Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 4704

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

With the steady increase of crime incidences inside school campuses around the
country, it is essential that more concrete programs be implemented to reinforce the
students’ safety and security.

Article XIV Section 4 of the Constitution mandates the State to exercise reasonable
supervision and regulation of all educational institutions, including the responsibility of
ensuring a safe and secure environment for students to pursue their studies without fear of
having their total well-being compromised while inside these institutions.

This bill intends to deliver adequate safety and security services to students, which
include the conduct of programs and activities that promote the students’ safety and
security from both internal and external threats. It also provides for the creation of a Crime
Prevention Committee in every higher education institution and technical-vocational
institution that will formulate policies and strategies to prevent theft, robbery, rape and
other forms of crime.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

‘ALFRED VAHGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

nouse siti no, 4704

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
MANDATING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE ACADEMIC
COMMUNITY FROM INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL THREATS, THEREBY CREATING A.
CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Shore Title, ‘This Act shall be known as “The Campus Safety and Security
Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. t is the responsibility of the State under the
Constitution to promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, and intellectual well-
being of the youth, ‘The State shall ensure the safety and security of the academic

community, majority of whom are students, in all institutions of higher and technical
education in the country.

SEC. 4 Scope. ‘This Act shall apply o all hugher education instituuuns (HEIs) and
technical-vocational institutions (TVIs).

SEG. 4. Safety and Security Services. All HEls and TVIs shall endeavour to deliver

adequate safety and security services to students, which include the provision of a safe and

secure environment and the conduct of programs and activities that promote safety and
rity from both internal and external threats.

For this purpose, the following shall be provided by HEIs and TVIs:

a) A safe, accessible, and secure environment, buildings and facilities that
shall comply with government standards. Licensed and competent security
personnel shall ensure the safety and security of the students, faculty, non-teaching
personnel and other members of the academic community and their belongings; and


b) An established mechanism for students to help in crime prevention, safety
and security of the concerned HEI and TVI

SEC. 5. Creation of a Crime Prevention Committee. A Crime Prevention Committee
(CPC) shall be established in every HEI and TVI to formulate policies and strategies that
shall help protect the academic community from both internal and external threats to their
safety and security, such as theft, robbery, rape and other forms of violence within and
outside the area where HEI or ‘TVI is located. The composition of the CPC shall be
determined by the respective governing boards of the HEIs and TVIs.

SEC. 6, Duties and Responsibilities of the CPC. The CPC shall have the following duties
and responsibilities:

a) To formulate a Crime Prevention Strategy in consultation with the School Head,
the Chief of Police where the college or university is located, the Punong
Barangay, and other security specialists as they deem fit. Such Crime Prevention
Strategy shall include, but shall not be limited, to the following:

1) A statement of current campus policies regarding procedures and
facilities to be used by students and others to report criminal actions or other

emergencies occurring in campus and those concerning the institution's response
to such reports;

2) A statement of current policies concerning security ‘and access to
campus facilities, including campus residences, and security considerations used
in the maintenance of campus facilities

3) A statement of current policies concerning campus law enforcement
including but not limited to;
i. The enforcement authority of security personnel, including their
working relationship with national and local police agencies, and
ii. Policies which encourage accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes to
the campus police and the appropriate police agenci

4) A description of the type and frequency of programs designed to inform
students and employees to be responsible for their own security and security of
others;

5) A description of programs designed to inform students and employees
about the prevention of crimes;

6} A statement of policy concerning the monitoring and recording through
focal police agencies of criminal activities committed by off-campus student
organizations which are recognized by the institution, including those student
organizations with off-campus housing facilities: and

3


7) A statement of policy regarding the possession, use, and sale of alcoholic
beverages and enforcement of laws against underage drinking; a statement of policy
against the possession, use and sale of illegal drugs; enforcement of drug laws; and a
description of any drug or alcohol abuse education programs;

b) To formulate crime prevention programs for the implementation of the CPC;
¢) To coordinate with college/school principals and deans, as the case may be, in the
maintenance of peace and order within the school /college/universities premises;

d) To recommend to the school/college/university the conduct of seminars or
trainings on crime and drug prevention and control in coordination with the
National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) regional office, local police station or
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ~ Patrol 117;

e) To conduct an intensive information drive on the Crime Prevention Strategy
which includes semestral distribution of copies and orientation thereon; and

£) To submit to Commission on Higher Education (CHED) or the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), through their respective regional
offices, the composition of CPC and the Crime Prevention Strategy, as well as its
program of activities and projects for the academic year two (2) months after the
closing of enrolment in the first semester and accomplishment report within (2)
months after finishing the second semester or trimester of the acatlemic year.

SEC. 7. Approval and Review of the Crime Prevention Strategy. The Crime Prevention
Strategy, after approval of the Board of Trustees/Regents, shall be submitted to the

CHED or TESDA and shall be subject to its review. If found unsatisfactory by the CHED or
‘TESDA, taking into consideration the circumstances of each college or university, it shall be
returned to the Board for appropriate action: Provided, That pending its review, the plan
shall be implemented by the college or university concerned,

The Crime Prevention Strategy shall be subject to review or reassignment annually by
the Board or as often as required by circumstances.

SEC. 8. Duties of the CHED Regional Offices and the ‘DA Regional Offices. The
CHED Regional Offices and the TESDA Regional Offices shall coordinate, supervise and
monitor the implementation of the crime prevention strategy, as approved, and projects of
CPCs, jointly with the National Police Comn ion (NAPOLCOM) in the region.

The CHED and DA shall consolidate regional reports for submission to the Office of
the CHED Chairperson and the Office of the TESDA Director-General, respectively.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days upon the
effectivity of this Act, the CHED and ‘TESDA, in coordination with the Department of


Education (DepEd), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), the
Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), and the Association
of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), shall issue the necessary rules and regulations
for the effective implementations of this Act.

In the rules and regulations to be implemented pursuant to this Act, the Chairperson of
the CHED and the Director-General of the TESDA shall jointly prescribe the appropriate
administrative sanctions on HEIs and TVIs that fail to comply with the requirements under
this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional
or invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall continue to be in
full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby amended,
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,