y RECEIVED 2
fed DATE: AUG AUS 1

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7352

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Kristine Singson

This bill converts the locos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) into the Hocos Sur
Philippines Polytechnic University (ISPPU), by integrating the North Luzon Philippines State
College (NLPSC)

The ISPSC and its campuses, and the NLPSC have throughout the years,
undergone several institutional transformations to meet the demands of the communities that
they serve. Hocos Sur has vast human and agricultural resource bases that play significant
roles in the economic growth of the province. This socio-economic and agricultural vibrancy
can be seen in the transformation of these SUCs - the ISPSC from being a farm school in
1913, and the younger NLPSC which began as a community college in 1975, into what they
are today. They both became State Colleges through bills sponsored by former Deputy
Speaker Eric Singson, with the vision of later converting them not only into a premier state
university but also as centers for excellence, development, and research. We believe that the
time for another institutional transformation has come.

The integration of the two state colleges is salutary to the Philippine Higher Education
Reform agenda which provides for amalgamation as a key component, and the people of the
Second District of locos Sur agrees and conforms to this agenda. The amalgamation of the
ISPSC and the NLPSC, and their conversion into a university would not only consolidate the
resources of the national goverment and complement the endeavors of the provincial
government but it would also give prestige to our humble district. It would be a realization of
the provisions of the Philippine Constitution on the protection and promotion of the right of
all citizens to have access to quality education at all levels and the Constitutional mandate of
the State to establish, maintain, and a complete, adequate and integrated system of education
relevant to the needs of the people and society

The ISPSC has campuses spread all over the 2nd District, with the main campus in
Sta Maria and extension campuses in the city of Candon and the municipalities of Narvacan,
Tagudin, Santiago, and Cervantes, and the NLPSC is at the center and the capital of the
district in Candon City. They are strategically situated making them easily accessible to

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everyone including the indigenous people from the upland areas of locos Sur and those from
nearby municipalities of the Cordillera Administrative Region

It is imperative that everyone, especially the youth, should be given the chance to
develop and improve so they can contribute to the overall competitiveness of our country
Everyone should have the opportunity to step up to the challenge of becoming highly
productive and globally competitive by providing them the best education that the
government could offer. It is time to give the people of the Second District of locos Sur a
university that they so rightly deserve

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

Ww

B


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__7352

Introduced by Representative Kristine Singson

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
(ISPSC), IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR INTO A STATE
UNIVERSITY, INTEGRATING THEREWITH THE NORTH LUZON
PHILIPPINES STATE COLLEGE (NLPSC), IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS
SUR, TO BE KNOWN AS THE ILOCOS SUR PHILIPPINES POLYTECHNIC
UNIVERSITY (ISPPU), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Conversion, — The Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) in
the municipality of Sta, Maria, with campuses in the municipalities of Narvacan, Tagudin,
Santiago, Cervantes, and in the city of Candon, all in the Province of locos Sur, including the
North Luzon Philippines State College (NLPSC), also located in the city of Candon, in the
province of Ilocos Sur, is hereby converted into a state university to be known as the locos
Sur Philippines Polytechnic University (ISPPU). Its main campus shall be in the municipality
of Sta, Maria

SEC. 2. General Mandate. — the Ilocos Sur Philippines Polytechnic University,
hereinafter referred to as the University, shall primarily provide advance education, higher
professional and technological instruction, technical and vocational education, and training in
humanities, the sciences and the arts, particularly along the areas of agriculture, education,
business and entrepreneurship, engineering, and other related courses. It shall also promote
and undertake research and extension services and provide progressive leadership in its areas
of specialization

SEC. 3. Curricular Offerings. — The University shall offer post-secondary
technical-vocational programs, baccalaureate programs, and graduate programs, within its
areas of competency and specialization, in the broad fields of agriculture, education, business
administration, culture and arts, technology, engineering, architecture, health sciences,
criminal justice education, other relevant fields of study, as the Board of Regents may deem
necessary to carry out its objectives, and those which respond to the needs of the Province of
Hocos Sur and the locos Region


SEC. 4. Administration. — The University shall have the general powers of a
corporation set forth in Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, as amended, otherwise known as the
"Corporation Code of the Philippines." The exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested
exclusively in the Board of Regents and the President of the University

SEC. 5. The Governing Board. — The governing body of the University shall be the
Board of Regents, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be chaired and co- chaired
by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the President of the
University, respectively, and with the following as members

a Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education
of the Senate;
b. Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the

House of Representativ
Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority
Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology;
Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture;

Regional Director of the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA);

President of the federation of the faculty associations of the University
President of the federation of student councils of the University;

President of the federation of alumni associations of the University; and

‘Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished
themselves in their professions or fields of specialization

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er

The Board shall appoint two (2) prominent citizens who shall be selected from a list of at
least five (5) qualified persons in the Province of Hlocos Sur, as recommended by a search
committee constituted by the University. The Search Committee shall be constituted by the
President of the University, in consultation with the CHED Chairperson and other members
of the Board, based on the standards and qualifications for the position set by the Board. The
membership of the President of the federation of faculty associations, the President of the
federation of student councils, and the President of the federation of alumni associations in
the governing board, shall be coterminous with their terms of office, as provided under their
respective constitutions and bylaws

SEC. 6, Powers and Duties of the Board, — In addition to its general powers of
administration and the powers granted to the board of directors of a corporation under
existing laws, the Board shall have the following specific powers and duties

a, Promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies and
pertinent provisions of the Constitution on education, agriculture, science and
technology, the policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No
772, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994, and the TESDA, under
Republic Act No. 7796 or the "TESDA Act of 1994":

b. Approve the curricula, instructional programs, and rules of discipline drawn by the
Administrative and Academic Councils herein provided;


c. Appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of the University, the vice
presidents, deans, directors, heads of the campuses, faculty members, and other
officials and employees of the University:

d. Fix and adjust the salaries of faculty members, administrative officials and
employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation and Position
Classification System and other pertinent budget and compensation laws governing
the hours of service, and such other duties and conditions as it may deem proper:
grant them, at its discretion, leaves of absence under such regulations as it may
promulgate, any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding; and
remove them for cause in accordance with the requirements of due process of law;

¢. Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as matriculation fees,
graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to impose, after
due consultation with the concerned sectors. The fees and charges, including
government subsidies and other income generated by the University, shall constitute
its special trust funds and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository
bank. All interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the
use of the University.

Any provision of existing laws, rules or regulations to the contrary notwithstanding,
any income generated by the University from tuition fees and other charges, as well as
from the operation of auxiliary services and land grants, shall be retained by the
University and may be disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension
services or other programs and projects of the University: Provided. That all fiduciary
fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for which these are collected
Provided, however, That if, for reasons beyond its control, the University shall not be
able to pursue any project for which funds have been appropriated and allocated under
its approved program of expenditures, the Board may authorize the use of said funds
for any reasonable purpose which, in its discretion, may be necessary and urgent for
the attainment of the objectives and goals of the University,

£ Adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees for greater
access of poor but deserving students in accordance with Republic Act No. 10931 or
the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act";

g. Establish professorial chairs in the University and provide fellowships for qualified
faculty members, and scholarships to deserving students;

h. Receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support of the University
in the manner it may determine, in its discretion, to carry out the purposes and
functions of the University: Provided that the sums allotted, appropriated and donated
to a specific campus shall be exclusively for that campus, and can neither be re-
allocated nor re-aligned by the board;

i. Set the policies on admission and graduation of students; Award honorary degrees
upon persons in recognition of their outstanding contribution in the fields of
education, public service, arts, science and technology, agriculture or any field of


specialization within the academic competency of the University, and authorize the
awarding of certificates of completion of nondegree and nontraditional courses,

Establish research and extension centers to promote the development of the
University;

Develop academic arrangements for institutional capability-building with appropriate
institutions and agencies, whether public, private, local or foreign, and appoint
experts/specialists as consultants, part-time or visiting/exchange professors, scholars
or researchers, as the case may be;

Adopt modern and innovative modes of transmitting knowledge for the promotion of
greater access to education such as the use of information technology, dual training
system, open distance learning, and community laboratory:

Collaborate with the governing boards of other colleges within the province of locos
Sur and the Ilocos Region, under the supervision of the CHED and in consultation
with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in restructuring the
University to make it more efficient, relevant, productive and competitive;

Absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the province of locos Sur and the
locos Region as branches and extension/external centers, in coordination with the
CHED and in consultation with the DBM, and offer therein programs or courses to
carry out the Constitutional mandate of providing equal access to educational
opportunities:

Authorize an external management audit of the University, to be financed by the
CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit, and institute
reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results
and recommendations;

Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local government units
(LGUs), as well as public, private, local and foreign institutions and agencies, in the
furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the University;

Import economic, technical and cultural books and publications:

Enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable development
and management of economic assets, the proceeds of which, shall be used for the
development and strengthening of the University;

Receive, in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all
kinds and administer and dispose of the same, when necessary, for the benefit of the
University and subject to the limitations, directions and instructions of the donor, if
any;

Extend the term of the President of the University beyond the age of retirement, but
not beyond the age of seventy (70), based on the guidelines, qualifications and
standards set by the Board: Provided, That the President's performance has been rated

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by the Board as outstanding and a unanimous recommendation has been decided by
the search committee;

u, Delegate any of its powers and duties provided to the President and other officials of
the University, as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the
affairs of the University;

v. Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative decision-making and
transpareney within the University,

w. Where most advantageous to the University, privatize the management of
nonacademic services such as health, food, building grounds or property maintenance,
and such other similar activities;

x. Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment and other
facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, including the necessary
supplies, materials and equipment; and

Promulgate rules and regulations, as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes and
functions of the University

SEC. 7. Meetings of the Board. — The Board shall regularly convene once every
three (3) months. The Chairperson of the Board may, however, call a special meeting
whenever necessary: Provided, That members are notified in writing at least three (3) days
prior to the conduct of said meeting

A quorum of the Board shall consist of majority of all its members holding office at
the time of the meeting: Provided. however, That the Chairperson of the Board or the
President of the University is among those present in the meeting

In case the CHED Chairperson cannot attend a meeting of the Board, a CHED
Commissioner duly designated by the CHED Chairperson as representative to the meeting,
shall have all the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, That during the
meeting, the President of the University, as Vice Chairperson, shall be the presiding officer
Provided, further, That this provision, notwithstanding, the Chairperson of the CHED is
hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as the regular Chairperson of the
Board, in which case, the said CHED Commissioner, shall act as the presiding officer.

In case the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and
Vocational Education and the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education will not
be able to attend the Board meeting, they may designate their respective representatives to
attend the meeting, who shall have the same rights and responsibilities as the regular
members of the Board.

The members of the Board shall not receive any salary, but shall be entitled to
reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred, either for their attendance to the
meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business authorized by resolutions
of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations.


SEC. 8. The University President. — The University shall be headed by a President,
who shall render full-time service and shall be appointed by the Board, subject to the
guidelines, qualifications and standards set by the Board, upon the recommendation of a duly
constituted search committee. The University President shall have a term of four (4) years
and shall be eligible for reappointment for another term: Provided, That in order to effect a
smooth transition to a state university, the incumbent President of the ISPSC, shall serve as
the first President of the University, with one full term without prejudice to reappointment

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the President of
the University, the Board shall constitute a Search Committee for the Presidency

‘The Board shall designate an Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the University in case of
vacancy in the Office of the President by reason of death, compulsory retirement, resignation,
removal for cause, or incapacity of the President to perform the functions of the office,
pending the appointment of a new President: Provided, That the OIC shall serve only the
unexpired portion of the term.

The powers and duties of the President of the University, in addition to those
specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the
President of similar state universities and those delegated by the Board

‘The salary of the President of the University shall be in accordance with Republic Act
No, 6758 or the “Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989”, as modified by
Joint Resolution No. 4 dated June 17, 2009, and by such other laws amendatory thereto,
which may hereinafter be enacted, and shall be comparable to that being received by the
presidents of similar state educational institutions.

The President of the University shall be assisted by a Vice President for Academic
Affairs, a Vice President for Administration, and a Vice President for Research and
Development, Extension Services and Training, who shall be appointed by the Board upon
the recommendation of the President

SEC. 9. Heads of University Clusters and Campuses. ~ The campuses of the
university shall be clustered into two and each cluster shall be headed by a Chancellor. They
shall be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the search committee and the
University President, subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board:
Provided, That the incumbent President of NLPSC shall be the Chancellor of a Cluster of
campuses and the incumbent College Administrators of the extension campuses shall serve as
the campus Directors of their respective campuses, subject to the existing policies on
designation of officials

SEC. 10. The Secretary of the University. - The Board shall appoint a Secretary
who shall serve as such for both the Board and the University and shall keep all records and


proceedings of the Board. The Secretary of the University shall serve upon each member of
the Board the appropriate notice of board meetings

SEC. 11. The Treasurer of the Unive:
be the ex officio Treasurer of the University

. - The Treasurer of the Philippines shall

SEC. 12. The Administrative Council. - There shall be an Administrative Council
consisting of the President of the University as Chairperson, and the vice presidents, deans,
directors and other officials of equal rank as members, whose duties shall be to review and
recommend to the Board the policies that shall govern the administration, management and
development planning of the University

SEC. 13. The Academie Council. - There shall be an Academic Council to be
composed of the President of the University, who shall act as Chairperson, and all academic
staff with the rank of at least an assistant professor, as members, which shall formulate
academic policies

The Academic Council shall also have the power to review and recommend the
curricular offerings and rules of discipline of the University, subject to the approval of the
Board. It shall fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as for their
graduation and conferment of degrees, subject to the review and approval of the Board
through the President of the University

It shall exercise disciplinary power over the students of the University and shall issue
rules and regulations on student discipline, subject to the approval of the Board

SEC. 14. The Faculty. - 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 University: Provided, That said appointment shall
be subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board: Provided, further,
That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against any particular church or religious
sect

SEC. 15, Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. - The University shall
enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy pursuant to Paragraph 2, Sec. 5 of
Article XIV of the Constitution

SEC. 16. Scholarship Programs/Admission, - The University shall provide
scholarship and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who
qualify for admission to the University

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

SEC. 17, Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment, Supplies and
Detail of Personnel, - The heads of the bureaus and offices of the national government are
hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon the request of the President of the University, such
apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by the University, and detail employees
for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of bureau or office, such apparatus,

7


equipment, supplies or service 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
President of the University and the time thus served shall be counted as part of their regular
service

SEC. 18. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. - All assets, real and personal,
personnel, and records of the ISPSC and the NLPSC, as well as liabilities or obligations, are
hereby transferred to the University: Provided, That the positions, rights and security of
tenure of faculty members and personnel therein employed under existing laws prior to the
conversion into a university shall be respected: Provided, further, That the incumbents of the
positions shall remain in the same status until otherwise provided for by the Board: Provided.
finally, That the University shall also accordingly upgrade or increase its human resource
component as may be deemed appropriate by the Board

All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the ISPSC and the
NLPSC are hereby declared to be the property of the University and shall be titled under its
name: Provided, That should the University cease to exist or be abolished or should such
aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the University, the same shall revert
to the concerned LGU or to the Republic of the Philippines, as the case may be.

SEC. 19. Tax Exemption on Importation and Donations. - The importation by the
University of economic, technical and cultural books or publications, which are for
economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical or cultural purposes shall,
upon certification by the CHED, be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the
rovisions of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and
‘riff Act (CMTA)"

All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions made to and used
actually, directly and exclusively by the University, shall be exempt from donor's tax and the
same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income of the donor for
purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of
the National Internal Revenue Code of 197, as amended

SEC 20, Establishment of Research Centers. In order to effectively carry out its
mandate, there are hereby created Research Centers, to wit

a. Fisheries and Aquamarine Resources Research Center. The center shall primarily
focus on the creation of knowledge and technologies that will contribute to the
responsible use as well as the protection of the aquamarine resources of the
province and the region;

b. Forest Advancement and Resources Management Research Center The center
shall focus on the protection and preservation, as well as the creation of research-
based policies for the preservation, of local flora and other forest resources:

c. ISPPU Center for Rural Health Research, Reform and Policy. The center shall
primarily focus on the creation of knowledge, policies, innovation, and
technologies that will redound to the health benefits of the local, national, and
global communities;


d. Animal Research Center. This center shall focus on the generation of knowledge
and technologies that will promote an effective generation and management of
veterinary resources.

e. Tobacco and Agricultural Research Center. ‘The center shall primarily focus on
the generation of knowledge and technologies that will enhance the tobacco
industry, and the agriculture industry as a whole, that will redound to the benefit
of the tobacco growers and the farmers in general.

f Indigenous Peoples Education Research Center. This center shall focus on the
preservation and protection of indigenous peoples and communities by
undertaking studies and activities towards this end.

@. Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center. This shall
primarily focus on the generation of knowledge and the creation of policies to
improve the public service sector of the society

Whenever necessary, the university shall create Consortia to promote a wider scope of
operation and ensure a bigger community of beneficiaries of the research centers herein
created

SEC. 21. Compliance with CHED Requirements. ~ The provisions of this Act
notwithstanding, the conversion into a state university shall become effective only upon the
determination and declaration by the CHED, based on the recommendation of a panel of
experts it shall constitute for the purpose, that the institution has complied with the
requirements for a university status based on CHED Memorandum knowledge they generate
to address specific social development Order No. 46, series of 2012 (Policy-Standard to
hance Quality Assurance in Philippine Higher Education through an Outcomes-Based and
Typology-Based Quality Assurance)’ Provided, That the panel may issue such
recommendation when the institution has substantially complied with the requirements for
the grant of university status

The following requirements for a university, as established by the CHED, shall be
complied with

(a) Faculty members shall possess relevant degrees in their areas of specialization, as
required by the CHED, and shall have participated in research and development activities in
their respective disciplines, as evidenced by refereed publications and other scholarly outputs.

(b) The University shall offer a comprehensive range of degree programs which
should be in place in all levels, from basic post-secondary to doctoral programs;

(c) The University shall have conducted viable research programs in specific
disciplinal and multidisciplinary areas of study that produce new knowledge, as evidenced by
refereed publications, citations, inventions, and patents, among others;

(d) The University shall possess comprehensive learning resources and support
structures such as libraries, practicum laboratories, relevant educational resources, and

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linkages with relevant disciplinal and professional sectors so as to allow students to explore
basic, advanced, and even cutting-edge knowledge in a wide range of disciplines or
professions should be provided by the University:

(e) The University shall maintain linkages and affiliation with other research
institutions in various parts of the world to ensure that the research activities of the University
are functioning at current global standards; and

(1) The University shall conduct outreach activities to allow the students, faculty, and
research staff to apply the new knowledge they generate to address specific social
development problems.

‘The CHED, through its regional office, shall regularly provide technical assistance to
the institution and monitor compliance with the requirements of the Commission

Pending compliance with the requirements provided herein, and to allow a smooth
transition into a university, the integration of NLPSC to the ISPSC, the creation of research
and development centers under Section 20 of this Act, and other provisions necessary, shall
take effect immediately upon the effectivity of this Act

SEC. 22. Development Plan, = Management = Audit, and
Organization/Administrative/Academic Structure. - Within a period of one hundred
twenty (120) days afier the approval of this Act, the University shall accomplish the
following

a Submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its program budget to the
CHED for corresponding recommendation to the DBM:

b. Set up its organizational, administrative, as well as academic structure,
including the appointment of key officials of the University; and

¢ Undergo a management audit in coordination with the CHED.

SEC. 23. Filing of Report. - On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the second
month after the opening of the regular classes each year, the Board shall file, with the Office
of the President of the Philippines, through the CHED Chairperson, and with both Houses of
Congress, a detailed report on the progress, condition, and needs of the University

SEC. 24. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292,
otherwise known as the "Higher Education Modemization Act of 1997", shall form an
integral part of this Act and shall serve as part of the governing charter of the University

SEC. 25 Parity Clause. - All other powers, functions, privileges, responsibilities, and
limitations under existing laws shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the University
and its officials, whenever appropriate.

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SEC. 26. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the ISPSC and the NLPSC
‘Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of
the University shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

The sum of Seventy Million Pesos (Php 70,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the
initial operation of the Research Centers created in Sec. 20 hereof Thereafter, the amount
needed to carry out the mandate of said centers shall be included in the annual appropriations
of the university

SEC. 27. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Board, in consultation with the CHED, shall formulate the rules
and regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act

SEC. 28. 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 shall
remain in full force and effect

SEC. 29. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed
or modified accordingly

SEC. 30. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,

u