Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4261 
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Entrepreneurship is a vital engine for the economic growth and 
development of the Philippines. It drives innovation, creates jobs, and stimulates 
local economies, empowering individuals and communities. As a key driver of 
poverty reduction, entrepreneurship fosters economic diversification and 
strengthens resilience by enabling people to respond to changing market 
demands. The promotion of entrepreneurship, particularly through Micro, Small, 
and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), is essential for building an inclusive, 
sustainable economy that supports long-term national development. 
However, despite the critical role entrepreneurship plays in national 
development, there remains a gap in the availability of structured, accessible, and 
comprehensive training and education programs that equip individuals with the 
necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in business. While the Philippine 
education system has made strides in promoting entrepreneurship, there is a 
pressing need for a more formalized approach to entrepreneurial education that 
spans technical-vocational, undergraduate, and graduate levels. This gap often 
hinders the potential of many aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those from 
marginalized communities and rural areas, who face limited access to resources, 
mentorship, and specialized training. 
September 1, 2025
3:49 pm


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This bill aims to address this gap by establishing the Philippine 
Entrepreneurs Academy, a learning institution under the supervision of the 
Commission on Higher Education and Development, which will provide a 
comprehensive and inclusive platform for entrepreneurial education. The 
Academy will offer degree programs, short-term technical-vocational courses, 
and modular training that cater to various levels of education and expertise. By 
integrating existing nonformal programs from government agencies like the 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department 
of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST), the Academy will create a more cohesive and structured approach to 
entrepreneurship training. In doing so, it will better equip Filipino students and 
aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of 
the business world and drive the country’s economic progress. 
Moreover, the Academy will not only focus on education but also provide 
consultancy, conduct research, and promote policy advocacy to further support 
the growth of entrepreneurship in the Philippines. This initiative will not only 
enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of individuals but also foster a more vibrant 
and competitive business environment, essential for the long-term sustainability 
and resilience of the Philippine economy. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ 
ANDREW JULIAN K. ROMUALDEZ 
JUDE A. ACIDRE 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4261 
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER 1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine 
Entrepreneurs Academy Act.” 
SEC. 2. Establishment. – There is hereby established a learning institution, under 
the supervision of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), to be known 
as the “Philippine Entrepreneurs Academy”, hereinafter referred to as the 
Academy. 


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SEC. 3. General Mandate. – The Academy shall provide undergraduate and 
graduate degree programs, short-term technical-vocational nondegree courses 
and modular trainings that will enhance the core competencies of individuals on 
entrepreneurship. It shall cater to technical-vocational, college and graduate 
students. It shall promote the relevance of entrepreneurship to job generation and 
its significant role to the sustainable economic growth of the country. 
 
The Academy shall formalize and integrate, under a school system, the 
nonformal entrepreneurship programs and short-term technical-vocational 
courses of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST), and other government agencies. It shall administer education and 
consultancy, and supervise publication on entrepreneurship. It shall also conduct 
scientific and policy-oriented research and training. 
 
The Academy shall comply with the requirements and standards of the 
CHED and the provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, otherwise known as the 
“Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997”, and other pertinent laws on 
higher education. 
 
SEC. 4. Curricular Offerings. – The Academy shall offer undergraduate and 
graduate degree programs and short-term diploma or certificate courses on 
entrepreneurship, including entrepreneurship development in the fields of 
agriculture, trade, technology, and the manufacturing sector. The curriculum and 
modules of the programs shall be designed and developed following the 
competency-based curriculum model and in accordance with the mandate of this 
Act. 


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SEC. 5. School Sites. – The Academy shall have two (2) campuses, with the main 
campus to be established in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone 
located in the Provinces of Pampanga and Tarlac, to be known as the “Philippine 
Entrepreneurs Academy Main Campus-Clark”. The other campus shall be located 
in the City of Baguio, to be known as the “Philippine Entrepreneurs Academy-
Baguio City Campus”. 
 
SEC. 6. Governing Board. – The governing board of the Academy shall be the 
Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be chaired 
and co-chaired by the Chairperson of the CHED, and the President of the 
Academy, respectively, 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 Representatives; (c) Director General of the TESDA; 
 
(c) Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority 
(NEDA); 
 
(d) Secretary of the DOST; 
 
(e) Secretary of the DTI; 
 
(f) President of the federation of faculty associations of the Academy; 
 


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(g) President of the federation of student councils of the Academy; 
 
(h) President of the federation of alumni associations of the Academy; and 
 
(i) two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished 
themselves in their professions or fields of specialization. 
 
The members of the Board shall not receive any compensation or 
remuneration for their services as such, but may be reimbursed for actual and 
necessary expenses incurred in discharging the business of the Academy. 
 
SEC. 7. Powers and Duties of the Board. – The Board shall be the highest 
policymaking body of the Academy. In addition to its general powers of 
administration and the exercise of all the powers granted to the Board 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 Philippine Constitution on 
education, as well as policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under 
Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 
1994";  
 
(b) Adopt rules and regulations not contrary to law, as may be necessary to 
carry out the purposes and functions of the Academy, and to effectively 
discharge its responsibilities; 
 


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(c) Receive assistance from any legitimate source to augment the internal 
sources of funds, as may be provided, for the support of the Academy in 
the manner it may determine, in its discretion, to carry out the purposes 
and functions of the Academy; 
 
(d) Constitute the Board, as herein defined; 
 
(e) Appoint the President, and as many Vice-Presidents as may be necessary 
to assist the President in the administration of the affairs of the Academy; 
 
(f) Review periodically the administrative procedures and programs of the 
Academy; 
 
(g) Receive, in kind and in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real and 
personal properties of all kinds, and to administer and dispose the same 
when necessary for the benefit of the Academy, subject to limitations, 
discretions and instructions of the donors, if any; 
 
(h) Fix the tuition fees and other school charges such as matriculation fees, 
graduation fees, laboratory fees, and other miscellaneous fees as the Board 
may deem proper to impose after due consultations with the involved 
sectors: Provided, That these fees shall not be prohibitive or unreasonable 
as to deviate from the purpose for which the Academy was created based 
on the guidelines of the CHED; 
 
Such fees and chargers, including government subsidies and other 
incomes generated by the Academy, shall constitute its regular fund and 
shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank, and all 


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interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same fund for the 
use of the Academy. 
 
Any provision of existing law, rule and regulation to the contrary 
notwithstanding, any income generated by the Academy from tuition fees and 
other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and land 
grants, shall be retained by the Academy, and may be disbursed by the Board 
for instruction, research, extension services, or other programs and projects 
of the Academy: Provided, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the 
specific purposes for which they were collected. 
 
If for reason beyond its control, the Academy 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 Academy; 
 
(i) Adopt and implement a socialized tuition scheme for greater access of 
poor, but deserving students in accordance with Republic Act No. 10931 
or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act”; 
 
(j) Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machineries, 
equipment, and other facilities, as well as the purchase and acquisition of 
real and personal properties, including the necessary supplies, materials, 
and equipment; 
 


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(k) Appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of the Academy, the 
deans, executive directors, heads of departments, faculty members, and 
other officials and employees; 
 
(l) Prescribe the salaries of faculty members and administrative officials and 
employees, subject to the provisions of Republic Act No. 11466, otherwise 
known as the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019”, and by such other 
laws amendatory thereto, which may hereinafter be enacted, and civil 
service rules and regulations governing hours of service and related 
concerns, and other pertinent laws; 
 
(m) Formulate and implement the curricula and institutional programs of the 
Academy: Provided, That they comply with the minimum CHED 
requirements and guidelines; 
 
(n) Formulate and promulgate the rules of discipline for the students of the 
Academy to ensure orderly and effective governance thereof; 
 
(o) Set policies on admission and graduation of students: Provided, That they 
conform with CHED guidelines; 
 
(p) Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of outstanding 
contribution in the field of education, public service, arts, science and 
technology, or any field of specialization within the academic competence of 
the Academy and to authorize the issuance of certificates of completion of 
non-baccalaureate programs and nontraditional or innovative courses: 
Provided, That these conform with the applicable guidelines of the CHED 
and TESDA; 


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(q) Establish research and extension centers of the Academy where such will 
promote the development of the latter; 
 
(r) Establish professional chairs in the Academy and provide fellowships for 
qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students; 
 
(s) Enter into any agreements or joint ventures with business and industry for 
the profitable management of the economic and manpower assets of the 
Academy, the proceeds from which shall be used for the upgrading of 
facilities and its development; 
 
(t) Authorize an external management audit of the Academy, 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; 
 
(u) Import economic, technical, and cultural books and publications; 
 
(v) Develop consortia, academe-industry linkages and other forms of networks 
with other institutions and agencies, both public and private, local and 
foreign: Provided, That these comply with the applicable guidelines of the 
CHED in furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the institution as well 
as develop academic arrangements for institution capacity and capability 
building with appropriate institutions and agencies, public and private; 
 


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(w) Appoint experts and specialists as consultants, or visiting or exchange 
professors, scholars, researchers, as the case may be: Provided, That the 
appointment shall conform with CHED guidelines; 
 
(x) Set up the adoption of modern and innovative modes of transmitting 
knowledge, such as the use of information technology, the dual training 
system, open distance learning, and community laboratory for the promotion 
of greater access to education; 
 
(y) Outsource, where most advantageous to the institution, the management of 
non-academic services such as health, food, building or grounds or property 
maintenance and similar objectives; 
 
(z) Delegate any of its power and duties to the President or the other officials 
of the Academy, as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the 
administration of the affairs of the Academy; 
 
(aa) Extend the term of the President of the Academy beyond the age of 
retirement, when deemed meritorious due to outstanding performance, but 
not beyond the age of seventy (70) years old; and 
 
(bb) Promulgate rules and regulations, as may be necessary, to carry out the 
purposes and functions of the Academy. 
 
SEC. 8. President of the Academy. – The Academy shall be headed by a 
President, who shall render full-time service and shall be appointed by the Board 
upon the recommendation of a duly constituted Search Committee. The President 
shall also be the chief executive officer of the Academy. 


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The President shall have a term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for 
reappointment to another term. Within six (6) months before the expiration of the 
term of office of the incumbent President of the Academy, the Board shall 
constitute the Search Committee for the Presidency. 
 
The President shall receive such compensation and remuneration in accordance 
with Republic Act No. 11466 or the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019”, 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 
educational institutions. 
 
The President shall exercise the following powers and duties: 
 
(a) Submit, for the consideration of the Board and the Executive Committee, 
the policies and measures which are necessary to carry out the purposes of 
the Academy; 
 
(b) Recommend, coordinate, and administer the programs and projects of the 
Academy; 
 
(c) Direct and supervise the operations and internal administration of the 
Academy, and delegate administrative responsibilities in accordance with 
the rules and regulations of the Academy; 
 
(d) Submit an annual report to the Board setting forth the accomplishments of 
the Academy during the year, its financial operations and status, and a 
program and budget for the ensuing year; and 


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(e) Exercise other powers and discharge other functions, as may be vested by 
the Board and the Executive Committee. 
 
The Board shall designate an Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the Academy 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 during the unexpired portion of the term. 
 
The powers and duties of the President of the Academy, in addition to those 
provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the 
President of similar educational institutions, and those delegated by the Board. 
 
SEC. 9. Executive Committee. – There shall be an Executive Committee 
consisting of the President of the Academy and four (4) other members to be 
elected by the Board from its members. Each Members of the Executive 
Committee, other than the President of the Academy, shall hold office for a term 
of two (2) years, and shall be eligible for re-election, unless at the time of election, 
a shorter term is specified. The Board shall elect the Chairperson of the Executive 
Committee from the membership of the Board. 
 
SEC. 10. Functions of the Executive Committee. – The Executive Committee 
shall administer the affair of the Academy in accordance with such functions, 
powers and responsibilities as may be delegated by the Board. 
 
SEC. 11. Government Support and Coordination. – The CHED Chairperson is 
hereby authorized to call upon any department, bureau, agency or instrumentality 


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of the government for such assistance as may be necessary for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 12. Tax Exemption. – The importation of economic, technical and cultural 
books and publications, which are for the economic, technical, vocational, 
scientific, philosophical, historical or cultural purposes of the Academy, 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 and Tariff Act”. 
 
All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions made to the 
Academy, to be used actually, directly and exclusively by it, shall be exempt from 
donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction 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 of 1997, as amended. 
 
SEC. 13. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the CHED shall, in coordination with the TESDA and 
the DTI, formulate the necessary rules and regulations to fully implement the 
provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 15. 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. 
 


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SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 17. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,