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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. ° 760

Introduced by Representatives Ron P. Salo and Paul P. Hernandez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) was created pursuant to Section
6 of Republic Act 6975 and mandated to be the premier educational institution for the
training, human resource development, and continuing education of all the uniformed
personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and
the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BUMP). In its 25 years of existence, it
has provided mandatory career training and higher and continuing education to
572,882 PNP, BFP, BJMP and other public safety and law enforcement personnel.
Through a systematic and progressive delivery of programs and courses administered
by its six constitutive units, namely, the NPTI, PNPA, NPC, NFSTI, NFTI and the
NJMPTI, it has contributed to the human resource development, professionalization
and organizational growth of the interior, public safety and criminal justice institutions.

Indeed, the context and the challenge by which PPSC was created 25 years
ago have become broader and more complex. In the 21* century environment, public
safety and security issues and concerns are wide-ranging, sophisticated and daunting.
Pandemics, natural disaster, climate change, transnational organized crimes,
terrorism and violent extremism, cybercrime, protection of critical infrastructures,
biosafety hazards and other emerging threats expand the domains of public safety
and bring into fore a more comprehensive and integrative homeland security
orientation for the country.

Itis in this light that the need to strengthen the Philippine Public Safety College
and elevate its status as the premier and specialized professional training and higher
educational institution for public safety and homeland security is paramount and
necessary. The need for a more advanced and responsive and effective structure that
caters strategically to the overall capacity and competency building and knowledge
resource requirements of the public safety, law enforcement and homeland security
institutions is fully supported.

This is further echoed by the National Security Policy (NSP) 2017-2022 that
directs PPSC, alongside with other educational institutions, to exercise, aside from its
existing mandate, to be primarily responsible for training competent policy analysts,
security planners and intelligence officers and for training future generations of
national security leaders and managers.

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

noha P,

KABAYAN Partylist

P, HERNANDEZ
KABAYAN Partylist

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. e7eD

Introduced by Representatives Ron P. Salo and Paul P. Hernandez

AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC SAFETY COLLEGE AS
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND
SECURITY EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Public
Safety and Homeland Security College Charter.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The Philippine Public Safety and Homeland
Security College is hereby declared as the national institution for public safety and
homeland security education, training and research.

The State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and
integrated system of public safety and homeland security education, training and
research relevant to the needs of the country in the context of the 21 century public
safety and security challenges. Toward this end, the State shall strengthen the
Philippine Public Safety and Homeland Security College, as a national institution
responsible for the training and education of public safety, law enforcement and
homeland security personnel, practitioners, managers and leaders and for strategic
knowledge generation, strategic and policy studies and capacity building for public
safety and homeland security.

SEC. 3. Objectives. — As the national institution for public safety and homeland
security education, training and research, the Philippine Public Safety and Homeland
Security College shall:

a) Serve as the lead institution for the mandatory training, human resource
development and continuing education for all police, fire and jail personnel
and other public safety and security personnel and practitioners particularly
the delivery of cadetship to capstone courses and programs;

b) Professionalize the personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP),
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BUMP) and other public safety, law enforcement and security

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sector institutions in respect to their functions and responsibilities as
provided for by law;

c) Lead in setting academic standards in the development of competencies
and capacities in but not limited to: Pubic Safety and Homeland Security
Leadership and Management, Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice System,
Cybersecurity, Community Policing, Forensic Science, Counter-Terrorism
and Insurgency, Civil Defense and Emergency Preparedness, Crisis
Management, Contingency Planning, Fire Engineering and Safety,
Corrections and Rehabilitation Management, Border Security, Human
Rights, International Humanitarian Law, and Related Fields in Public Safety
And Homeland Security; and

d)

Serve as the institution for higher learning and graduate programs by
providing advanced and strategic studies for public safety professionals and
practitioners, especially those who are serving in the interior, civil defense,
criminal justice and local government sectors;

SEC. 4. Composition of the Philippine Public Safety College. — The
Philippine Public Safety College shall be composed of the present Philippine National
Police Academy (PNPA), the National Fire Training Institute (NFTI), the National Jail
Management and Penology Training Institute (NJMPTI), the National Police Training
Institute (NPT!) and its Regional Training Centers, the National Police College (NPC),
the National Forensic Science Training Institute (NFST1) and other institutes or special
training, research and program centers as may be created by law or by the Board of
Trustees.

SEC. 5. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy as a National
Institution. — To provide greater flexibility and independence, the Philippine Public
Safety and Homeland Security College shall exclusively determine its instructional,
research and extension thrusts, plans, policies, programs and standards, and on the
basis of such determination, the Philippine Public Safety and Homeland Security
College, through the Board of Trustees, shall recommend its annual budget to the
President of the Republic of the Philippines and Congress.

SEC. 6. The Board of Trustees. —

a) The governance of the Philippine Public Safety College is hereby vested in
the Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be
composed of the following:

1) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local
Government, as Chairperson;

2)

The President of the Philippine Public Safety College, as Vice
Chairperson;

3)

The Chief of the Philippine National Police, as Member;

4) The Chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection, as Member; and

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5) The Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, as
Member.

b) Compensation. — The Members of the Board shall serve without
compensation other than reimbursement for actual and necessary
expenses incurred in attendance to meetings of the Board or other official
business authorized by the Board.

c) Meetings; Quorum. - The Board shall convene regularly at least once every
semester. The Chairperson or the majority of the Board may call a special
meeting whenever necessary; Provided, that the members are notified in
writing at least ten (10) days prior to said meeting. Provided, further, That
the notice shall contain a brief description of the agenda items to be
discussed.

A majority of all members of the Board holding office at the time the meeting
is called shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-
Chairperson shall preside over the meeting.

In no case shall any and all members of the Board appoint representatives
to act on their behalf: Provided, That the members of the Board coming from
Congress may participate and vote through teleconferencing or equivalent
verifiable means of communication.

SEC. 7. Powers and Duties of the Board of Trustees. — The administration
of the Philippine Public Safety College and the exercise of its corporate powers are
vested in the Board of Trustees.

The Board shall exercise the following specific powers and duties:

a) Define in general terms the thrust of the Philippine Public Safety and

Homeland Security College and adopt broad policy guidelines to ensure
their implementation;

b)

Formulate and implement such academic and non-academic programs,
curricula and standards for degree and non-degree courses of study,
including the conduct of distance and online education and training
programs for public safety professionals and practitioners, especially those
who are serving in the interior, law enforcement, civil defense and local
government sectors;

©) Set policies on admission, graduation and discipline of students;
d) Approve the graduation of students and grant of honors in degree programs
for Bachelor of Science in Public Safety, Master in Public Safety

Administration, Master in Crisis and Disaster Risk Management and other
degree programs that may be hereinafter prescribed by law or approved by

the Board;
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) Grant and confer academic degrees, diplomas and proficiency certificates
for degree and non-degree courses;

f)_ Establish research and extension centers of the Philippine Public Safety and
Homeland Security College to promote the development of the latter and
provide for adequate guidelines on the protection, utilization and
commercialization of intellectual creations owned by the Philippine Public
Safety and Homeland Security College;

Establish professorial chairs and council of fellows programs and provide
for the maintenance or endowment of such chairs;

9)

h) Provide local and international fellowships, scholarships and grants and to
award the same to eminent persons, faculty, staff and students, based on
merit;

i) Create a culture of excellence and quality service through multi-sectoral
linkages, both local and international, faculty and staff development studies

j) Approve academic arrangements for institutional capacity building with
appropriate agencies, public or private, local or foreign, and appoint
experts/specialists as consultants, or visiting or exchange professors,
‘scholars or researchers;

k)

Use all incomes generated by the Philippine Public Safety and Homeland
Security College and its constitutive institutions at its discretion; Provided,
that all such disbursements shall be for the professional growth and
development, health, welfare and other benefits of faculty members and
other personnel; the acquisition, construction, maintenance and repair of
urgently needed instructional and auxiliary facilities, equipment, buildings
and other infrastructure, and such other expenditures necessary for the
attainment of its purpose under this Act; Provided, further, that such income
shall not be used to augment appropriations for personal services
expenditures;

|) Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment
and other facilities and support systems, and acquire real and movable
properties, including the necessary supplies, materials and equipment;

m) Authorize an external management audit of the Philippine Public Safety and
Homeland Security College and institute reforms, including academic and
structural changes, on the basis of the audit results and recommendations;

1) Approve joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable
development and management of the economic assets of the Philippine
Public Safety College, the proceeds of which shall be used for its
development and strengthening;

©) Approve consortia and other forms of linkages with local government units,
institutions and agencies, both public and private, local and foreign, in

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furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the Philippine Public Safety
and Homeland Security College; and

p) Exercise such other powers as may be necessary and proper to carry out
the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. The President of the Philippine Public Safety College. —- The
President of the Philippine Public Safety College is the chief academic officer, head of
the College faculty and the chief executive officer of the Philippine Public Safety
College. The President of the Philippine Public Safety College shall exercise the
powers specifically provided for in this Act, those determined by the Board, those
which pertaining to the office of the president of a college, and those which are related
or necessary to its functions.

The President of the Philippine Public Safety and Homeland Security College
must be at least forty (40) years of age, a holder of a Doctoral Degree in Public Safety,
Public Administration, National Security Administration and who have gained
meaningful work experience in school administration or any branch of the criminal
justice system shalll be given preference in the appointment.

The President of the Philippine Public Safety and Homeland Security College
shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines, upon the
recommendation of the Board and shall hold office for a single term of four (4) years
unless sooner removed from office or incapacitated to discharge the duties of the
Office.

Provided, that the incumbent PPSC President, unless sooner removed from
office or incapacitated to discharge the duties of the office, shall continue to serve
under this Charter for a fresh four (4) year term.

SEC. 9. The Secretary of the College and of the Board of Trustees. - There
shall be a Secretary of the College appointed by the Board, who shall also be the
Secretary of the Board, and who will keep such records of the College as may be
designated by the Board.

SEC. 10. The Vice-Presidents of the Philippine Public Safety and
Homeland Security College, Duties and Functions. — There shall be appointed a
Vice-President for Administration and a Vice-President for Academic Affairs who shall
assist the President in the administration and operation of the Philippine Public Safety
College.

Both the Vice-Presidents for Administration and Academic Affairs shall be
appointed by the Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the President of the
Philippine Public Safety College. They shall hold office for a term of four (4) years,
unless sooner removed for cause as provided under existing civil service laws, rules
and regulations, or are incapacitated to discharge the duties of the office. They must
be at least thirty-five (35) years of age on the date of assumption of office, members
of the Philippine Bar or holders of Master's Degree in Criminology, Public Safety,
Public Administration, National Security Administration, Sociology or related

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disciplines. Those who have gained reasonable work experience in any branch of the
criminal justice system shall be given preference in the appointment.

a) The Vice-President for Administration shall assist the PPSC President in
supervising the College services, physical facilities, and administrative
support system for all operations of the Philippine Public Safety College. He
shall perform other related activities in coordination with the Vice-President
for Academic Affairs and such other functions as may be delegated by the
PPSC President.

b) The Vice-President for Academic Affairs shall assist the PPSC President in
the implementation of the educational and institutional development plans
and in achieving academic excellence through quality instruction. He shall
perform other related matters in coordination with the Vice-President for
Administration and such other functions as may be delegated by the PPSC
President.

SEC. 11. Vacancy in the Office of the President. — In case the President of
the Philippine Public Safety College is unable to perform or discharge his or her duties
and responsibilities due to death, resignation, removal for cause or incapacity, the
Board shall designate any of the Vice-Presidents who shall temporarily act as the
President until a new President shall have been appointed and qualified or the
incapacity ceases. In case of new appointment, the newly appointed President shall
only serve the unexpired term.

In case of official leave, the President of the Philippine Public Safety College
shall designate a Vice-President who shall serve as the Officer-in-Charge until the
return of the incumbent President;

SEC. 12. Curricular Offerings. — The Philippine Public Safety and Homeland
Security College shall offer a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Program, post-
graduate programs in Public Safety Administration, Crisis and Disaster Risk
Management, Forensic Science and other advanced programs that may be authorized
by law or by the Board, mandatory career courses as required for promotion under
existing laws, rules and regulations and such other courses as may be prescribed by
law or authorized by the Board.

SEC. 13. The Faculty. - There shall be a Faculty in the PPSHSC whose
plantilla positions shall be subject to the approval of its Board of Trustees.

SEC. 14. The Heads of Constitutive Units and Regional Training Centers.
- The heads of the Constitutive Units and Regional Training Centers shall be
designated by the Board, upon recommendation of the PPSC President and with the
consent of the chief of the Bureau from which the officer belongs in case uniformed
personnel is designated. The duly designated heads of Constitutive Units and
Regional Training Centers shall serve for a period not exceeding two (2) years unless
sooner removed, retired from the service or becomes incapacitated to discharge the

duties of the office.
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SEC. 15. Land Grants and Other Real Properties of the College. — The State
shall support the Philippine Public Safety and Homeland Security College through
general appropriations and other financial benefits, and in kind, through land grants
and donations and use of other real properties. To carry out the intent of these grants,
income derived from the development of all land grants and real properties shall be
used to further the ends of the PPSHSC, as may be decided by the Board; Provided,
that such income shall not be used to augment appropriations for personal services
expenditures.

Parcels of land, as well as all real property and facilities, presently used and
occupied by the PPSHSC are hereby declared reserved for the continuing use and
utilization of the PPSHSC. The absolute ownership of the PPSHSC over landholdings
already ceded to it by law, decree or Presidential issuance, including those covered
by original and transfer certificates of title in the name of the PPSC and their future
derivatives are hereby confirmed. Where the issuance of the proper certificates of title
is yet pending for these landholdings, the appropriate government office shall expedite
the issuance thereof within six (6) months from the date of effectivity of this Act;
Provided, that all registration requirements necessary for the issuance of the said titles
have been submitted and complied with.

Any plan to generate revenue from other sources, land grants and other real
properties entrusted to the PPSC shall be consistent with the academic mission and
orientation of the PPSC; Provided, that such programs, projects or mechanisms shall
be approved by the Board; Provided further, that funds generated from such
programs, projects or mechanisms shall not be meant to replace, in part or in whole,
the annual appropriations provided by the national government to the PPSHSC.

SEC. 16. Tax Exemptions. - The PPSHSC shall be entitled to the following
tax and exemption privileges:

a) Allincome received by the College System shall be exempt from income tax
pursuant to Section 30 (1) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997,
as amended;

b)

Equipment and supplies used directly and exclusively for educational
purposes by the College System shall be entitled to exemption from value-
added tax and customs duties on its importation;

°)

Gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds shall be
exempt from the donor's tax and the same shall be considered allowable
deductions from gross income in the computation of the income tax of the
donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue
Code, as amended;

d) Importation of economic, technical and cultural books or publications shall
be exempt from customs duties, in accordance with the provisions of the
Traffic and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended;

SEC. 17. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to initially implement the
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the

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PPSC. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued operation and
maintenance of the PPSHSC shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 18. Annual Report. - The PPSHSC shall submit an annual report to
Congress containing its financial statements, including a statement of assets and
liabilities, income derived from tuition fees and other revenue sources, contracts and
investments entered into pursuant to Section 19 hereof and programs of expenditure.
All accounts and disbursements of the PPSHSC shall be audited by the Commission
on Audit.

SEC. 19. Separability Clause. - If for any reason or reasons, any part or
provision of this Act shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other
parts or provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby, shall continue to be in full
force and effect.

SEC. 20. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Board of Trustees
shall issue the implementing rules and regulations ninety (90) days after the effectivity
of this Act.

SEC. 21. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
tules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 22. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the official gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.

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