Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4129

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES 8, LANETE, M.D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

More than 60 years since its establishment, first as the Masbate National
Agricultural School (MNAS) in 1952, then as the Masbate Agricultural College
(MAC) before becoming the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial Agricultural
College (DEBESMAC) and later to its present status as a state college since
1995, the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture
and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) has grown to become a leading institution of
higher and advanced education in the province of Masbate, its main service
area.

Though the service area of the State College is the whole province of
‘Masbate, only those living in the nearby municipalities could afford to enroll in
the State College due to distance. Many Masbatefios are deprived of the quality
yet affordable education that the State College provides. Hence, the State
College, in coordination and with funding assistance from the Municipal
Government of Cawayan and other offices, established the DEBESMSCAT
Cawayan Learning Site, which offers TESDA courses and two-year non-degree
programs. However, there are still many Masbatefios who are eager to avail of
the program offerings of DEBESMSCAT, especially those in the far-fung
municipalities.

Hence, this proposal of establishing regular campuses in the different
municipalities in the Province of Masbate. A campus in the City of
Masbate would cater to the educational needs of students from the City of
Masbate and the Municipalities of Milagros, Mobo and Uson while a campus in
Aroroy would provide affordable and quality education for enrollees in the



Municipalities of Aroroy and Baleno and portion of Claveria of the island of
Burias. The Cawayan campus would cater to the tertiary education of the
municipalities of the Third Congressional District such as Cawayan, Placer,
Cataingan, Pio V. Corpus, Esperanza, Dimasalang and Palanas and part of
Uson.

For island-municipalities, a campus in the municipality of San Jacinto is
situated strategically and is also a necessity as it would service the
municipalities of San Jacinto, San Fernando, Batuan and Monreal, all of Ticao
Island, and the municipalities of San Pascual and portion of Claveria of the
Burias Island,

DEBESMSCAT is perhaps the most recognized learning institution in the
Province of Masbate because of its culture of excellence among its
management, faculty and students. This is proven with the continuous growth of
the institution and the quality graduates that DEBESMSCAT produces. Its
expansion by establishing additional campuses in several municipalities would
allow the institution to branch out its curricular offerings, expand its leadership
influence among Masbatefios and broaden its academic services including
research and extension services. In addition, it would also contribute to the
improvement of the education indicators in the Province of Masbate as it would
provide a valuable opportunity to extend what DEBESMSCATT is offering to
more students not only in the main campus in the municipality of Mandaon but
in the entire province as well.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this Bill is earnestly requested.

SCOTT DAVIES
resentative
Third District, Province of Masbate



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGR
First Regular Session

4129

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES S. LANETE, M.D.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING REGULAR CAMPUSES OF THE DR. EMILIO
B. ESPINOSA, SR. MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE CITY OF MASBATE AND
MUNICIPALITIES OF AROROY AND SAN JACINTO, ALL IN THE
PROVINCE OF MASBATE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Establishment — Additional extension campuses, all in the
Province of Masbate, are hereby established and shall be known as follows:
1 Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture
and Technology — Masbate City Campus;

2 Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture
and Technology ~ Aroroy Campus; and
3 Dr, Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture

and Technology ~ San Jacinto Campus.

SECTION 2. Objectives — Just like the main campus of the Dr. Emilio B.
Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology, hereinafter
referred to as the State College, located in the Municipality of Mandaon, Province
of Masbate, the other campuses shall provide quality and affordable higher and
advanced education to the people, They shall develop and provide relevant
academic programs and technological amenities that will produce graduates whose
training and education will eventually hasten the socio-economic development of
the Province of Masbate.


SECTION 3. Curricular Offerings ~ The State College campuses outside
the main campus shall also offer, among others, courses related to agriculture,
education, information technology, fishery and marine sciences. They shall also
offer other relevant courses according to their capabilities and as the Board of
Trustees of the State College, hereinafter referred to as the Board, may deem
necessary to carry out its objectives, particularly in meeting the needs of the
province of Masbate.

SECTION 4. Administration — The administration of the State College
campuses in Masbate City, Aroroy and San Jacinto shall be vested in the Board in
accordance with Republic Act No. 7945, otherwise known as the “College
Charter” and Republic Act No. 8292, otherwise known as the “Higher Education
Modernization Act of 1997.”

‘The Board shall have full authority and discretion in determining the
organizational structure, academic, research and extension programs, the
qualifications and number of academic personnel, admission of students and such
other matters related to the administration and operation of the State College
campuses.

SECTION 5. Campus Site ~The Main Campus of the State College shall
be located in the Municipality of Mandaon, particularly in Barangay Cabitan. The
said site surveyed under PSU-143746, with an area of approximately 36,603,786
square meters, and approved by the Bureau of Lands on November 3, 1954 is
hereby declared as the property of the State College.

The Board, in coordination with the concerned local government units shall
identify the sites for the State College campuses in Masbate City, Aroroy and San
Jacinto

It is hereby declared that ownership over all areas identified as suitable State
College campuses shall be vested in the State College and titles transferred under
its name.

SECTION 6. Rules and Regulations ~ Not later than the opening of the
next school year following the approval of this Act, the Board shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act

SECTION 7. Filing Report — Within three (3) months after the
implementation of this Act, the Board shall file with the Office of the President of
the Philippines, through the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education,
and with both Houses of Congress a detailed report on the actions it has taken
pursuant hereto,


SECTION 8. Appropriations ~ The local government units of the City of
Masbate and Municipalities of Aroroy and San Jacinto shall provide assistance to
the respective State College campuses within their jurisdiction until such time that
the full funding requirements of the said campuses are included in the annual
General Appropriations Act. -

SECTION 9. Separability Clause — If, for any reason, any part or provision
of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining part or provision
not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repeating Clause ~ All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof contrary to o
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,