Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.6924

Introduced by:
Representatives Pantaleon D. Alvarez, Rodolfo C. Farifias, Gwendolyn
F. Garcia, Mercedes K. Alvarez, Bai Sandra Sinsuat A. Sema, Roy M.
Loyola, Joel Mayo Z. Almario, Maria Carmen S. Zamora, and Arnolfo
A. Teves, Jr.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE DEFENSE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution provides that the State must give priority to
education to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social
progress, and promote total human liberation and development. This
policy is anchored on the State’s recognition of the protection of life,
liberty, and property, and promotion of general welfare as essential for
the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.
Continuing advancement in national defense and security education is
one way to promote and uphold this principle.

Basic national frameworks such as the country’s defense and
security education have slowly become incapable of adapting to the
great changes taking place in the 21* century. The Philippine security
environment is rapidly evolving, as evidenced by the rise of terrorism
and violent extremism as well as regional conflicts in the Asia Pacific.
One crucial step to promote Philippine national security amidst
significant developments in the 21% century is to restructure our
country’s defense and security education. A reorganized national
defense and security education must produce national security leaders

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and strategic thinkers from various sectors to lead in addressing multi-
faceted and sometimes metamorphosed security issues. In this regard,
the country’s defense and security education must become integrated
and comprehensive, encompassing a wide range of defense and security
issues affecting the country and the region.

The absence of a mechanism that organizes and integrates the
Philippine national security and defense education program at present is
demonstrated by the poorly coordinated and independently pursued
programs of defense and security academic institutions within the
Philippine Government. Thus, an over-all administrative and
operational system to organize and integrate the educational programs
offered by existing defense and security academic institutions within the
Philippine Government is necessary.

This bill seeks to ensure that defense and security education is
holistic, integrated, comprehensive and attuned to the defense and
national security requirements of the country through the establishment
of the Philippine Defense University System that will promote the
enhancement and development of defense and security education,
research and training.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly

sought.
P. ON D/ADVAREZ
RODOLFO C. FARINAS YN F. GARCIA
ul, & fe
DES K. ALVAREZ BAI SANDRA SINSUAT A. SEMA
=n M. LOYOLA J M . ALMARIO.
a-

MARIA C. S. ZAMORA ARNOLFO A. TEVES, JR.


SECTION 4. Objectives - The PDUS shall be established to serve as
the over-all administrative and operational educational institution in the
field of defense and security education in the country. It shall aim to
promote, to the highest degree possible, the enhancement and
development of defense and security education, research and training in
the country.

SECTION 5. Organization and Administration - The PDUS shall be
organized as a bureau of the Department of National Defense (DND).

a.

The PDUS shall be headed by a University President who
shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon
the recommendation of the Secretary of National Defense.
The University President of the PDUS shall have the rank of
a Lieutenant General or a Department Undersecretary. The
University President shall serve as the chief executive officer,
chief academic officer, and head of the University Faculty of
the PDUS. The University President shall likewise preside
over the meetings of the autonomous schools and colleges of
the PDUS and exercise powers specifically provided for in
this Act, those determined by the Board of Regents, and such
other powers as may be provided by related laws and
executive issuances.

The University President shall be assisted by an Executive
Vice-President and three (3) | Vice-Presidents who shall be
appointed in the same manner as the University President.
The Executive Vice President shall have the rank of a Major
General or a Department Assistant Secretary. The Executive
Vice President shall act as University President of the PDUS
in the absence or incapacity of the University President, and
perform such other functions and duties as may be assigned
by the University President or the Secretary of National
Defense.

The PDUS Vice Presidents shall have the rank of a
Department Director. The Vice President for Administration
shall be responsible for providing overall administrative
support to the activities of the PDUS; the Vice President for

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Academic Affairs shall be responsible for the development,
implementation, supervision, and evaluation of academic
programs; and the Vice President for Research shall be
responsible for the conduct and supervision of research and
special studies and policy formulation and review for the
DND.

The PDUS shall likewise have an Academic Council who
shall assist the University President in the discharge of the
following functions:

Supervise the academic affairs of the University;
Recommend academic consultants, professors, lecturers,
instructors, research assistants and other resource persons of
the University; and

Recommend the courses of studies to be conducted by the
University to accomplish its objectives.

The Academic Council shall be composed of the PDUS University
President as Chair, the Vice President for Academic Affairs as Vice
Chair, and the Heads of the PDUS constituent schools and colleges as
well as the Heads of their respective faculties as Members, subject to the
approval of the Secretary of National Defense as recommended by the
PDUS University President.

SECTION 6. Board of Regents - The PDUS shall have a Board of
Regents to be composed of the following:

a.

2

pag mm

Secretary of National Defense - Chairman
Director-General, National Security Council -Vice Chairman
Director-General,

National Economic Development Authority - Member
Chairman, House Committee on

Defense and Security - Member
Chairman, Senate Committee on

Defense and Security - Member
Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines - Member
Secretary of Interior and Local Government - Member
Secretary of Budget and Management - Member
Chairman, Commission on Higher Education - Member

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._ 6924

Introduced by:
Representatives Pantaleon D. Alvarez, Rodolfo C. Farifias, Gwendolyn
F. Garcia, Mercedes K. Alvarez, Bai Sandra Sinsuat A. Sema, Roy M.
Loyola, Joel Mayo Z. Almario, Maria Carmen S. Zamora, and Arnolfo
A. Teves, Jr.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE DEFENSE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This act shall be known as the “Philippine
Defense University System of 2017”.

SECTION 2. Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to provide a
continuing advanced education in the field of defense and security to
outstanding and qualified men and women in the military service as
well as to key officers in the government service and private sector. The
State shall likewise ensure that defense and security education is holistic,
integrated, comprehensive, and attuned to defense and security
requirements of the country.

SECTION 3. Establishment of Philippine Defense University System -
In furtherance of the policy enunciated in Section 2 of this Act, an
educational institution known as the Philippine Defense University
System (PDUS) shall be established.

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6

Chancellor, PDUS - Member

SECTION 7. Powers and Functions of the Board of Regents - The
Board of Regents shall act on all matters related to the conduct of
defense and security education in the country which shall include but
not limited to the following:

a.

To adopt and define the thrusts of the PDUS and provide
policy guidelines to ensure their implementation;

To approve any proposal for revision, merger or abolition of
any academic or training programs or curriculum offered in
its autonomous schools and colleges;

To approve the graduation of students as recommended by
their respective colleges and schools and confer honorary
degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding
contributions to defense and security of the country;

To approve and promulgate rules on admission and
discipline of students as recommended by the Heads of the
autonomous schools and colleges within the PDUS;

To approve proposals for the creation, organization,
abolition, merger or reorganization of training and research
centers and institutes within the PDUS and in each
autonomous college and school;

To establish and maintain chairs in the autonomous schools
and colleges and provide for fellowship and scholarship
programs to faculty, staff and students who demonstrate
exceptional merit and fitness;

To appoint heads of autonomous schools and colleges and
other officials, to draw up a position classification and
compensation plan for its faculty and staff, and to fix and
adjust salaries and benefits of the faculty members and other
employees; to determine their hours of service, and such
other terms and conditions as it may deem proper; and to

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SECTION 8. The Constituent and Autonomous Schools and Colleges -
The following schools and colleges existing under the DND and Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shall be reorganized and placed under
the PDUS:

a. The National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP);
b. The Command and General Staff College (CGSC); and
c. The Philippine Military Academy (PMA);

The aforementioned schools and colleges shall have an
autonomous status and shall be exempted from the standards, rules, and
regulations prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education.

SECTION 9. The National Defense College of the Philippines - The
National Defense College of the Philippines shall be the country’s
highest educational, research and training institution in the field of
defense and national security. For this purpose, it shall maintain,
establish and operate centers and institutes for research, training and
continuing studies in the field of defense and national security in
addition to the regular courses it currently undertakes.

SECTION 10. Academic Programs of the NDCP - Within two years
after effectivity of this Act, the Academic Board of the NDCP shall offer,
subject to the approval of the Board of Regents, the course curriculum
and other requirements for the conduct of the Doctor of National
Security Affairs (DNSA). Upon the approval of the course curriculum
and other requirements by the Board of Regents, the NDCP shall
immediately offer the DNSA program. Provided that no person shall be
admitted to the program unless he is more than 40 years old at the time
of admission, holder of a Master in National Security Administration
(MNSA) degree, and with a rank of Colonel or Naval Captain if from the
military or Assistant Secretary or its equivalent in the government
service or Chairman, President or CEO of a private industry or
corporation vital to national security and interest to be identified by the
Board of Regents.

There shall be a regular review and enhancement of the courses
and programs being offered by NDCP to address the evolving defense
and national security requirements of the country.

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remove them for cause as provided by law after due
investigation and proper hearing;

h. To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided by
law for the support of the PDUS to the ends specified by law,
and all other sums in the manner it may, in its discretion,
determine to carry out the purposes and functions of this
Act;

i. To authorize the construction or repair of its buildings,
machinery, equipment and other facilities, and the purchase
and acquisition of real and personal properties, including the
necessary supplies, materials and equipment;

j. To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and
personal property of all kinds and to administer and dispose
the same when necessary for the benefit of the PDUS and
subject to the instructions of the donor, if any;

k. To propose, subject to the approval of the Secretary of
National Defense, for the inclusion of other AFP training and
education institutions not covered by Section 8 of this Act,
into the PDUS system;

1 To delegate any of its powers to the PDUS University
President or any other officials or officers as it may deem
necessary; and

m. To prescribe rules for its own government and the discipline
of the faculty and other personnel and to enact for the
government of the University such general policies, rules
and regulations, not contrary to law, as are consistent with
the purposes of this Act.

The Board of Regents shall have a regular meeting. A simple

majority of all the members of the Board of Regents holding office at the
time the meeting is called shall constitute a quorum.

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SECTION 11. Promotion to General / Flag Rank. -The Master's in
National Security Administration (MNSA) or its equivalent in military
career development course shall be required for appointment or
designation to key positions and promotion of AFP officers to the grade
of O-7 (Brigadier General/Commodore).

SECTION 12. Grant of Commission to Civilian Graduates. - Subject to
existing AFP regulations, civilian graduates of regular courses from
NDCP may be commissioned as officers in the Reserve Corps of the AFP
with the initial rank of lieutenant colonel for those who are holders of
the MNSA degree. For those holding the degree of DNSA, the rank of
full colonel may be given provided that the candidate is at least forty
(40) years old and holds a rank equivalent to a Department Assistant
Secretary.

SECTION 13. The Command and General Staff College. - The Armed
Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College shall be
placed under the operational and administrative supervision of the
PDUS. All academic programs, training programs, curricula, modules
currently conducted by the abovementioned colleges shall, upon
effectivity of this Act and subject to existing DND and AFP regulations,
be reviewed, evaluated and approved by the Board of Regents.

There shall be a regular review and enhancement of the courses
and programs being offered by CGSC to address the command and
general staff academic requirements of AFP regular and reserve officers.

SECTION 15. The Philippine Military Academy. - The operational
and administrative supervision over the Philippine Military Academy
shall be transferred to the PDUS. All academic programs, training
programs, curricula, modules currently conducted by the PMA shall,
effectivity of this Act and subject to existing DND and AFP regulations,
be reviewed, evaluated and approved by the Board of Regents.

There shall be a regular review and enhancement of the courses

and programs being offered by PMA to address the military academic
requirements of the AFP cadets.

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SECTION 16. Faculty Members and Consultants. - The PDUS shall
have a core faculty composed of civilian and military professors,
instructors and lecturers serving on a full-time basis. Upon the
recommendation of the Academic Council, the Board of Regents shall
appoint Senior Military Officers, with the rank of Brigadier General or
higher, as members of the respective core faculty of the PDUS
constituent academic institutions.

Consultants of the PDUS on serving on a part-time basis may be
drawn from the military and civilian branches of the national
government, from business, and from public and private educational
institutions upon the approval of the PDUS Chancellor as recommended
by the Academic Council. All instructors, professors and lecturers may
be rotated and assigned to other autonomous colleges and schools if the
exigency of service so requires. All academic consultants, professors,
instructors or lecturers, whether civilian or military personnel, in
addition to their regular salaries, shall be entitled to receive honorarium
or fees as may be approved by the Board of Regents.

SECTION 17. Fiscal Autonomy. The PDUS shall enjoy fiscal
autonomy. Pursuant to each authority to collect various fees in all
academic and training courses, it shall be allowed to retain the proceeds
of such collection and to appropriate the same for the regular
expenditure of PDUS subject to government accounting rules and
regulations. The PDUS may receive in trust legacies, devises, gifts,
donations of real and personal property of all kinds and nature and to
administer the same for the benefit of the PDUS in accordance with the
instructions or directions of the donor or in default thereof, as the law on
donation may provide.

SECTION 18. Personnel Details or Secondment. - Heads of bureaus
and officers of the national government are hereby authorized to loan or
transfer such apparatus or supplies as may be needed by the PDUS and
to assign employees on detail or secondment for duty therein. For the
purpose of promotion or other personnel transactions, service in the
university either by uniformed or civilian personnel shall be counted as
part of active service in their mother units.

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SECTION 19. Promulgation of Implementing Rules. - The Secretary
of National Defense is hereby empowered to promulgate rules and
regulations to effectively implement the objectives and purposes of this
Act.

SECTION 20. Initial Appropriations. - The amount of Five Hundred
Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) or such sum or sums as may be needed
to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be appropriated and shall be
carried generally under the DND in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 21. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders, presidential issuances, rules and regulations or part thereof
contrary to or inconsistent with any of provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or amended accordingly. If any part or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions which are not
affected thereby shall continue to have the force and effect of law.

SECTION 22. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect immediately
upon approval.

Approved,

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