NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
of tl)f S . crefir;i
24 MAY 16 A8:16
S E N AT
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE SULTAN KUDARAT STATE 
UNIVERSITY, PROVINCE OF SULTAN KUDARAT, TO BE KNOWN AS THE 
SULTAN KUDARAT STATE UNIVERSITY - COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As the world slowly recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 
Philippines is left to address the issues that were highlighted during its peak, most 
pressing of which is the lack of health workers and allied medical professionals in the 
country. The World Health Organization recommends that there should be one doctor for 
every one thousand individuals to ensure the provision of adequate healthcare services. 
Still, as of 2022, data from the Department of Health shows that one doctor of medicine 
serves about forty thousand people in the country.
The government continuously endeavors to address this shortage by passing laws 
such as the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, which provides scholarships to students who wish 
to pursue a profession in the medical field.
In line with the endeavor to make medical education accessible to more students, 
this bill seeks to establish a College of Medicine in Sultan Kudarat University. This aims 
to bring quality medical education closer to aspiring students in the Mindanao region. The 
hope of this measure is that the establishment of medical schools in the region will attract 
and encourage more students to pursue the study of medicine and eventually join the 
country's medical workforce.
This bill also hopes that the establishment of this medical school will pave the way 
for creating a center of excellence in the medical field in Mindanao.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
AN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
24 MftY 16 A8-.16
SENATE
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE SULTAN KUDARAT STATE 
UNIVERSITY, PROVINCE OF SULTAN KUDARAT, TO BE KNOWN AS THE 
SULTAN KUDARAT STATE UNIVERSITY - COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in the 
Congress assembied:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Suitan 
Kudarat State University College of Medicine Act".
SEC. 2. Establishment - There is hereby established a medical school 
in Sultan Kudarat State University in the Province of Sultan Kudarat to be known 
as the Sultan Kudarat State University - College of Medicine, hereinafter known 
as the College.
SEC. 3. Mandate. - The College shall primarily offer a Doctor of 
Medicine Program which shall be at least a four (4) year baccalaureate program 
consisting of the basic science and clinical course. Its primary goal shall be to 
produce professional physicians to strengthen the health care system of our 
country.
SEC. 4. Governance. - The Governing Board as provided under Section 
5 of Republic Act 9966, is hereby mandated to be the highest policy-making 
body in the implementation of this Act.
SEC. 5. Compliance with CHED requirements. - The provision of 
this Act notwithstanding, the establishment of this college shall, upon the 
determination and declaration by the CHED in compliance with CHED 
Memorandum Order No. 18, Series of 2016.
SEC. 6. Scholarship Programs and Admission. - The College shall 
provide scholarships and other favorable action programs to assist the poor 
but deserving students who qualify for admission.
SEC. 7. Tax Exemption. - The importation of science and technical 
books and publications, scientific and technical equipment for the use of the 
College, upon certification by the CHED shall be exempt from custom duties in 
accordance with the provisions of Custom Modernization and Tariff Act (R.A. 
10863).
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All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions made to the
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College for its direct, actual and exclusive use shall be exempt from donor's tax and
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the same shall be allowed deductions from the gross income of the donor for purposes
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of computing the taxable income of the donor.
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SEC. 8. Suppletory Application. -The provisions of Republic Act No.
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8292, also known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997", shall
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form part of this Act.
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SEC. 9. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the
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provision of this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act
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SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days 
from the approval of this Act, the Governing Board, in consultation with the CHED, 
shall issue rules and regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 11. Parity Clause. - All other powers, functions, and privileges,
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responsibilities and limitations under existing laws shall be deemed granted to or
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imposed upon the College and its official, whenever appropriate.
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SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall
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remain in full force and effect.
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SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive and administrative
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orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the foregoing provisions are
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,