EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
Introduced by Representatives DAVID "JAY-JAY" C. SUAREZ, 
ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUAREZ, and ALETA C. SUAREZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE IN THE SOUTHERN 
LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY (SLSU) CAMPUS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
CATANAUAN, PROVINCE OF QUEZON TO BE KNOWN AS THE SOUTHERN LUZON 
STATE UNIVERSITY CATANAUAN-COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Under the ambit of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Organisation for Animal Health1 
and the World Veterinary Association (WVA) is in solidarity that specific veterinary 
activities, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the veterinary profession for public 
health, are essential to ensure a continuum in food safety, disease prevention, and 
emergency management. 
In the Philippines, it is by virtue of Republic Act No. 9395, or the SLSU Charter, that has 
been mandated in providing advanced education, professional, technological instruction 
in the fields of allied medicine, education, engineering, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, 
environment, arts and sciences, accountancy, business and entrepreneurship, and other 
relevant fields of study. 
This proposed measure seeks to establish a College of Veterinary Medicine in the 
Southern Luzon State University Catanauan Campus. In the middle of an existing health 
crisis, our veterinarians play an important role in investigating animal and human disease 
1 The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health 
worldwide. It is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2018 has a total of 182 Member 
Countries. The OIE maintains permanent relations with nearly 75 other international and regional organisations and has Regional and 
sub-regional Offices on every continent 
July 7, 2021
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outbreaks such as food-borne illnesses, influenza, and rabies. They are also essential in 
protecting our public health by investigating zoonotic diseases and other diseases 
affecting the health of animals and people.  
By instituting the proposed College in the Municipality of Catanauan, we democratize 
access to higher education. Similarly, with Quezon Province being geographically adjacent 
to animal agriculture regions, it will primarily benefit from this piece of legislation. To this 
end, we improve the health of our animals, which has a domino effect of improving the 
quality of life for our communities. 
For this reason, the approval of this measure is respectfully sought. 
DAVID "JAY-JAY" C. SUAREZ 
ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUAREZ 
ALETA C. SUAREZ 


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
Introduced by Representatives DAVID "JAY-JAY" C. SUAREZ, 
ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUAREZ, and ALETA C. SUAREZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE IN THE SOUTHERN LUZON 
STATE UNIVERSITY (SLSU) CAMPUS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CATANAUAN, 
PROVINCE OF QUEZON TO BE KNOWN AS THE SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY 
CATANAUAN-COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the Southern Luzon State 
University Catanauan-College of Veterinary Medicine Act. 
Sec. 2. Establishment. There is hereby established a college of veterinary 
medicine in the Southern Luzon State University Campus in the Municipality of Catanauan, 
Province of Quezon, to be known as the Southern Luzon State University Catanauan-
College of Veterinary Medicine, hereinafter referred to as the "College." 
Sec. 3. General Mandate. The College shall primarily offer a Doctor of Veterinary 
Medicine (DVM) Program, which shall be a 6-year course consisting of a 2-year preparatory 
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veterinary medicine curriculum, including general education courses, and a 4-year professional 
veterinary medicine consisting of two-year preparatory veterinary medicine, basic animal 
sciences, and veterinary medical sciences.   
The primary goal of the program shall be the development of professionals that are adept 
in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of animal diseases, including terrestrial and 
aquatic animals.  
Sec. 4. Implementation. – As provided under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9395, 
the Governing Board is hereby mandated to be the lead agency in the implementation of 
this Act.  
 
Sec. 5. Compliance with CHED Requirements. – The provisions of this Act 
notwithstanding, the establishment of the College 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 policies, standards, 
and guidelines on CHED Memorandum Order No. 01, Series of 2018 for the Doctor of Veterinary 
Medicine Program.  
Provided, That the panel may issue such recommendation when the institution has 
substantially complied with the requirements for the program. 
 
Sec. 6. Tax Exemption. – The importation of scientific and technical books or 
publications, which are for scientific and technical purposes of the College, upon certification by 
the CHED shall be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 
No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization 5 and Tariff Act (CMTA)."  
All grants, bequests, endowment, donations, and contributions made to the College shall 
be used actually, directly, and exclusively by the College shall be exempt from donor's tax. The 
same shall be allowed deductions 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 1997, as amended. 
  
Sec. 7. Annual Report. – On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the second 
month after the opening of the regular classes each year, the Governing Board shall file 
with the Office of the President of the Philippines, through the Chairperson of the CHED, 
and with both Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress, condition, and 
needs of the College.  
 


Sec. 8. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.  
 
Sec. 9. Suppletory Application. – The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, 
otherwise known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997", shall be an 
integral part of this Act and shall serve as part of the Governing Charter of the College. 
  
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. – If for any reason or reasons, any part or provision 
of this Act shall be declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions 
hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. – All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules, and 
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.  
 
Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines.  
 
Approved,