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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS coe
1 Regular Session

2807

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative DANTE S. GARCIA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

La Union is considered the capital of Region I since it houses the regional centers
of government. While La Union is home to the best medical centers in Region I, not a
single medical school exists in the province. The existence of a medical school in La
Union will allow prospective doctors to get their training at the best medical centers in
the region and possibly discover the cure for diseases that are incurable.

The lack of a medical school in the center of Region I raises further the already high cost
of medical education for the residents of La Union. Medical students need to consider
transportation and accommodation expenses in their education budget. This unduly
deprives the residents of La Union easy access to medical education.

The Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) was created by virtue of
Presidential Decree No. 1778, which was signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on
January 15, 1981. It is the lone state university in La Union that offers quality and
accessible world-class education to the residents of La Union and nearby provinces.

This bill seeks to establish a College of Medicine in the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial
State University - South La Union Campus in Agoo, La Union, to be known as Don
Mariano Marcos Memorial State University College of Medicine. This shall provide an
opportunity to the people of La Union easy access to quality medical education and
training within the locality. The proximity of the medical education institution to
residences will reduce the costs for transportation and accommodation. In the long run,
this measure shall address doctor shortage in the country as the institution will be more
accessible to the prospective doctors of La Union and in neighboring provinces.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Ah
oh

j

ict, La Union


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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
1 Regular Session

2807

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative DANTE GARCIA

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE DON MARIANO MARCOS
MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY - SOUTH LA UNION CAMPUS IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF AGOO, PROVINCE OF LA UNION, TO BE KNOWN AS THE
“DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF
MEDICINE”, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

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

SECTION 1, Establishment. There is hereby established a medical school in the
Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) - South La Union Campus
(SLUC) located in the Municipality of Agoo, Province of La Union, to be known as the
“DMMMSU-SLUC College of Medicine”.

SEC. 2. General Mandate. The DMMMSU-SLUC College of Medicine, hereinafter
referred to as the “College”, shall primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine Program,
including the Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) Program, consisting of
basic science and clinical courses, and using learner-centered and competency-based
approach. The primary goal of the College shall be to develop a corps of professional
physicians to strengthen the healthcare system of the country, as well as to respond to
the human resource development needs in the Province of La Union and Region I.

‘The College is also mandated to undertake research and extension services and
provide progressive leadership in these areas.

SEC. 3. Governance. Being an institution within the DMMMSU System, the
governance of the College shall be vested in the Board of Regents of DMMMSU,
hereinafter referred to as the “Board”, whose powers are defined under Presidential
Decree No. 1778, otherwise known as “Establishing the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial
State University by Merging the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State College; the
Southern Ilocos Polytechnic State College, the La Union School of Arts and Trades and
the La Union Community College and likewise Integrating the Sapilang Elementary


School into the State University: Providing a Chapter for this Purpose and Appropriating,
Funds Thereof”, and other applicable laws and regulations, unless otherwise provided
or amended elsewhere in this Act.

SEC. 4. Administration. The administration of the College shall be vested in the
Chancellor of DMMMSU-SLUC insofar authorized by the Board and the President of the
University.

SEC. 5. The College Dean. The College shall be headed by a Dean who shall be
appointed by the Board, subject to its guidelines on qualifications and standards, and
based on the recommendation by the University President, 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 of the effectivity of this Act, the President of DMUMMSU
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 President and the
Chancellor.

The salary of the Dean of the College shall be in accordance with Republic Act No.
11466 or 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 a vacancy in the Office of the 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, upon the recommendation of the President, shall
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.

The Dean of the College shall be assisted by a College Secretary, who shall be
appointed by the Board.

SEC. 6. The Faculty. The Board shall appoint, upon the recommendation of the
Chancellor and the nomination of the President of the University, the faculty members of
the College: Provided, ‘That no political belief, gender preference, 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 College: 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 church or religious sect.


SEC. 7. Scholarship Programs and Admission. The College shall provide
scholarships and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students
who qualify for admission to the College.

No student shall be denied admission to the College by reason of gender, religion,
cultural or community affiliation, physical disability, or ethnic origin.

SEC. 8. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. The College shall enjoy
academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to paragraph 2, Section 5 of
Article XIV of the Constitution.

SEC. 9. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment or Supplies and
Detail of Personnel. Upon the recommendation of the Chancellor and the request of the
Board, through the President of DMMMSU, the heads of the bureaus and offices of the
national government may loan or transfer to the College such apparatus, equipment or
supplies as may be needed by it, and detail employees for duty therein when, in the
judgment of the head of bureau or office, the 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
Dean of the College, and the time so served shall be counted as part of their regular
service.

SEC. 10. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. All existing appropriations, assets,
both real and personal, personnel, and records of the College, as its liabilities or
obligations, shall be titled or named after DMMMSU.

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

SEC. 11. Duty and Tax Exemptions. The importation by the College of medical
books or publications, medical equipment or instruments which are for medical,
laboratory or scientific purposes shall, upon certification by the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), 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)’.

All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions made to and used
actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes by the College, shall be
exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction 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.


SEC. 12. 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.

SEC. 13. Parity Clause. All other powers, functions, and privileges,
responsibilities, and limitations under existing laws shall be deemed granted to or
imposed upon the College and its officials, whenever appropriate.

SEC. 14. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the
approval of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED, issue the rules and
regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 16. 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 are
in full force and effect.

SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 18. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,