Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
 Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
. 
Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT) is an educational institution located in Palompon, Leyte 
that specializes in the field of maritime sciences and also offers courses in various fields that cater 
to the students in the Province of Leyte and Ormoc City. 
On June 4, 2013, Republic Act No. 10599 was enacted into law converting PIT to Palompon 
Polytechnic State University (PPSU). The said law  mandates the institution’s realignment with 
national education standards, enhances its degree offerings, and provides an avenue for further 
expansion in research community extension services and innovation. 
On April 20, 2019, Republic Act No. 11309 was signed into law with the end in view of rectifying 
the timeline for the creation of the Search Committee for the Presidency of PPSU and extends the 
deadlines for compliance with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) requirements for the 
conversion of PIT into a state university. 
As envisioned, the said laws (RA Nos. 10599 and 11309) shall provide the foundation for PIT’s 
transition into a state university. However, six (6) years after the passage of Republic Act No. 
11309 and eleven (11) years after the passage of RA 10599, the objectives are not yet realized 
since said laws have encountered certain challenges, particularly in the composition of the 
Governing Board and the leadership transition. 
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Thus, this proposed measure seeks to address the problems by amending Section 6 and 9, 
respectively of RA No. 10599, as amended by RA No. 11309 or the Charter of the Palompon 
Polytechnic State University. 
 
Section 6 of said Charter is sought to be amended by removing the President of the United Filipino 
Seafarers as a member of the Governing Board of PPSU. The proposed amendment is consistent 
with RA No. 8292, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997”. In 
addition, the amendment will ensure fairness, balance and inclusivity across all academic programs 
and institutions as part of the Governing Board. 
 
On the other hand, Section 9 of said law is sought to be further amended by mandating that the 
incumbent president of PIT shall serve as the first President of the state university, to ensure 
leadership continuity and a smooth transition to university status of the institution. 
 
Moreover, the amendment on Section 9 of RA No. 10599 as amended by RA No. 11309 is in 
conformity with the constitutional principles of equity and fairness as well as to protect the security 
of tenure of the incumbent President of PIT and to align with the provisions of RA No. 9313 
(Charter of Samar State University); RA No. 9261 (Charter of Southern Leyte State University); 
and RA No. 11170 (Naval State University) among others, mandating that the first President of 
the state university shall be the president of the converted state college. 
 
Finally, with the passage of this bill, it is hope that the amendments will ensure that the institution’s 
governance structure aligns with its mission of academic excellence and inclusivity. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 
4th District, Province of Leyte 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
 Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT 
FURTHER AMENDING SECTIONS 6 AND 9 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10599, AS 
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11309, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
CHARTER OF THE PALOMPON POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY (PPSU), BY 
ALIGNING THE CHARTER OF SAID STATE UNIVERSITY WITH REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 8292 AND TO ENSURE AN EFFECTIVE AND STABLE GOVERNANCE AND 
LEADERSHIP FOR PPSU 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10599, entitled “An Act Converting the 
Palompon Institute of Technology in the Municipality of Palompon, Province of Leyte into a State 
University to be known as the Palompon Polytechnic State University, Integrating Therewith the 
Marcelino R. Veloso National Polytechnic College in the Municipality of Tabango, Province of 
Leyte and Appropriating Funds Therefor”, is amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 6. The Governing Board. – The governing body 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); 
 x x x 
 The term of office of the [The President of the United Filipino Seafarers] 
President of the Federation of faculty associations, the President of the federation 
of student councils and the President of the federation of alumni associations 
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shall be coterminous with their respective terms of office, as set forth in their 
respective constitution and by-laws. 
 
 
 x x x “ 
 
 
SEC. 2. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 10599, as amended by Republic Act No. 11309 is 
hereby further amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 9. The University President. – The University shall be headed by a 
President, who shall render full-time service and who shall be appointed by the 
Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications and standards set by the Board, 
upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee. The University 
President 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 Palompon Institute 
of Technology [if qualified, shall serve as the Interim President of the University. 
However, within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act, a new President 
shall be appointed by the Board.] SHALL SERVE AS THE FIRST 
PRESIDENT 
OF 
THE 
PALOMPON 
POLYTECHNIC 
STATE 
UNIVERSITY UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF HIS ORIGINAL 
APPOINTMENT: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT HE SHALL BE 
ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT FOR ANOTHER TERM.  
 
[Within two (2) months before] UPON the expiration of the term of office of the 
FIRST President of the University, the Board shall constitute the Search 
Committee for the Presidency (SCP).” 
 
SEC. 3. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall 
be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the Palompon Institute of Technology. 
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued operations and maintenance of the 
Palompon Polytechnic State University shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
 
SEC. 4. Inclusion Clause. — 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. 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act, are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
 
 
Approved,