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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The establishment of a College of Medicine within Northeastern Mindanao State University 
(NEMSU) – Main Campus in Tandag City is a strategic and visionary response to the region’s 
growing demand for accessible, quality medical education and improved healthcare services. The 
Caraga Region, particularly the Province of Surigao del Sur, is experiencing a notable trend where 
a significant portion of its younger population pursues medical and health-related professions. 
However, these aspiring students often leave for far-flung urban centers such as Davao City and 
Cebu City, where tuition, living expenses, and distance from home pose considerable barriers to 
access and completion of medical education. 
Establishing a medical college within the region not only democratizes access to medical education 
but also aligns with national and regional development goals of increasing the number of 
healthcare professionals in underserved and rural communities. There is a growing pool of 
talented, service-oriented young people from the region who are more than willing to return and 
serve their hometowns as physicians, community health workers, and medical professionals. What 
is needed is a sustainable, high-quality institution that can train them close to home. 
Northeastern Mindanao State University, being the only state university in the province, has 
demonstrated its capacity for academic excellence and social responsibility. Over the years, it has 
consistently produced graduates who contribute meaningfully to the public and private sectors, 
both locally and abroad. Its main campus in Tandag City is strategically positioned to serve as the 
hub of medical education in the region, with the potential to collaborate with local government 
units, district hospitals, and rural health units for training, research, and community immersion. 
As a former Mayor of Tandag City and Governor of Surigao del Sur with deep institutional and 
emotional ties to NEMSU, I have personally witnessed the university’s evolution and the 
perseverance of its leadership, faculty, and students in delivering education that transforms lives. 
I believe that this institution, grounded in its values of service, excellence, and community 
empowerment, is ready to take on the responsibility of training the next generation of doctors who 
will not only heal but also uplift the communities they come from. 
In the previous Congress, a similar House measure was filed and passed the third and final reading 
in the House of the People. Unfortunately, favorable fate did not come to pass in Senate. It is hoped 
that with the perseverance and dedication of the sponsors of this 20th Congress, this dream will 
become a reality. 
The passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
August 26, 2025
5:29 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN NORTH EASTERN MINDANAO 
STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TANDAG, 
PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL SUR AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Establishment. – There is hereby established a medical school in North Eastern 
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Mindanao State University-Main Campus located in the Municipality of Tandag, Province of 
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Surigao del Sur, which shall be known as the “North Eastern Mindanao State University-College 
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of Medicine”. 
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SEC. 2. General Mandate. – The North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU)– College 
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of Medicine, hereinafter referred to as the “College”, shall primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine 
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Program, including an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine Program, consisting of basic science 
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and clinical courses, and using a learner-centered, competency-based, and community-oriented 
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approach. The primary goal of the College shall be to develop a corps of professional physicians 
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to strengthen the healthcare system of the country, as well as to respond to the human resource 
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development needs of the Province of Surigao del Sur and the Caraga Region. 
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The College is also mandated to undertake research and extension services and provide progressive 
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leadership in these areas.  
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SEC. 3. Governance. – The governance of the College shall be vested in the Board of Regents of 
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the NEMSU, hereinafter referred to as the Board, whose powers and functions are defined under 
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Republic Act (RA) No. 9998, entitled, “An Act Converting the Surigao del Sur Polytechnic State 
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College (SSPSC) in the Province of Surigao del Sur into a State University to be Known as the 
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Surigao del Sur State University and Appropriating Funds Therefor”, and other applicable laws 
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and regulations, unless otherwise provided or amended elsewhere in this Act.  
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SEC. 4.  Administration. – The administration of the College shall be vested in the Dean  of the 
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College insofar as may be authorized by its Board. 
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SEC. 5. The College Dean. – The College shall be headed by a Dean who shall be appointed by 
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the Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board, and upon the 
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recommendation of the President of the NEMSU with qualifications and pursuant to the policies, 
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standards, and guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The Dean shall render 
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full-time service, serve a term of three (3) years, and may be reappointed to another term.  
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Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the President of the NEMSU shall constitute 
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the Search Committee for the Deanship.  
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The powers and duties of the Dean of the College shall include those usually pertaining to the 
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Office of the Dean of similar state universities and colleges and those delegated by the President.  
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The salary of the Dean of the College shall be in accordance with RA No. 11466, otherwise known 
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as the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019”, and such other laws amendatory thereto, which may 
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hereinafter be enacted, and shall be comparable to that being received by the Deans of similar 
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educational institutions.   
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In case of vacancy in the Office of the Dean by reason of death, compulsory retirement, resignation, 
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removal for cause, or incapacity of the Dean to perform the functions of the office, the Board shall, 
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upon the recommendation of the President, designate an Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the College, 
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pending the appointment of a new Dean: Provided, That the OIC shall serve only during the 
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unexpired portion of the term.   
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The Dean of the College shall be assisted by a College Secretary, who shall be appointed  by the 
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Board.  
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SEC. 6. The Faculty. – The Board shall, upon the recommendation of the President of  the 
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NEMSU, appoint the faculty members of the College: Provided, That no political belief, sex, 
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gender, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin, nor religious opinion or affiliation shall 
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be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the College: Provided, further, 
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That said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the 
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Board in accordance with the policies of the CHED: Provided, finally, That no member of the 
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faculty shall teach for or against any particular religious denomination.   
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SEC. 7.  Scholarship Programs and Admission. – The College shall provide scholarships and 
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other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission 
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to the College. Students who have availed themselves of the scholarship program under RA No. 
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11509, otherwise known as the “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act”, shall render a return service in 
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accordance with the said law. Students availing themselves of other nationally-funded scholarship 
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programs to complete the medicine degree program under the College may be required to render a 
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return service depending on the contract to be signed between the student and the College.  
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No student shall be denied admission to the College by reason of sex, gender, religion, cultural or 
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community affiliation, physical disability, ethnic origin, or any other forms of discrimination.  
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SEC. 8. Academic Freedom. – The College shall enjoy academic freedom pursuant to Paragraph 
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2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution.   
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SEC. 9. Loan or Transfer of Supplies, Apparatuses, or Equipment, and Detail of Personnel to 
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the College. – Heads of national government agencies and instrumentalities may, upon the request 
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of the Board through the President of the NEMSU, loan or transfer of supplies, apparatuses, or 
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equipment, and detail personnel to the College: Provided, That such loan, transfer or detail shall 
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not be detrimental to public service.   
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The personnel to be detailed to the College shall perform such duties as may be deemed required 
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by the Dean of the College and the time spent for such duties shall be counted as part of the detailed 
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personnel’s regular service.  
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SEC. 10. Assets, Liabilities, and Personnel. – All appropriations, assets, both real and personal, 
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personnel, and records of the College, as well as its liabilities or obligations, shall be titled or 
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named after the NEMSU.   
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All parcels of land belonging to the government to be occupied by the College shall be the property 
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of the NEMSU and titled under its name: Provided, That should the NEMSU cease to exist or be 
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abolished or such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the NEMSU, the same 
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shall revert to the local government unit concerned or to the Republic of the Philippines, as the 
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case may be.   
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SEC. 11. Duty and Tax Exemptions. – The importation by the College of medical books or 
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publications, medical equipment or instruments which are for medical, laboratory or scientific 
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purposes shall, upon certification by the CHED, be exempt from customs duties in accordance with 
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the provisions of RA No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act 
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(CMTA)”.   
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All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions made to and used actually, directly, 
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and exclusively for educational purposes by the College, shall be exempt from donor’s tax and the 
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same shall be considered as allowable deductions from gross income for purposes of computing 
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the taxable income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue 
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Code of 1997, as amended.   
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SEC. 12. Compliance with the CHED Requirements. – The provisions of this Act 
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notwithstanding, the establishment of the medical course shall become effective only upon the 
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determination and declaration by the CHED, based on the recommendation of a panel of experts, 
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which shall constitute for the purpose that the institution has complied with the policies, standards, 
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and guidelines of the CHED for the Doctor of Medicine Program: Provided, That the panel of 
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experts may issue such recommendation when the institution has substantially complied with the 
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requirements provided in the aforesaid order.  
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SEC. 13. Suppletory Application. – The provisions of RA No. 8292, otherwise known as the 
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“Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997”, shall form part of this Act.   
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SEC. 14. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be 
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included in the annual General Appropriations Act.   
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SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the approval of 
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this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED, issue rules and regulations to implement 
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its provisions.    
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SEC. 16. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act is 2 declared 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected are in full force and 
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effect.   
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and rules 6 and 
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regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are amended, repealed, or 
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modified accordingly.   
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SEC. 18. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the  Official 
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Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.   
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Approved, 
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