FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 1, Article XIV of the Philippine Constitution provides for the right of all citizens 
to quality education at all levels and that appropriate steps should be taken by the government to 
make such education accessible to all. 
Giving due importance to the said constitutional mandate, a number of our local 
government units have taken the initiative to make higher education accessible to their 
constituents by establishing, through ordinances of their respective sunguniuns, local colleges 
and universities (LCUs) within their territorial jurisdiction under the provisions of the Local 
Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act 7160. While the reasons behind the establishment 
of these LCUs on the part of the local government units are commendable, it has been observed 
that the absence of definite guidelines on the establishment of these LCUs (e.g. composition of 
the governing boards of these LCUs, the qualifications of the administering authority) has taken 
a toll on the delivery of quality education to the constituents it serve. 
The attached bill recognizes the need to rationalize the creation of LCUs to bring about 
an upgrade in the delivery of quality and accessible higher education of these institutions of 
higher learning. 
It is therefore recommended that the foregoing bill be approved. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING GUIDELINES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF 
LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress of 
the Philippines assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - I t  is the policy of the State to protect 
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to 
take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all. In doing so, the 
State shall establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and 
integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society 
and that it shall take into account regional and sectoral needs and conditions 
and shall encourage local planning in the development of educational policies 
and programs. 
SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - 
As used in this Act, the terms 
enumerated herein shall have the following meaning: 
(a) “Local College or University” or 
“LCU” refers to a public higher 
education institution established by a local government unit through 
an enabling ordinance, and financially supported by the concerned 
local government unit. 
In Filipino, an LCU is referred to as 
“Dalubhasaan” for college and “Pamantasan” for university. 


(b) “Ordinance” refers to the enabling act of the Sangguniang Bayan, 
Panglunsod or Panlalawigan that creates a particular local college or 
university and serves as the charter of the said local college or 
university. 
(c) “Degree Program” refers to a collection of all courses in a discipline or 
a field of study leading to an undergraduate or graduate degree, and 
may also be referred to as academic program. 
(d) “Non-degree Program” refers to a post-secondary program below the 
bachelor degree. 
(e) “Local Government Unit” or “LGU” refers to municipalities, cities and 
provinces that created or established the local college or university. 
(f) “College or Dalubhasaan” is an institution of higher learning offering 
academic programs and usually pre-professional training leading to a 
bachelor’s degree. 
(g) “University or Pamantasan” is an institution made up of an 
undergraduate division that offers bachelor’s degree and a graduate 
division that comprises a graduate school and professional schools 
each of which may confer Master’s degrees and doctorates. It is an 
entire socio-physical infrastructure comprised of Schools, Colleges 
and Institutes offering degree programs in various disciplines and 
levels. 
SEC. 3. Coverage. - The provisions of this Act shall apply to: 
(a) 
New higher education institutions to be established by local 
government units by virtue of a local ordinance; 
Higher Education institutions established and operated by local 
government units offering non-degree programs but would 
eventually offer degree programs; 
(b) 
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(d) 
Local colleges proposing elevation to university status; and 
Existing local colleges or universities which have not met the 
standards prescribed in this Act. 
SEC. 4. Establishment of Higher Education Institutions by LGUs. - All 
LCUs shall be established and/or operated through an Ordinance duly enacted 
for that purpose by the Sanggunian concerned. Provided, that before the 
enactment of said Ordinance, an LGU establishing a higher education 
institution shall consult and coordinate with the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED) to ensure observance of the necessary requirements for the 
establishment and subsequent effective operation of a college. 
SEC. 5. 
Use of “College” or “University”. - A local higher education 
institution 
established by a local government unit shall be known as a 
College. 
A local college may subsequently apply for elevation to a university 
provided it has complied with the standards and guidelines for the grant of 
university status pursuant to the pertinent CHED rules and regulations and 
that it has followed the appropriate process of accreditation conducted by a 
reliable accreditation body which found the college prepared to be elevated into 
a university. 
Local educational institutions offering only non-degree programs shall 
not use College or University in its name unless they would eventually offer 
degree programs and have complied with the requisites provided for the 
establishment of a College or the grant of university status under the CHED 
rules and regulations. 
SEC. 6. Funding of LCUs. - There shall be a provision for the regular 
annual appropriation from the local government unit to support and sustain 
the operation of the LCU. 
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SEC. 7. Governing Board of a Local College or University. - The governing 
board of a college or dalubhasaan shall be its Board of Trustees (BOT) while 
the governing board of a university or panantasan shall be its Board of 
Regents. 
The governing boards of a local college or university shall be 
composed of the following: 
Local Chief Executive as Chairman; 
President of the LCU as Vice-chairman; 
President of the duly recognized faculty association of the LCU as 
member; 
President of the duly recognized student council of the LCU as 
member; 
President of the alumni association as member; 
Chairman of the Sangguniang Committee on education as 
member; 
Regional Director of CHED as member; 
Two (2) representatives from the private sector who has 
distinguished him/ herself in his/ her profession or field of 
specialization, as member; 
The two (2) representatives from the private sector shall be appointed by 
the Local Chief Executive and shall each serve for a term of two years from the 
date of their respective appointments. 
The terms of office 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 pursuant to their 
respective constitutions and by-laws. 
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SEC. 8. Powers of the Governing Board. - The governing boards shall 
promulgate policies in accordance with the declared state policies on higher 
education as well as the policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under 
Republic Act No. 7722 and other pertinent laws. 
SEC. 9. Administration of the LCU. - 
The administration of the local 
college or university shall be vested in the President who shall render full-time 
service to implement policies promulgated by the Governing Board. He/She 
shall be appointed by the Governing Board upon the recommendation of a 
search committee duly constituted by the Board. 
The President of the LCU shall have a term of four (4) years and shall be 
eligible for reappointment for another term, unless otherwise provided for in 
the ordinance creating the LCU. 
The president shall hold an appropriate 
earned doctoral degree and should have at least five (5) years of relevant 
administrative experience, without prejudice to the provisions of additional 
qualifications to be set by the governing board of the LCU. 
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-&Charge of the College pending the 
appointment of a new President. In case of vacancy in the office of the 
President as mentioned in the foregoing sentence, his/her successor or the 
Officer-in-Charge shall serve only the unexpired portion of the term. 
The powers and duties of the President of a LCU, in addition to those 
specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office 
of the President of other colleges, and those delegated by the Board. 
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The salary of the President of the LCU shall be set by the Board, taking 
into consideration the applicable civil service rules and regulations and 
ensuring that the same shall be comparable to that being received by the 
Presidents of similar educational institutions. 
The vice-presidents, deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty, non- 
teaching personnel and such other officials and employees for the effective 
operation of the LCU shall be appointed by the Board, taking into consideration 
the recommendation of the President. The appointments of these LCU officials 
and employees shall be conformity to existing civil service laws, rules and 
regulations. 
SEC. 10. Search Committee for President of an LCU. - Six (6) months before 
the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent President, the Governing 
Board shall appoint a Search Committee for President. The Search Committee 
for President of the LCU shall have five (5) members to be appointed by the 
Governing Board. The composition of the search committee should include a 
representative from the local government unit concerned, the academe, the 
Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), the faculty and the 
business sector. They shall elect a Chairman and Vice-chairman from among 
themselves. 
SEC. 11. Grant of University Status. - The proposal for elevation to 
University status shall be submitted to the Office of Programs and Standards, 
CHED Central Office, through the CHED Regional Office for review. Only the 
Commission en banc may grant the University status upon compliance with 
the requirements. 
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SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on 
Higher Education, in coordination with relevant sectors, shall promulgate the 
implementing rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be full force and effect. 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, contrary to or 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby modified, amended or repealed 
accordingly. 
SEC. 15. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
APPROVED 
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