Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._______ 
Introduced by HON. ALAN "ALDU" R. DUJALI 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to convert the Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) into the Davao 
del Norte State University (DNSU). 
Article II Section 17 of the Constitution provides that, “The State shall give priority 
to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and 
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and 
development.” 
By virtue of Republic Act No. 5876, the Davao del Norte School of Fisheries 
(DANSOF) was established in April 29, 1969 to educate fishermen and their children in the 
area towards solving the diverse problems of fishing and achieving sustainable livelihood. 
In 1979, DANSOF was renamed into Davao Regional Institute of Fisheries Technology 
(DRIFT). By virtue of Republic Act. No. 7879, DRIFT was converted into Davao del Norte 
State College (DNSC) on Febaruary 14, 1995. 
The DNSC is mandated to primarily provide higher professional, technical, and 
special instructions for special purposes and promote research and extension services, 
advanced studies and progressive leadership in education, engineering, arts, sciences, 
fisheries, and other fields as may be relevant. 
Currently, the DNSC main campus is located in Barangay New Visayas, Panabo 
City, Province of Davao del Norte. It has one extension campus named as the Datu Jose A. 
Libayao (DNSC-DJAL) in the Municipality of Talaingod; and satellite classes named as 
DNSC Carmen Annex in the Municipality of Carmen, both in the Province of Davao del 
Norte. 
On June 18, 2022, Republic Act No. 11855, or an “An Act Establishing Campuses of 
the Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) in the Municipalities of Carmen and Santo 
Tomas, and in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) has lapsed into law, creating three 
new extension campuses of DNSC in the Province. These satellite campuses shall offer 
May 22, 2023
11:32 am
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undergraduate, advanced studies, and special program courses in agriculture, fisheries, 
forestry, arts and humanities, science, and information and communications technology. 
While the physical structure of DNSC Carmen has already been erected, the IGaCoS and 
Santo Tomas satellite campuses are yet to be constructed. 
With the rapid economic growth and continuously growing population of the 
Province, the demand for quality education has also been increasing. It is therefore 
paramount to convert the Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) into the Davao del Norte 
State University (DNSU) to address the growing demand for quality education and 
strengthen the education sector in the Province. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. ALAN "ALDU" R. DUJALI 
Representative 
2nd District, Davao Del Norte 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._______ 
Introduced by HON. ALAN "ALDU" R. DUJALI 
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE DAVAO DEL NORTE STATE COLLEGE (DNSC) IN 
PANABO CITY, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL NORTE INTO A STATE UNIVERSITY 
TO BE KNOWN AS THE DAVAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY (DNSU), AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR” 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Conversion. The Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) in Panabo City, 
Province of Davao del Norte, including its duly integrated satellite campuses namely: DNSC 
Datu Jose A. Libayao in Barangay Sto. Niño, Municipality of Talaingod; DSNC Carmen 
Campus in Barangay Ising, Municipality of Carmen; DNSC Santo Tomas Campus in 
Barangay Tibal-og, Municipality of Santo Tomas; DNSC Island Garden City of Samal 
(IgaCoS) Campus in Barangay Libuak, Island Garden City of Samal (IgaCoS); all located in 
the Province of Davao del Norte, are hereby converted into a State University to be known 
as the Davao del Norte State University (DNSU) hereinafter referred to as the University. 
SEC. 2. General Mandate. The University shall primarily provide higher 
professional, technical and special instructions for special purposes and promote research 
and extension services, advanced studies and progressive leadership in education, 
engineering, arts and sciences, fisheries, and other fields that may be relevant. 
SEC. 3. Curricular Offerings. The University shall offer undergraduate, advanced 
studies, and special program courses in the fields of agriculture, education, engineering, 
fisheries, forestry, arts and humanities, science, information and communications 
technology, and other degrees or courses within its areas of specialization. 
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SEC. 4. Administration. — The University shall have the general powers of a 
corporation as set forth in the Revised Corporation Code. The administration of the 
University and the exercise of its powers shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Regents 
and the President of the University. 
 
SEC. 5.  The Governing Board. — The governing body of the University shall be the 
Board of Regents, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be composed of the 
following: 
a. The Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as the 
Chairman;  
b. The President of the University, as the Vice Chairman;  
c. The Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Arts, and Culture of the 
Senate, as Member;  
d. The Chairperson of the Committee of Higher and Technical Education of the 
House of Representatives, as Member; 
e. The Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority 
(NEDA), as Member;  
f. The Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), 
as Member;  
g. The Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture, as Member; 
h. The President of the Faculty Association of the University, as Member;  
i. The President of the Alumni Association of the University, as Member;   
j. The President of the Student Council of the University, as Member; and  
k. Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished 
themselves in their profession or fields of specialization of the University, as 
Members. 
 
The two (2) prominent citizens shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the date 
of appointment. 
 
The term of the President of the Faculty Association, the President of the Student 
Council, and the President of the Alumni Association shall be coterminous with their 
respective terms of office as set forth in their respective Constitution and By-laws. In the 
event that the University shall have more than one campus, the faculty associations, alumni 
associations, and student councils shall form their respective federations which, in turn, 
shall elect their representatives to the Board. 
 
SEC. 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 Constitution on education, agriculture, 
science and technology, as well as the policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under 
Republic Act No. 7722 otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994”. 
 
SEC. 7. Power and Duties of the Board of Regents. — The Board shall have the 
following specific powers and duties in addition to its general powers of administration and 
the exercise of all the powers granted to the Board of Directors of a corporation under 
existing laws: 


 
a. To promulgate rules and regulations, as may be necessary to carry out the 
purposes and functions of the University; 
b. To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support of the 
University in the manner it may determine in its discretion, in order to carry 
out the purposes and functions of the University; 
c. To import duty-free economic, technical, and cultural books and/or 
publications, upon certification by the CHED that such imported books and/or 
publications are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, 
historical or cultural purposes, in accordance with the provisions of the Tariff 
and Customs Code, as amended.  
d. To receive 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 University, and subject to the limitations, directions and 
instructions of the donor, if any. Such donations shall be exempt from the 
donors’ tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from the 
gross income 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; 
e. To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school fees and charges, such as, but 
not limited to, matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the 
board may deem proper to impose, after due consultation with the involved 
sectors. Such fees and charges, including government subsidies and other 
income generated by the University, 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 funds for the use of the 
University. Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the contrary 
notwithstanding, any income generated by the University from tuition fees and 
other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and land grants, 
shall be retained by the University and may be disbursed by the Board for 
instruction, research, extension, or other programs/projects of the University: 
Provided, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for 
which they are collected. If, for reasons beyond its control, the University 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 
University; 
f. To adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and school fees for 
greater access to poor but deserving students; 
g. To authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machineries, 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 University through the Board shall 
be exempt from all taxes and duties; 


h. To appoint upon recommendation of the President of the University, Vice 
Presidents, Deans, Directors and heads of campuses and departments, faculty 
members and other officials and employees of the University; 
i. To fix and adjust salaries of faculty members and administrative officials and 
employees subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation and Position 
Classification System 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 such regulations 
as it may promulgate any provision of existing law to the contrary 
notwithstanding, and to remove them for causes in accordance with the 
requirements of due process of law; 
j. To approve the curricula, institutional programs and rules of discipline drawn 
by the administrative and academic councils as herein provided; 
k. To set policies on admission and graduation of students; 
l. To award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding 
contribution in the field of agriculture or any field of specialization within the 
academic competence of the University, and to authorize the award of 
certificates of completion of non-degree and non-traditional courses; 
m. To establish and absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the Province 
of Davao del Norte as branches, centers, stations, etc., in coordination with the 
CHED and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management 
(DBM), and to offer therein programs or courses to promote and carry out equal 
access to educational opportunities as mandated by the Constitution; 
n. To establish research and extension centers of the University where such will 
promote the development of the latter; 
o. To establish chairs in the University and to provide fellowships for qualified 
faculty members and scholarships to deserving students; 
p. To delegate any of its powers and duties provided for hereinabove to the 
President and/or other officials of the University as it may deem appropriate so 
as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the University; 
q. To authorize an external management audit of the University to be financed by 
the CHED, subject to the COA rules and regulations, and to institute reforms, 
including academic and structural changes on the basis of audit results and 
recommendations; 
r. To collaborate with other governing boards of state universities and colleges 
within the Province of Davao del Norte and the Region, under the supervision 
of the CHED and in consultation with the DBM, and work towards the 
restructuring of the University to become more efficient, relevant, productive, 
and competitive; 
s. To enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable 
development and management of the economic assets of the University, the 
proceeds from which shall be used for the development and strengthening of 
the University; 
t. To develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local 
government units, institutions and agencies, both public and private, local or 
foreign, in the furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the University; 


u. To develop academic arrangements for institution capability building with 
appropriate institutions and agencies, public and private, local and foreign, and 
to appoint experts/specialists as consultants part-time or visiting or exchange 
professors, scholars, researchers, as the case may be; 
v. To set up the adoption of modern and innovative modes of transmitting 
knowledge, such as the use of information technology, the dual system, open 
learning, or distance education and community laboratory, etc., for the 
promotion of greater access to higher education; 
w. To establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative decision-making 
and transparency within the University; 
x. To privatize, where most advantageous to the University, management of non-
academic services such as health, food, building, or ground or property 
maintenance, and such other similar activities; and 
y. To extend the term of the President of the University beyond the age of 
retirement but not later than the age of seventy (70), whose performance has 
been unanimously rated by the Board as outstanding based on the guidelines, 
qualifications, and/or standards set by the Board, after unanimous 
recommendation by the search committee. 
 
SEC. 8. Meeting of the Board. — The Board shall regularly convene at least once 
every quarter. However, the Chairman of the Board may, upon three (3) days prior written 
notice, call a maximum of two (2) special meetings whenever necessary. 
 
A quorum of the Board shall consist of the majority of all members holding office at 
the time of the meeting: Provided, however, that the chairman of the CHED or the 
president of the University is among those present in the meeting. 
 
In the absence of the chairman of the CHED, a commissioner of the CHED, duly 
designated by him, shall represent him in the meeting with all the rights and 
responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, however, that the chairman of the CHED 
may authorize a CHED commissioner as the regular chair of the Board, in which case said 
commissioner shall act as the presiding officer: Provided, further, that in the absence of the 
said authority, the president of the University, as the vice chairman, shall be the presiding 
officer. 
 
The members of the Board shall not receive any salary but shall be entitled to 
reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred, either in their attendance to 
meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business authorized by resolution 
of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations. 
 
SEC. 9. The University President. — The University shall be headed by a President 
who shall render full-time service. He or she shall be appointed by the Board, subject to 
guidelines, qualifications, and/or standards set by the Board, upon recommendation of a 
duly constituted search committee. He or she shall have a term of four (4) years, and shall 
be eligible for reappointment for another term: Provided, That in order to effect a smooth 
transition to a State University, the incumbent President of the Davao Del Norte State 
College, if qualified shall serve as the first President of the University.  


 
Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent 
President of the University, the Board shall constitute the Search Committee for the 
Presidency (SCP).   
 
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 his/her office, the Board shall have the authority to designate an officer-in-
charge pending the appointment of a new president. 
 
In case of vacancy in the office of the President as mentioned in the immediately 
preceding paragraph, his/her successor or the officer-in-charge shall hold office for the 
unexpired term only. If the successor shall serve for a period of more than two (2) years, 
then such shall be considered as one full term for the successor. 
 
The powers and duties of the President of the University, in addition to those 
specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the office of the 
president of a similar university and those delegated by the Board.  
 
The salary of the President of the University shall be in accordance with the Republic 
Act No. 6758 or the Revised Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989, as 
modified by Joint Resolution No. 4 dated June 17, 2009, 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 of the University shall be assisted by a vice president for academic 
affairs, a vice president for administration and a vice president for research, extension and 
production who shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the president. 
 
SEC. 10. Heads of University Campuses. — Campus directors shall head the 
University campuses and they shall render full-time service. They shall be appointed by th 
Board upon recommendation of the search committee and the University President, subject 
to the guidelines, qualifications and/or standards set by the Board: Provided, That the 
incumbent college administrators of the extension campuses shall serve as campus directors 
of their respective campuses. 
 
SEC. 11. The Administrative Council. — There shall be an Administrative Council 
consisting of the President of the University, as Chairperson, and the vice president(s), 
deans, directors, and other officials of equal rank, as members, whose duty is to review and 
recommend to the Board such policies governing the administration, management, and 
development planning of the University. 
 
SEC. 12. The Academic Council. — There shall be an Academic Council to be 
composed of the President of the University, who shall act as its Chairperson, and all 
academic staff, with the rank of at least an assistant professor, as members. 
 


The Academic Council shall have the power to review and recommend the 
curricular offerings rules of discipline of the University, subject to the approval of the 
Board. It shall fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as for their 
graduation and the conferment of degrees, subject to review and/or approval by the Board 
through the President of the University. 
 
It shall have disciplinary power over the students of the University and shall 
formulate academic policies and rules and regulations on discipline, subject to the approval 
of the Board. 
 
SEC 13. The Research, Extension and Production Council- There shall be a 
Research, Extension and Production Council to be composed of the President of the 
University, who shall act as its Chairperson, the Vice President for Research, Extension and 
Production, who shall act as Vice-chairperson, the other vice president(s), deans, and 
directors, as members.  
 
 The Research, Extension and Production Council shall serve as policy 
recommending body responsible in providing the framework necessary in setting up the 
REP priorities and programs of the University. It shall also provide the mechanism for 
promoting a culture of research and scholarly works among the faculty, students, and staff.  
 
It shall review and recommend annual work program and budget of REP Activities. 
 
It shall review the identified priority areas on all disciplines covered by the research, 
extension and production programs of the University.   
 
SEC. 14. The Secretary of the University. —  The Board shall appoint a secretary 
who shall serve as such for both the Board and the University and shall keep all records 
and proceedings of the Board in addition to other duties and responsibilities. He or she shall 
serve upon each member of the Board the appropriate notice of meetings. 
 
SEC. 15. The Treasurer of the University. — The Treasurer of the Philippines shall 
be the ex officio treasurer of the University. 
 
SEC. 16. The Faculty. — No political belief, gender preference, cultural or 
community affiliation, ethnic origin, nor religious opinion or affiliation shall be a matter 
of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the University: Provided, That said 
appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and/or standards set the 
Board; Provided, further, That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against any 
particular church or religious sect. 
 
SEC. 17. Scholarship Program/Admission. — The University shall provide a 
scholarship program and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving 
students who qualify for admission to the University. 
 
No student shall be denied admission to the University by reason of sex, religion, 
political, cultural or community affiliation, or ethnic origin. 


 
SEC. 18. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. —  The University shall 
enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to paragraph 2, Section 5 of 
Article XIV of the Constitution. 
 
SEC. 19. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus/Equipment/Supplies and Detail 
of Personnel. — The heads of bureaus and offices of the national government are hereby 
authorized to loan or transfer, upon request of the President of the University, such 
apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by the University, and to detail 
employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of the bureau or office, such 
apparatus, equipment, supplies or services of such employees can be spared without 
detriment to the public service. The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as 
required of them by the President of the University, and the time so employed shall be 
counted as part of their regular service. 
 
SEC. 20. Assets, Liabilities, and Personnel. — All assets, fixed and movable, 
personnel and records of the Davao del Norte State College, and its duly integrated satellite 
campuses namely: DNSC Datu Jose A. Libayao in Barangay Sto. Niño, Municipality of 
Talaingod; DSNC Carmen Campus in Barangay Ising, Municipality of Carmen; DNSC Santo 
Tomas Campus in Barangay Tibal-og, Municipality of Santo Tomas; DNSC Island Garden 
City of Samal (IgaCoS) Campus in Barangay Libuak, Island Garden City of Samal (IgaCoS), 
as well as the liabilities or obligations, are hereby transferred to the University. The 
positions, rights and security of tenure of faculty members and personnel therein employed 
under existing laws prior to the conversion into a University are not impaired: Provided, 
further, That the incumbents of existing positions shall remain in the same status until 
otherwise provided by the Board. 
 
All parcels of land belonging to the government and occupied by the Davao del 
Norte State College in the DNSC Main in Panabo City, Davao del Norte; the DNSC Datu 
Jose A. Libayao in the Municipality of Talaingud, DNSC Carmen Campus in the 
Municipality of Carmen, DNSC–Sto. Tomas Campus in the Municipality of Sto. Tomas, 
DNSC–Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) Campus in the Municipality of the Island 
Garden City of Samal are hereby declared to be the property of the University, and shall 
be titled under that name: Provided, That should the University cease to exist or be 
abolished or should such parcels of land aforementioned be no longer needed by the 
University, the same shall revert to the local government unit (LGU) concerned. 
 
SEC. 21. Tax Exemption. — The importation of economic, technical and cultural 
books and publications, which are for economic, technical-vocational, scientific, 
philosophical, historical or cultural purposes made by the University, upon certification by 
the CHED, shall be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of the 
Republic Act No. 10863 otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act 
(CMTA)”. All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions, made to the 
University to be used actually, exclusively, and directly 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. 22. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of 
the Davao del Norte State College. Thereafter, the sums as may be necessary for the 
continued operation and maintenance of the Davao del Norte State University shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
The LGUs concerned shall continue to provide assistance to the University 
corresponding to the funding given to the Davao del Norte State College before the same 
that are integrated into the University are included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
 
 
SEC 23. Development Plan, Management Audit, Organizational/Administrative/ 
Academic Structure. — Within the period of one hundred twenty (120) days after the 
approval of this Act, the University shall accomplish the following: 
a. Submit a five-year development plan, including its corresponding program 
budget to the CHED, for corresponding recommendation to the DBM; 
b. Undergo a management audit in cooperation with the CHED; and 
c. Accordingly set up its organizational, administrative, as well as academic 
structure, including the appointment of the University key officials. 
 
 
SEC. 24. Filing of Report. — On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the 
second (2nd) month after the opening of the regular classes each year, the Board shall file 
with the Office of the President of the Philippines and both Houses of Congress, through 
the Chairperson of the CHED, a detailed report on the progress, conditions and needs of 
the University. 
 
SEC. 25. Supplementary 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 University. 
 
SEC. 26. Parity Clause. — All other powers, functions and privileges, 
responsibilities and limitations to state universities and/or their officials under existing laws 
shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the University and/or its officials whenever 
appropriate. 
 
SEC. 27. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Board, in consultation with the CHED, shall formulate the 
guidelines to fullyimplement the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 28. 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. 
 
SEC. 29. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances, or part or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.  


 
SEC. 30. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation whichever date comes earlier. 
 
Approved,