business and public administration as well as
short-term technical and vocational courses. It shall also undertake and promote
research and extension services, advanced studies and progressive leadership in all
areas of discipline and responsibilities.

SEC. 3. Curricular Offerings. — The University shall offer undergraduate and
graduate courses in the fields of agriculture and fishery, environmental
management, engineering, education, arts and sciences and other degrees/courses
within its areas of specialization and according to its capabilities, as the Board of
Regents may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, particularly to meet the
needs of the Province of Camarines Norte and the Bicol Region.


The existing high school shall be transferred to the jurisdiction and
supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd): Provided, That the high
school shall be allowed to remain and operate within the campus of the University
until its students, who are currently enrolled, shall have completed their high school
education: Provided, further, That the University may operate a reasonably-sized
laboratory school, if it has a College of Education.

SEC. 4. Administration. — The University 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 University and
the exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested exclusively in the Board of
Regents and the President of the University.

SEC. 5. The Governing Board. — The governing board of the University shall
be the Board of Regents, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be
composed of the following:

(a) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),

Chairperson;

(b) _ The President of the University, Vice Chairperson;

(c) The Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture
of the Senate, member;

(d) The Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical
Education of the House of Representatives, member;

(e) The Regional Director of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA), member;

(f) The Regional Director of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), member;

(g) The Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture (DA),
member;

(h) The President of the faculty association of the University, member;
(i) The President of the student council of the University, member;

Gj) The President of the alumni association of the University, member;
and

(k) Three (3) prominent citizens from the private sector who have
distinguished themselves in their profession or fields of specialization,
as members.


The Board shall appoint the three (3) prominent citizens from among a list of
at least five (5) qualified persons in the Province of Camarines Norte, whose
nominations were submitted to the Board after publication of at least two (2)
consecutive weeks, as recommended by the search committee constituted by the
University President, in consultation with the Chairperson of the CHED and the
other members of the Board, based on the normal standards and qualifications for
the position set by the Board.

The term of office of the President of the faculty association, the President of
the student council and the President of the alumni association, shall be
coterminous with their respective terms of office, as set forth in their respective
constitutions and bylaws.

The three (3) prominent citizens shall serve for a term of two (2) years from
the date of appointment.

SEC. 6. Promulgation and Implementation of Policies. - The Board shall
promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies
on education and other pertinent provisions of the Philippine Constitution on
education, agriculture, science and technology, as well as the policies, standards
and thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the
“Higher Education Act of 1994”.

SEC. 7. Powers and Duties of the Board of Regents. — The Board shall have
the following specific powers and duties, in addition to its general powers of
administration and the exercise of all the powers granted to the board of

directors of a corporation under existing laws:

(a) To promulgate rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be
necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the University;

(b) To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support
of the University in the manner it may determine in its discretion, in
order to carry out the purposes and functions of the University;

(©) To import duty-free economic, technical and cultural books and/or
publications, upon certification by the CHED that such imported books
and/or publications are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific,
philosophical, historical or cultural purposes, in accordance with the
provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as
amended;

(@ To 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 University, and subject to the


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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) of 1997, as amended: Provided, That such donations shall not
be disposed of, transferred or sold;

To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as, but
not limited to, matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees,
as the Board may deem proper to impose, after due consultations with
the involved sectors.

Such fees and charges, including government subsidies and other
income generated by the University, shall 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 University.

Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the
contrary notwithstanding, any income generated by the University
from tuition fees and other charges, as well as from the operation of
auxiliary services and land grants, shall be retained by the University,
and may be disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension
or other programs/projects of the University: Provided, That all
fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for which
these are collected.

If, for reasons beyond its control, the University shall not be able
to pursue any project for which 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 University;

To adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other
school fees for greater access to poor but deserving students;

To 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;

To appoint upon recommendation of the President of the University,
Vice- Presidents, deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty
members, and other officials and employees of the University;

To fix and adjust salaries of faculty members and administrative
officials and employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised


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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; to grant them, at its
discretion, leaves of absence under such regulations as it may
promulgate, any provision of existing law to the contrary
notwithstanding; and to remove them for cause in accordance with the
requirements of due process of law;

‘To approve the curricula, instructional programs and rules of discipline
drawn by the Administrative and the Academic Councils herein
provided;

To set policies on admission and graduation of students;

To 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 University; and to authorize the
awarding of certificates of completion of non-degree and nontraditional
courses;

To establish and absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the
Province of Camarines Norte as branches and centers in coordination
with the CHED, and in consultation with the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM), and to offer therein programs or courses to
promote and carry out equal access to educational opportunities as
mandated by the Constitution;

To establish research and extension centers of the University where
such will promote the development of the latter;

To establish professorial chairs in the University and to provide
fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving
students;

To delegate any of its powers and duties provided for hereinabove to
the President and/or other officials of the University as it may deem
appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the
University;

To authorize an external management audit of the University, to be
financed by the CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the
Commission on Audit (COA); and to institute reforms, including
academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results

and recommendations;

To collaborate with other governing boards of state colleges and


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universities within the Province of Camarines Norte or Bicol Region,
under the supervision of the CHED and in consultation with the DBM,
and work towards the restructuring of the University to become more
efficient, relevant, productive and competitive;

To enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the
profitable development and management of the economic assets of the
University, the proceeds from which shall be used for the development
and strengthening of the University;

To develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local
government units (LGUs), institutions and agencies, both public and
private, local and foreign, in the furtherance of the purposes and
objectives of the University;

To develop academic arrangements for institutional capability building
with appropriate institutions and agencies, public and private, local and
foreign, and to appoint experts/specialists as consultants, part-time or
visiting or exchange professors, scholars or researchers, as the case may
be;

To set up the adoption of modern and innovative modes of transmitting
knowledge, such as the use of information technology, the dual learning
system, open learning or distance education and community laboratory
for the promotion of greater access to education;

To establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative
decision-making and transparency within the University;

To privatize, where most advantageous to the University, management
of non-academic services such as health, food, building or grounds or
property maintenance and such other similar activities; and

To extend the term of the President of the University beyond the age of
retirement but not beyond the age of seventy (70), whose performance
has been unanimously rated by the Board as outstanding based on the
guidelines, qualifications and/or standards set by the Board, after
unanimous recommendation by the search committee.

SEC. 8. Meetings of the Board. — The Board 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 two (2) special meetings whenever

necessary.

A quorum of the Board shall consist of majority of all its members holding
office at the time of the meeting: Provided, however, That the Chairperson of the


Board or the President of the University is among those present in the meeting.

In the absence of the Chairperson of the CHED, a Commissioner of the
CHED, duly designated by him/her, shall represent him/her in the meeting with all
the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, however, That during
this meeting, the President of the University 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 Board meeting, they may duly designate their respective
representatives to attend the said meeting, who shall have the same rights and
responsibilities as a regular member of the Board.

The members of the Board shall not receive any salary 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. 9. The University President. - The University shall be headed by a
President, who shall render full-time service. He/She shall be appointed by the
Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications and/or standards set by the Board,
upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee. He/She shall have a
term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for reappointment for another term:
Provided, That in order to effect a smooth transition to a state university, the
incumbent President of the Camarines Norte State College, if qualified, shall serve
as the first President of the University.

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the
incumbent President of the University, the Board shall constitute the Search
Committee for the Presidency (SCP).

In case of vacancy in the Office of the President by reason of death,
compulsory retirement, resignation, removal for cause or incapacity of the
President to perform the functions of his/her office, the Board shall designate an
Officer-in-Charge of the University within six (6) months from date of vacancy,
pending the appointment of a new President.

In case of vacancy in the Office of the President as mentioned in the
immediately preceding paragraph, his/her successor or the Officer-in-Charge shall
serve only the unexpired portion of the term.

The powers and duties of the President of the University, in addition to those
specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the office of the
President of similar universities, and those delegated by the Board.

The salary of the President of the University 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. The
President of the University shall be assisted by a Vice President for Academic
Affairs, a Vice President for Administration, a Vice President for Research and
Development, and a Vice President for External Affairs, who shall be appointed by
the Board upon recommendation of the President.

SEC. 10. The Administrative Council. — There shall be an Administrative
Council consisting of the President of the University as Chairperson, Vice
Presidents, deans, directors and other officials of equal rank as members, whose
duty is to review and recommend to the Board policies governing the
administration, management and development planning of the University.

SEC. 11. The Academic Council. — There shall be an Academic Council to be
composed of the President of the University, who shall act as Chairperson, and all
academic staff with the rank of at least an assistant professor, as members.

The Academic Council shall have the power to review and recommend the
curricular offerings and rules of discipline of the University, subject to the approval
of the Board. It shall fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as
for their graduation and conferment of degrees, subject to review and/or approval
by the Board through the President of the University. It shall have the disciplinary
power over students of the University and shall formulate academic policies and
rules and regulations on discipline, subject to the approval of the Board.

SEC. 12. The Secretary of the University. - The Board shall appoint a
secretary, who shall serve as such for both the Board and the University, and shall
keep all records and proceedings of the Board. He/She shall serve upon each
member of the Board the appropriate notice of the Board meetings.

SEC.13. The Treasurer of the University. - The Treasurer of the Philippines
shalll be the ex officio treasurer of the University.

SEC.14. The Faculty. — No political beliefs, gender preference, cultural or
community affiliation or ethnic origin, and religious opinion or affiliation shall be a
matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the University:
Provided, That said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications
and/or standards set by the Board: Provided, further, That no member of the
faculty shall teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.

SEC. 15. Scholarship Program/Admission. — The University shall provide a
scholarship program and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but
deserving students who qualify for admission to the University. No student shall be
denied admission to the University by reason of sex, religion, cultural or community
affiliation or ethic origin.

SEC. 16. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. - The University
shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to paragraph 2,
Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.


SEC. 17. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus/Equipment/Supplies and
Detail of Personnel. — The heads of the bureaus and offices of the national
government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon the 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.

The 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. 18. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. — All assets, real and personal,
personnel and records of the Camarines Norte State College, as well as liabilities or
obligations, are hereby transferred to the University. The positions, rights and
security of tenure of faculty members and personnel therein employed under
existing laws prior to the conversion into a University shall be respected.

All parcels of land belonging to the government and occupied by the
Camarines Norte State College are hereby declared to be property of the University,
and shall be titled under that name: Provided, That should the University cease to
exist or be abolished or should such parcels of land aforementioned be no longer
needed by the University, the same shall revert to the LGUs concerned.

SEC. 19. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the
Camarines Norte State College, except the sums needed to continue the operations
of the existing high school. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
continued operation and maintenance of the Camarines Norte State University shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 20. Development Plan, Management Audit, Organizational/
Administrative/Academic Structure. — Within the period of one hundred twenty
(120) days after the approval of this Act, the University shall accomplish the
following:

(a) Submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its corresponding
program budget to the CHED, for corresponding recommendation to
the DBM;

(b) Undergo a management audit in cooperation with the CHED; and

(©) Accordingly set up its organizational, administrative, as well as
academic structure, including the appointment of the key officials of
the University.

SEC. 21. Filing of Report. — On or before the fifteen (sth) day of the second


(2nd) month after the opening of the regular classes each year, the Board shall file
with the Office of the President of the Philippines through the Chairperson of the
CHED, and with both Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress,
conditions and needs of the University.

SEC. 22, Suppletory Application. — The provisions of Republic Act No. 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
University.

SEC. 23. Parity Clause. — All other powers, functions and privileges,
responsibilities and limitations to state universities and/or their officials under
existing laws shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the University and/or its
officials whenever appropriate.

SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Board, in consultation
with the CHED, shall formulate the guidelines to fully implement the provisions of
this Act.

SEC. 25. 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. 26. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 27. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,