EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
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T9 JUL23 P5T2
S E N A T E
S. B. No. 703
RECEiv. L>fc'
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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 SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE FOR THIS 
PURPOSE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 4(1), Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to 
exercise reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions. 
Included in this mandate is the State's responsibility to ensure a safe and secure 
environment for students to pursue their studies within these institutions without 
any fear for their physical well-being.
There has been a steady increase in the crime rate in campuses all over the 
country. Thus, it is necessary for students, their parents and/or their guardians to 
have access to information with regard to campus crime statistics, as well as crime 
prevention plans in these campuses to equip them in making an informed choice as 
to which school to go to or send their children.
At the same time, students currently enrolled in their respective campuses 
need to know the measures undertaken by their institution, as well as courses of 
action in cases of emergency to guarantee security and expedient assistance, if need 
be. To formulate such policies and strategies applicable for each campus, the bill 
provides for an establishment of a Safety and Security Committee in every higher 
education institution and technical-vocational institution.


In view of the foregoing, early and immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S. B. No. 
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*19 JUL 23 P5 *12
RECtl.cO
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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 SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE FOR THIS 
PURPOSE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Campus Safety and
2 
Security Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policies. -  It is the declared responsibility of the State
4 
under the Constitution to promote and protect the physical, moral and spiritual
5 
intellectual and well-being of the youth. The State shall ensure the safety and
6 
security of the academic community, majority of whom are students, in all
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institutions of higher and technical education in the country.
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Sec. 3. Scope. -  This Act shall apply to all higher education institutions (HEIs)
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and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs).
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Sec. 4. Safety and Security Services. -  All HEIs and TVIs shall endeavor to
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deliver adequate safety and security services to students, which include the
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provision of safe and secure environment and the conduct of programs and activities
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that promote safety and security from both internal and external threats.


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For this purpose, the following shall be provided by HEIs and TVIs:
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a) A safe, accessible and secure environment, buildings and facilities that shall
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comply with government standards. 
Licensed and competent security
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personnel shall ensure the safety and security of the students, faculty, non-
5 
teaching personnel and other members of the academic community and their
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belongings; and
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b) An established mechanism for students to help in crime prevention, safety
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and security of the concerned HEI and TVI.
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Sec. 5. Creation o f a Safety and Security Committee. -  A Safety and Security
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Committee (SSC) shall be established in every HEI and TVI to formulate policies and
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strategies that shall help protect the academic community from both internal and
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external threats to their safety and security, such as theft, robbery, rape and other
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forms of violence within and outside the area where the HEI or TVI is located. The
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composition of the SSC shall be determined by the respective governing boards of
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the HEIs, and the owners/proprietors/administrators of TVIs, as the case may be.
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Sec. 6. Duties and Responsibilities o f the SSC. -  The SSC shall have the
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following duties and responsibilities:
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a) To formulate, in consultation, with the School Head, the Chief of Police
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where the HEI or TVI is located, the Punong Barangay, and other security specialists
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as may be necessary and appropriate, a Safety and Security Strategy. Such Safety
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and Security Prevention Strategy shall include the following:
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1. A statement of current campus policies regarding procedures and
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facilities to be used by students and others to report criminal actions or
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other emergencies occurring on campus and those concerning the
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institution's response to such reports;
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2. A statement of current policies concerning security and access to
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campus 
facilities, 
including 
campus 
residences, 
and 
security
28 
considerations used in the maintenance of campus facilities;
29 
3. A statement of current policies concerning campus law enforcement
30 
including the following:


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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 agencies;
4. A description of the type and frequency of programs designed to 
inform students and employees about campus security procedures and 
practices and to encourage 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 
local police agencies of criminal activities committed by off-campus 
student organizations which are recognized by the institution and that 
are engaged in by students attending the institution, including those 
student organizations with off-campus housing facilities; and
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; the 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
SSC;
c) To coordinate with HEI/TVI administrators or deans, or other officials as 
the case may be, in the maintenance of peace and order within the HEI/TVI 
premises;
d) To recommend to the HEI/TVI 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);
e) To conduct intensive information drive on the Safety and Security Strategy 
which includes the semestral distribution of copies and orientation thereon; and


1 
f) To submit to Commission on Higher Education (CHED) or to the Technical
2 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), through their respective
3 
regional offices, the composition of SSC and the Safety and Security Strategy, as
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well as its program of activities and projects for the academic year two (2) months
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after the closing of enrolment in the first semester and accomplishment report within
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two (2) months 
after finishing the second semester or trimester of the academic
7 
year.
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Sec. 7. Approval and Review o f the Safety and Security Strategy. -  The Safety
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and Security Strategy, after approval of the Board of Trustees/Regents of the HEIs
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or the owners/proprietors/administrators of the TVIs, shall be submitted to the
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CHED or TESDA and shall be subject to its review. If found unsatisfactory by the
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CHED or TESDA, taking into consideration the circumstances of each HEI/TVI, it
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shall be returned to the Board or the owners/proprietors/administrators for
14 
appropriate action: Provided, That pending its review, the Plan shall be implemented
15 
by the HEI/TVI concerned.
16 
The Safety and Security Strategy shall be subject to review or reassessment
17 
by the Board or the owners/proprietors/administrators, as the case may be, either
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annually or as often as required by circumstances.
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Sec. 8. Duties o f the CHED Regional Offices and the TESDA Regional Offices.
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-  The CHED Regional Offices and the TESDA Regional Offices shall coordinate,
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supervise and monitor the implementation of the Safety and Security Strategy, as
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approved, and projects of SSCs, jointly with the National Police Commission
23 
(NAPOLCOM) in the region.
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The CHED and TESDA shall consolidate regional accomplishment reports as
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required under Section 6 hereof, and shall submit them to the Office of the CHED
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Chairperson and the Office of the TESDA Director-General, respectively.
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Sec. 9. Administrative Sanctions. -  Any HEI or its Board of Trustees or
28 
Regents 
or 
any 
TVI 
or 
its 
owners/proprietors/administrators, 
and 
other
29 
officers/persons responsible for the failure to comply with the provisions of this Act
30 
shall be subject to administrative sanctions to be imposed by the CHED and the
31 
TESDA, respectively.


1 
Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within ninety (90) days upon
2 
the effectivity of this Act, the CHED and TESDA, in coordination with the Department
3 
of Education (DepEd), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges
4 
(PASUC), the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA),
5 
and the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), shall issue the
6 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 11. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is
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subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
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not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. -  All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
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executive orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or
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parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
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Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 13. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
15 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,