Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No.________ 
Introduced by Honorable DIVINA GRACE C. YU 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to convert Zamboanga del Sur School of Arts and Trades 
(ZSSAT) into Zamboanga del Sur Polytechnic State College (ZSPSC).  
Zamboanga del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ZSSAT) was established on 
February 8, 1982, by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 159. For almost forty years of 
existence, it gave opportunities for the youth of Zamboanga del Sur Province and 
its city and municipalities for education particularly in arts and trades. Hence, it 
provides them gainful employment that will meet the needs and demands in the 
entire province.  
Converting ZSSAT into a Polytechnic State College will make Zamboanga 
del Sur home to a viable educational institution that will be vital in helping further 
develop and strengthen the province’s industry. Currently, ZZSAT is a public school 
of arts and trades with approximately five-hectares of land area at Barangay 
Kawit, Pagadian City.   
The conversion of the ZSSAT into a Polytechnic State College will widen its 
curriculum and address the needs of the growing student population in 
Zamboanga del Sur province and its city and municipalities for easier access to 
quality and affordable education.  
Providing access to quality and affordable education has always been a 
principal objective of the government together with the aspiration of attaining its 
sustainable existence. Moreover, education is essential in achieving human 
progress and development as it affords people with the opportunities to enable 
them to acquire a better future.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
DIVINA GRACE C. YU 
July 5, 2022
3:51 pm
1264


Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City  
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Honorable DIVINA GRACE C. YU 
AN ACT CONVERTING ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR SCHOOL OF ARTS AND TRADES 
(ZSSAT) INTO ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE (ZSPSC) 
DEFINING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled.  
Section 1. Conversion. –The present Zamboanga del Sur School of Arts and 
Trades (ZSSAT) in Pagadian City, is hereby converted into the Zamboanga del Sur 
Polytechnic State College (ZSPSC), hereinafter referred to as the Polytechnic 
State College.  
Section 2. Purpose. –The Polytechnic State College shall primarily offer 
professional and technical instructions and trainings in both the graduate and 
undergraduate levels in the fields of engineering, education, arts and sciences, 
trade and the arts. It shall also offer vocational and technology courses in welding 
technology, vocational technology, fishery technology, hotel and restaurant 
services, hotel and household services, baking technology, electronic services 
and repair. The Polytechnic State College shall continue to offer the Junior High 
School and Senior High School Program under the technical-vocational 
curriculum of the K to 12 Program of the Department of Education.  
The Polytechnic State College shall offer undergraduate, graduate and 
short-term technical courses within its area of specialization as the Board of 
Trustees may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, particularly in order to 
meet the needs of the city and the province.  
Section 3. Powers of the Polytechnic State College. – The Polytechnic 
State College will have the structure and powers of a higher education institution, 
geared towards the development of technical education and skills development 
goals of the country, particularly in developing and strengthening the country's 
labor force, professionals, and technical expertise.  
1264


The Polytechnic State College 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 administration of the 
Polytechnic State College and the exercise of its corporate powers shall be 
vested exclusively in its Board of Trustees.  
Section 4. The Governing Board; Manner of Appointment. –   
  
a) Composition – The governing body of the Polytechnic State College shall 
be the Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, composed of the 
following :  
  
1) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), 
Chairperson;  
2) President of the Polytechnic State College, Vice-Chairperson;   
3) Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority 
(NEDA) or a duly authorized representative, member;  
4) Regional  
Director  
of  
the  
Department  
of 
 
Science  
and  
Technology(DOST) or a duly authorized representative, member;  
5) President of the faculty association of the Polytechnic State College, 
member;  
6) President of the student council of the Polytechnic State College, 
member;   
7) President of the alumni association of the Polytechnic State College, 
member;  
8) Two (2) prominent citizens who have distinguished themselves in their 
professions or fields of specialization chosen from among a list of at least 
five (5) qualified persons in Pagadian City, as recommended by the 
search committee constituted by the  
President of the Polytechnic State College in consultation with the 
Chairperson of the CHED based on the normal standards and 
qualifications for the position. The two (2) private sector representatives 
shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the duly 
constituted search committee. The City Government of Pagadian shall 
be represented in the search committee.  
  
b) Term of Office – The president of the faculty and alumni associations and 
the student trustees shall sit in the Board until the expiration of their term of office 
in such capacities. The prominent citizens shall serve for a term of two (2) years 
from the date of appointment.  
Section. 5 Powers and Duties of the Board of Trustees. – The Board Shall have 
the following specific powers and duties in addition to its general powers of 
administration and the exercise of all powers granted to the board of directors of 
a corporation under existing laws:  
  
a) 
To promulgate rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be 
necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the Polytechnic State 
College;  
  


b) 
To receive and appropriate ail sums as may be provided for the 
support of the Polytechnic State College in the manner it may determine, in its 
discretion, to carry out the purposes and functions of the Polytechnic State 
College;  
  
c) 
To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal 
properties of all kinds, to administer and dispose of the same when necessary for 
the benefit of the Polytechnic State College, subject to limitations, directions and 
instructions of the donor, if any. Such donations shall be exempt from the donor's 
tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from the gross 
income in the computation of the income tax of the donor, in accordance with 
the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), as amended. 
Provided, that such donations shall not be disposed of, transferred or sold;  
  
d) 
To fix tuition fees and other necessary school fees and charges 
including matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees as the Board 
may deem proper to impose after due consultations with the involved sectors.  
  
Such fees and charges, including government subsidies and other incomes 
generated by the Polytechnic State College, shall constitute special trust funds 
and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank, and all 
interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same fund for the use 
of the Polytechnic State College.  
  
Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the contrary 
notwithstanding, any income generated by the Polytechnic State College from 
tuition fees and other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services 
and land grants, shall be retained by the Polytechnic State College, and may be 
disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension, or other programs and 
projects of the Polytechnic State College. Provided, that all fiduciary fees shall be 
disbursed for the specific purposes for which they are collected.  
  
If for reasons beyond its control, the Polytechnic State College 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 
Polytechnic State College;  
  
e) 
To adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and school  
fees for greater access by poor but deserving students;  
  
f) 
To authorize the construction or repair of the buildings, equipment  
and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real and personal 
properties, including necessary supplies, materials and equipment. Purchases 
and other transactions entered into by the Polytechnic State College through the 
Board shall be exempted from all taxes and duties;  
  
g) 
To appoint upon the recommendation of the President of the 
Polytechnic State College, vice presidents, deans, directors, heads of 
departments, faculty members and other officials and employees;  
  


h) 
To fix and adjust the salaries of faculty members and administrative 
officials and employees subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation 
and Position Classification System, as amended, and other pertinent budget and 
compensation laws governing hours of service, and such: other duties and 
conditions as it may deem proper, to grant them at its discretion, leaves of 
absence under regulations as it may promulgate, any provision of existing law to 
the contrary notwithstanding; and to remove them for cause in accordance with 
the requirements of due process of law;  
  
i) 
To approve the curricula, institutional programs and rules of discipline  
drawn by the administrative and academic councils as herein provided;  
  
j) 
To set policies on admission, graduation and certification of students;  
  
k) 
To award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of 
outstanding contribution in the field of education, public service, arts, science 
and technology or in any field of specialization within the academic 
competence of the Polytechnic State College and to authorize the award of 
certificates of completion of non-degree and non-traditional courses;  
  
l) 
To absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the province of 
Zamboanga del Sur in coordination with the CHED and in consultation with the 
Department of Budget and Management, and to offer therein needed programs 
or courses, to promote and carry out equal access to educational opportunities 
mandated by the Constitution;  
  
m) 
To establish research and extension centers of the Polytechnic State 
College where such will promote the development of the latter;  
  
n) 
To establish chairs in the Polytechnic State College and to provide  
fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarship grants to deserving 
students;  
  
o) 
To delegate any of its powers and duties provided for hereinabove 
to the President or other officials of the Polytechnic State College as it may deem 
appropriate so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the Polytechnic 
State College;  
  
p) 
To authorize an external management audit of the institution, to be 
financed by the CHED and to institute reforms, including academic and structural 
changes, on the basis of the audit results and recommendations;  
  
q) 
To collaborate with CHED, TESDA and other governing boards of 
state universities and colleges within the region, under the supervision of the CHED 
and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management, in the 
restructuring of the Polytechnic State College to become more efficient, relevant, 
productive and competitive in producing professionals, technologists and 
technicians;  
  
r) 
To enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable 
development and management of the assets of the Polytechnic State College, 


the proceeds of which will be used for the development and strengthening of the 
Polytechnic State College;  
  
s) 
To develop partnerships and other forms of linkages with local 
government units, institutions and agencies, both public and private, local and 
foreign, in furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the Polytechnic State 
College;  
  
t) 
To develop academic arrangements for institutional capability 
building with appropriate institutions and agencies, public or private, local or 
foreign, and to appoint experts or specialists as consultants, or visiting or 
exchange professors, scholars, researchers, as the case may be;  
  
u) 
To set up the adoption of modem and innovative modes of 
transmitting knowledge such as the use of information technology, the dual 
system, open learning, community laboratory, and competency-based training 
for the promotion of greater access to higher education, professional and 
technological education and skills development;  
  
v) 
To establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative  
decision-making and transparency within the Polytechnic State College;  
  
w) 
To privatize, where most advantageous to the Polytechnic State 
College, management and non-academic services such as health, food, 
building or grounds or property maintenance and similar such other activities; and  
  
x) 
To extend beyond the age of retirement but not later than the age 
of seventy (70) the term of the President of the Polytechnic State College whose 
performance has been unanimously rated as outstanding and upon unanimous 
recommendation by the Search Committee for the President of the Polytechnic 
State College.  
  
Section. 6. Promulgation and Implementation of Policies. – The Board shall 
promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared state 
policies on education and other pertinent provisions of the Philippine Constitution 
on education, science and technology, arts, culture and sports; as well as the 
policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722 and also 
in accordance with the policies, standards and programs of the Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the designated government 
authority in technical education and skills development.  
  
Section. 7. Board Meetings; Quorum. –The Board shall regularly convene at 
least once every quarter. The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees may call a 
special meeting whenever necessary. Provided, that members are notified in 
writing at least three (3) days prior to said meeting.  
  
A majority of all members holding office shall constitute a quorum for board 
meetings. Provided, that the Chairperson of the CHED who is the Chairperson of 
the Board or the President of the Polytechnic State College is among those 
present in the meeting. in the absence of the Chairperson of the CHED, a duly 
designated Commissioner of the CHED, shall represent the Chairperson of the 
CHED in the meeting with ail the rights and responsibilities of a regular member. 
Provided, however, that in the said meeting, the President of the Polytechnic 


State College as vice chairperson shall be the presiding officer. Provided, further, 
that this proviso notwithstanding; the Chairperson of the  
CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as the regular 
Chairperson to the Board of the Polytechnic State College, in which case said 
CHED Commissioner shall act as the presiding officer- The members shall serve 
without compensation, but they shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses 
incurred in their attendance of meetings of the Board or in connection with their 
official business authorized by resolution of the Board, subject to existing laws and 
regulations.  
  
Section. 8. Administration. – The administration of the Polytechnic State 
College shall be vested in a President who shall render full-time service. The 
President shall be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of a duly 
constituted search committee. The President shall have a term of four (4) years 
and shall be eligible for reappointment for another term. In order to effect a 
smooth transition to a Polytechnic State College, the current head of ZSSAT shall 
become the first President of the Polytechnic State College.  
  
The President shall be assisted by a vice president for academic affairs who 
shall be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the President of 
the Polytechnic State College without prejudice to the appointment of more thru 
one (1) vice president when so warranted.  
  
Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of the incumbent 
President, the Board shall create a search committee for the presidency.  
  
In case of vacancy by reason of death, compulsory retirement, resignation, 
removal for cause or incapacity of the President to perform the functions of the 
office, the Board shall have the authority to designate an officer-in-charge of the 
Polytechnic State College within six (6) months from the date of vacancy, 
pending the appointment of a new President.  
  
In case of vacancy in the office of the president as mentioned in the 
immediately preceding paragraph, the successor shall hold office only for the 
unexpired portion of the term.  
  
The powers and duties of the President of the Polytechnic State College in 
addition to those specifically provided in this Act shall be those usually pertaining 
to the office of the president of other educational institutions.  
The salary of the President of the University shall be in accordance with the 
Revised Compensation and Position Classification System, as modified by Joint 
Resolution No. 4 dated June 17, 2009 and other pertinent budget and 
compensation laws, and shall be comparable to that being received by the 
presidents of similar educational institutions.  
  
Section. 9. Secretary. – The Board shall appoint a Secretary, who shall serve 
as such for both the Polytechnic State College and the Board, and shall keep all 
records of the Board.  
Section 10. Treasurer. –The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be the exofficio 
Treasurer of the Polytechnic State College.  
Section. 11. Administrative Council. – There shall been administrative 
council consisting of the President of the Polytechnic State College as 


Chairperson, vice-presidents, deans, directors and other officials of equal rank as 
members whose duty is to review and recommend to the Board, policies 
governing the administration, management and development planning of the 
institution.  
Section. 12 Academic Council. – There shall be an academic council 
consisting of the President of the Polytechnic State College as Chairperson, vice-
presidents and all members of the instructional staff with the rank not lower than 
assistant professor, as members. The academic council shall have the power to 
review and recommend the curricular offerings and rules of discipline of the 
Polytechnic State College, for the approval of the Board. It shall fix the 
requirements for admission to the Polytechnic State College, as well as for 
graduation and the conferring of certificates and diplomas, subject to review and 
approval by the Board through the President of the Polytechnic State College.  
  
Section 13. Academic Freedom. – Pursuant to paragraph 2,Section 5 of  
Article XIV of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, all institutions of 
higher learning, public or private, shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional 
autonomy.  
  
Section 14.  Admission and Scholarships. – No student shall be denied 
admission to the Polytechnic State College by reason of gender, nationality, 
religion, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin, or political affiliation.  
  
The Polytechnic State College shall provide a scholarship program and 
other subsidies to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to 
the Polytechnic State College.  
  
Section. 15. Faculty. – No religious opinion or affiliation, political beliefs, 
gender, preference, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin i shall be a 
matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the Polytechnic State 
College: Provided, however, that no member of the faculty shall teach for or 
against any particular church or religious sect.  
  
Section16. Development Plan; Management Audit; Organizational, 
Administrative and Academic Structure. – Within the period of one hundred 
twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the Polytechnic State College 
shall accomplish the following:  
  
a) 
Submit a five (5) year development plan, including program budgets 
to CHED and TESDA, for corresponding recommendation to the  
Department of Budget and Management;  
  
b) 
Undergo a management audit in cooperation with CHED and TESDA; 
and  
  
c) 
Set up its organizational, administrative as 
academic structure,  
including the appointment of key Polytechnic State College officials.  
  
Section 17. Transfer of Assets. –All assets, real and personal, personnel and 
records of ZSSAT based in the City of Pagadian, as well as liabilities or obligations, 
are hereby transferred to the Polytechnic State College. The position, rights and 


security of tenure of personnel therein employed under existing laws shall be 
respected.  
  
All parcels of land belonging to the government and occupied by ZSSAT 
are hereby declared to be the property of the Polytechnic State College and 
shall be titled under that name.  
  
Section 18. Loan of Equipment. – The heads of bureaus and offices of the 
national government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer upon request of 
the President of the Polytechnic State College such apparatus, equipment or 
supplies as may be needed by the Polytechnic State College, and to detail 
employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of bureau or office, 
such apparatus, equipment/ supplies or services of such employees can be 
spared without serious detriment to the public service. Employees detailed Shall 
perform such duties as required of them by the President of the Polytechnic State 
College and the time so employed shall be counted as part of their regular 
services.  
  
Section 19. Auditing. –All accounts and expenses of the Polytechnic State 
College shall be audited by the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized 
representative.  
Section 20. Filing of Report. – Not later than the fifteenth 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 and TESDA, and 
to both Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress, conditions and 
needs of the Polytechnic State College.  
  
Section 21. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for implementation of 
this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of ZSSAT. Thereafter, 
such sums as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance 
of the Polytechnic State College shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.  
  
Section 22. Repealing Clause. –All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, memoranda, rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repeated, amended, or modified accordingly.  
  
Section 23. Separability Clause. –If any part or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected 
shall remain in full force and effect.  
  
Section 24. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
Approved.