Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
20th CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 720 
__________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
__________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 1981, the University of Southeastern Philippines established an 
extension program in the Municipality of Hinatuan, Province of Surigao 
del Sur. It was made to cater the higher education needs of Hinatuan and 
its contiguous communities. In 1986, the extension program operating in 
Hinatuan was deferred by the USEP Main Campus but was later 
reinstituted in 1992 through a memorandum of agreement between USEP 
and the Hinatuan LGU. 
In 2004, USEP finally ceased the operations upon the expiration of the 
MOA. Seeing the urgency to accommodate the demand of students in the 
locality, this prompted the Hinatuan LGU to convert the school into the 
Local College. 
In 2006, Hinatuan Southern College commenced operations. It gave a 
wider range of degree program offering for the increase of demand for 
higher education. 
With an increase of demand for tertiary education and the drastic increase 
in enrollment, in 15 June 2023 the Hinatuan Southern College issued a 
Resolution requesting its integration by the North Eastern Mindanao State 
University. 
This measure seeks to formalize through national statute the assignment 
and transfer of operation, administration and management of Hinatuan 
Southern College to the North Eastern Mindanao State University as 
NEMSU – Hinatuan Campus. 
REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
July 1, 2025
8:23 am


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
20th CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 720 
__________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
__________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A REGULAR CAMPUS OF THE NORTH EASTERN 
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY (NEMSU) IN THE MUNICIPALITY 
OF HINATUAN, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL SUR, TO BE KNOWN 
AS THE NEMSU – HINATUAN CAMPUS, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines, in Congress assembled:  
Section 1.  
This Act shall be known as the "NEMSU-Hinatuan 
Campus Act". 
Section 2.  
There is hereby established a regular campus of the 
North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU) in the 
Municipality of Hinatuan, Province of Surigao del Sur, to be known 
as the NEMSU – Hinatuan Campus. 
Section 3.  
 
The NEMSU shall admit students to its 
Hinatuan Campus who may avail of graduate, undergraduate and 
short-term technical-vocational courses within the University's areas 
of specialization and according to its capabilities as the Board of 
Regents (BOR) may deem necessary to carry out the University's 
objectives, particularly to respond to the needs of the Province of 
Surigao del Sur and of Caraga Region. 
The NEMSU – Hinatuan Campus is also mandated to undertake 
research and extension services in support of the socio-economic 
development of the Province of Surigao del Sur and to provide 
progressive leadership in its areas of specialization.  
Section 4. The NEMSU – Hinatuan Campus shall be headed by a 
Campus Administrator who shall render full-time service and who 
shall be appointed or designated by the BOR upon the 


 
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recommendation of the Search Committee and the President, subject 
to the guidelines, qualification and standards set by the BOR. 
 
Section 5.  
The establishment of the NEMSU – Hinatuan 
Campus shall ensure that the minimum requirements for its 
operation and program offerings have been complied with as duly 
prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). 
 
Section 6.  
All assets, real and personal, personnel and records 
of the Hinatuan Southern 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 employed at the 
Hinatuan Southern College under existing laws prior to integration 
into the University shall be respected. 
 
All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the 
Hinatuan Southern College are hereby declared to be the property of 
the University and shall be titled under that name: Provided, That 
should the University cease to exist or be abolished, or would no 
longer need such parcels of land aforementioned, the same shall 
revert to the local government units (LGUs) concerned. 
 
Section 7.  
The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, otherwise 
known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997" shall 
form an integral part of this Act and together shall serve as the 
governing charter of the University. 
 
Section 8.  
All other powers, functions, privileges, responsibility 
and limitations to state universities and/or its officials under existing 
laws shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the university 
and/or its officials whenever appropriate. 
 
Section 9.  
The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, 
 
Section 10.  
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. 
 
Section 11.  
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. 
 
Section 12.  
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,