1 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES   ) 
Second Regular Session 
          ) 
 
SENATE 
S.B. No. __________ 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONVERTING THE ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE IN 
THE MUNICIPALITY OF STA. MARIA, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, AND ALL 
ITS CAMPUSES IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, INTO A STATE 
UNIVERSITY, INTEGRATING THEREWITH THE NORTH LUZON PHILIPPINES 
STATE COLLEGE IN THE CITY OF CANDON, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, TO 
BE KNOWN AS THE ILOCOS SUR PHILIPPINES POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 
Article XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution provides that “the State shall protect 
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take 
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.” The Constitution further 
mandates that the State establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate, and 
integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society.  
 
 
The Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) and its campuses, and the 
North Luzon Philippines State College (NLPSC) have undergone several institutional 
transformations to meet the demands of the communities that they serve. The ISPSC 
has campuses all over the 2nd District, with the main campus in Sta. Maria and 
extension campuses in the city of Candon and the municipalities of Narvacan, Tagudin, 
Santiago, and Cervantes, and the NLPSC is at the center and the capital of the district 
in Candon City. These schools are strategically located making them accessible to the 
youth including the indigenous people from the upland areas of Ilocos Sur and those 
from nearby municipalities of the Cordillera Administrative Region. It is just imperative 
to integrate ISPSC and the NLPSC into a university not only to consolidate the resources 
of the national government and complement the endeavors of the provincial 
government but also to give the youth of the Second District of Ilocos Sur a university 
they deserve.  
 
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2 
 
Hence, this bill seeks to convert the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) 
into a university to be known as the Ilocos Sur Philippines Polytechnic University 
(ISPPU), and integrate therewith the North Luzon Philippines State College (NLPSC).  
 
 
For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
IMEE R. MARCOS 
 


 
1 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES   ) 
Second Regular Session 
          ) 
 
SENATE 
S.B. No. __________ 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS 
 
 
AN ACT CONVERTING THE ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE IN 
THE MUNICIPALITY OF STA. MARIA, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, AND ALL 
ITS CAMPUSES IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, INTO A STATE 
UNIVERSITY, INTEGRATING THEREWITH THE NORTH LUZON PHILIPPINES 
STATE COLLEGE IN THE CITY OF CANDON, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, TO 
BE KNOWN AS THE ILOCOS SUR PHILIPPINES POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
 
SECTION 1. Conversion/Integration. – The Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College 
1 
(ISPSC) located in the Municipality of Sta. Maria, with campuses in the Municipalities of 
2 
Narvacan, Tagudin, Santiago, Cervantes, and in the City of Candon, all in the Province 
3 
of Ilocos Sur, as well as other campuses that will be created prior to the effectivity of 
4 
this Act, is hereby converted into a state university, and integrating therewith the North 
5 
Luzon Philippines State College (NLPSC) located in the City of Candon, Province of Ilocos 
6 
Sur, to be known as the Ilocos Sur Philippines Polytechnic Uniyersity (ISPPU). Its main 
7 
campus shall be located in the Municipality of Sta. Maria, Province of Ilocos Sur. 
8 
 
9 
Upon effectivity of this Act, notwithstanding compliance with the requirements 
10 
of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for a university status, the NLPSC shall 
11 
immediately be integrated into the existing ISPSC as a regular campus to be known as 
12 
the ISPSO–Candon City Campus: Provided further, That, the existing ISPSC-Candon City 
13 
Campus shall be renamed as the ISPSC-Darapidap Campus. 
14 
 
15 
SEC. 2. General Mandate. – The ISPPU shall primarily provide advance 
16 
education, higher professional and technological instruction, technical and vocational 
17 
education and training in humanities, engineering, science and technology, agriculture, 
18 
business and entrepreneurship, and other relevant fields of study. It shall also 
19 
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2 
 
undertake research and extension services and production activities in support of the 
1 
socio-economic development of the Province of Ilocos Sur and Region I. 
2 
 
3 
SEC. 3. Curricular Offerings. – The ISPPU shall offer short-term technical 
4 
vocational, undergraduate, graduate courses, and post-graduate programs, within its 
5 
competency and areas of specialization in the fields of agriculture, education, business 
6 
administration, culture and arts, technology, engineering, architecture, health sciences, 
7 
criminal justice education, and other degree courses, as the Board of Regents, 
8 
hereinafter referred to as the Board, may deem necessary for the accomplishment of 
9 
its objectives, and those which respond to meet the human resource development 
10 
needs of the Province of Ilocos Sur and Region I. 
11 
 
12 
The existing reasonably-sized laboratory junior high school shall continue to 
13 
operate under the supervision of the College of Education of the ISPPU to serve the in-
14 
campus requirements of its students. 
15 
 
16 
The existing and any other future technical-vocational courses or programs under 
17 
the suspension of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 
18 
shall continue to be offered in the ISPPU. 
19 
 
20 
SEC. 4. Administration. – The ISPPU shall have the general powers of a 
21 
corporation set forth in Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, as amended, otherwise known as “The 
22 
Corporation Code of the Philippines”. The exercise of its corporate powers shall be 
23 
vested exclusively in the Board and the President of the ISPPU. 
24 
 
25 
SEC. 5. The Governing Board. – The governing body of the ISPPU shall be the 
26 
Board, which shall be chaired and co-chaired by the Chairperson of the CHED and the 
27 
President of the ISPPU, respectively, and with the following, as-members: 
28 
a. Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational 
29 
Education of the Senate; 
30 
b. Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the 
31 
House 
32 
of Representatives; 
33 
c. Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority; 
34 
d. Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology; 
35 
e. Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture; 
36 
f. Regional Director of the TESDA; 
37 
g. President of the federation of faculty associations of the ISPPU; 
38 
h. President of the federation of student councils of the ISPPU; 
39 
i. President of the federation of alumni associations of the ISPPU; and 
40 
j. Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished 
41 
themselves in their professions or fields of specialization. 
42 


 
3 
 
 
1 
The Board shall appoint two (2) prominent citizens who shall, be selected from 
2 
a list of at least five (5) qualified persons from the Province of Ilocos Sur as 
3 
recommended by a search committee constituted by the President of the ISPPU, in 
4 
consultation with the Chairperson of the CHED and other members of the Board, based 
5 
on the standards and qualifications for the position set by the Board. They shall serve 
6 
for a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment. 
7 
 
8 
The membership of the President of the federation of faculty associations, the 
9 
President of the federation of student councils, and the President of the federation of 
10 
alumni associations in the board shall be coterminous with their terms of office, as 
11 
provided under their respective constitutions and bylaws.  
12 
 
13 
SEC. 6. Powers and Duties of the Board of Regents. – In addition to its general 
14 
powers of administration and the powers granted to the board of directors of a 
15 
corporation under existing laws, the Board shall have the following specific powers and 
16 
duties; 
17 
a. Promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State 
18 
policies on education, other pertinent provisions of the Constitution on 
19 
education, agriculture, science and technology, and the policies, standards 
20 
and thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as 
21 
the "Higher Education Act of 1994"; 
22 
b. Approve the curricula, instructional programs, and rules on student discipline 
23 
drawn by the Administrative and Academic Councils as herein provided; 
24 
c. Appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of the ISPPU, the vice 
25 
presidents, deans, directors, heads of the campuses, faculty members, and 
26 
other officials and employees of the ISPPU; 
27 
d. Fix and adjust the salaries of faculty members, administrative officials and 
28 
employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation and 
29 
Position Classification System and other pertinent budget and compensation 
30 
laws governing hours of service, and such other duties and conditions as it 
31 
may deem proper; grant them, at its discretion, leaves of absence under such 
32 
regulations as it may promulgate, any provision of existing law to the contrary 
33 
notwithstanding; and remove them for cause in accordance with the 
34 
requirements of due process of law; 
35 
e. Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as matriculation 
36 
fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to 
37 
impose, after due consultation with the concerned sectors. The fees and 
38 
charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the 
39 
ISPPU, shall constitute its special trust funds, and shall be deposited in any 
40 
authorized government depository bank. All interests that shall accrue 
41 
therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the ISPPU. 
42 


 
4 
 
 
1 
Any provision of existing law, rule or regulation to the contrary 
2 
notwithstanding, any income generated by the ISPPU from tuition fees and 
3 
other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and land 
4 
grants, shall be retained by the ISPPU and may be disbursed by the Board 
5 
for instruction, research, extension services or other programs and projects 
6 
of the ISPPU: Provided, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the 
7 
specific purposes for which these are collected: Provided, however. That if, 
8 
for reasons beyond its control, the ISPPU shall not be able to pursue any 
9 
project for which the funds have been appropriated and allocated under its 
10 
approved program of expenditures, the Board may authorize the use of said 
11 
funds for any reasonable purpose which, in its discretion, may be necessary 
12 
and urgent for the attainment of the objectives and goals of the ISPPU; 
13 
 
14 
f. Adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees for 
15 
greater access of poor but deserving students in accordance with Republic 
16 
Act No. 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act”; 
17 
 
18 
g. Establish professorial chairs in the ISPPU and provide fellowships for qualified 
19 
faculty members, and scholarships to deserving students; 
20 
 
21 
h. Receive and appropriate sums as may be provided by law for the support of 
22 
the ISPPU, and all other sums in the manner it may, in its discretion, 
23 
determine to carry out the purposes and functions of the ISPPU; 
24 
 
25 
i.  Set the policies on admission and graduation of students; 
26 
 
27 
j. Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding 
28 
contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and 
29 
technology, agriculture or any field of specialization within the academic 
30 
competency of the ISPPU, and authorize the awarding of certificates of 
31 
completion of nondegree and nontraditional courses; 
32 
 
33 
k. Establish research and extension centers to promote the development of the 
34 
ISPPU; 
35 
 
36 
l. Develop academic arrangements for institutional capability building with 
37 
appropriate institutions and agencies, whether public, private, local or 
38 
foreign, and appoint experts or specialists as consultants, part-time, visiting 
39 
or exchange professors, scholars or researchers, as the case may be; 
40 
 
41 
m. Adopt modem and innovative modes of transmitting knowledge for the 
42 
promotion of greater access to education such as the use of information 
43 


 
5 
 
technology, dual training system, open distance learning, and community 
1 
laboratory; 
2 
 
3 
n. Collaborate with the governing bodies of other state universities and colleges 
4 
within the province of Ilocos Sur and Region 1, under the supervision of the 
5 
CHED and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management 
6 
(DBM), in restructuring the IPSSU to make it more efficient, relevant, 
7 
productive and competitive; 
8 
 
9 
o. Absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the province of Ilocos Sur 
10 
and Region 1 as branches, extension or external centers, in coordination with 
11 
the CHED and in consultation with the DBM, and offer therein programs or 
12 
courses to carry out the constitutional mandate of providing equal access to 
13 
educational opportunities; 
14 
 
15 
p. Authorize an external management audit of the ISPPU, to be financed by the 
16 
CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit, and 
17 
institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis of 
18 
the audit results and recommendation; 
19 
 
20 
q. Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local 
21 
government units (LGUs), as well as public, private, local or foreign 
22 
institutions and agencies, in the furtherance of the purposes and objectives 
23 
of the ISPPU; 
24 
 
25 
r. Import economic, technical and cultural books and publications; 
26 
 
27 
s. Enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable 
28 
development and management of economic assets, the proceeds of which 
29 
shall be used for the development and strengthening of the ISPPU; 
30 
 
31 
 
32 
t. Receive, in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties 
33 
of all kinds and administer and dispose of the same, when necessary, for the 
34 
benefit of the ISPPU and subject to the limitations, directions and instructions 
35 
of the donor, if any; 
36 
 
37 
u. Extend the term of the President of the ISPPU beyond the age of retirement, 
38 
but not beyond the age of seventy (70), based on the guidelines, 
39 
qualifications and standards set by the Board; Provided, That the Resident’s 
40 
performance has been rated by the Board as outstanding and a unanimous 
41 
recommendation for such extension has been decided upon by the search 
42 
committee; 
43 
 
44 


 
6 
 
v. Delegate any of its powers and duties provided to the President and other 
1 
officials of the ISPPU, as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the 
2 
administration of the affairs of the ISPPU; 
3 
 
4 
w. Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative and transparent 
5 
decision-making within the ISPPU; 
6 
 
7 
x. Where most advantageous to the ISPPU, privatize the management of 
8 
nonacademic services such as health, food, building, grounds or property 
9 
maintenance, and such other similar activities; 
10 
 
11 
y. Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment 
12 
and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, 
13 
including the necessary supplies, materials and equipment; and 
14 
 
15 
z.  Promulgate rules and regulations, as may be necessary, to carry out the 
16 
purposes and functions of the ISPPU. 
17 
 
18 
SEC. 7. Meetings of the Board. – The Board shall regularly convene once every 
19 
three (3) months. The Chairperson of the Board may, however, call a special meeting 
20 
whenever necessarily: Provided, That members are notified in writing at least three (3) 
21 
days prior to the conduct of said meeting.  
22 
 
23 
 
A quorum of the Board shall consist of majority of all its members holding office 
24 
at the time of the meeting; Provided, however, That the Chairperson of the Board or 
25 
the President of the ISPPU is among those present in the meeting. 
26 
 
27 
In case the Chairperson of the CHED cannot attend a meeting of the Board, a 
28 
CHED Commissioner duly designated by the Chairperson of the CHED as representative 
29 
to the meeting, shall have all the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: 
30 
Provided, That during the meeting, the President of the ISPPU, as Vice Chairperson, 
31 
shall be the presiding officer. Provided, further. That this provision notwithstanding, 
32 
the Chairperson of the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner 
33 
as the regular Chairperson of the Board, in which case, the said CHED Commissioner 
34 
shall act as the presiding officer. 
35 
 
36 
In case the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and 
37 
Vocational Education and the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education 
38 
shall not be able to attend the Board meeting, they may designate their respective 
39 
representatives to attend the meeting, who shall have the same rights and 
40 
responsibilities as regular members of the Board. 
41 
 
42 
The members of the Board shall not receive any salary, but shall be entitled to 
43 
reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred, either for their attendance 
44 


 
7 
 
to the meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business authorized by 
1 
resolutions of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations. 
2 
 
3 
SEC. 8. The University President. – The ISPPU shall be headed by a President 
4 
who shall be appointed by the Board, subject to its guidelines on qualifications and 
5 
standards, and based on the recommendation of a search committee duly constituted 
6 
for the purpose of selecting the President. 
7 
 
8 
The President shall render full-time service and shall have a term of four (4) 
9 
years and may be reappointed to another term: Provided, That in order to effect the 
10 
smooth transition of the college to a state university, the incumbent President of the 
11 
ISPSC, if qualified, shall serve as the first President of the ISPPU. 
12 
 
13 
Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent 
14 
President of the ISPPU, the Board shall constitute the search committee for the 
15 
Presidency. 
16 
 
17 
The powers and duties of the President of the ISPPU, in addition to those 
18 
specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the 
19 
President of similar universities and those delegated by the Board. 
20 
 
21 
The salary of the President of the ISPPU shall be in accordance with Republic 
22 
Act No. 11466 or the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019”, and by such other laws 
23 
amendatory thereto, which may hereinafter be enacted, and shall be comparable to 
24 
that being received by the presidents-of similar educational institutions. 
25 
 
26 
The Board shall designate an Officer-in-Charge of the ISPPU in case of a vacancy 
27 
in the Office of the President by reason of death, compulsory retirement, resignation, 
28 
removal for cause, or incapacity of the President to perform the functions of the office, 
29 
pending the appointment of a new President: Provided, That the Officer-in-Charge shall 
30 
serve only during the unexpired portion of the term. 
31 
 
32 
The President of the ISPPU shall be assisted by a Vice President for Academic 
33 
Affairs, a Vice President for Administration, and a Vice President for Research and 
34 
Development, Extension, Services and Training, who shall all be appointed by the Board 
35 
upon the recommendation of the President. 
36 
 
37 
SEC. 9. The Secretary of the University. – The Board shall appoint a Secretary 
38 
who shall serve as such for both the Board and the ISPPU and shall keep all records 
39 
and proceedings of meetings of the Board. The Secretary of the ISPPU shall serve upon 
40 
each member of the Board the appropriate notice of board meetings. 
41 
 
42 
SEC. 10. The Treasurer of the University. – The Treasurer of the Philippines 
43 
shall be the ex officio Treasurer of the JSPPU. 
44 


 
8 
 
SEC. 11. The Administrative Council. – There shall be an Administrative Council 
1 
consisting of the President of the ISPPU as chairperson, and the vice presidents, deans, 
2 
directors and other officials of equal rank as members, that shall review and 
3 
recommend to the Board the policies that shall govern the administration, management 
4 
and development planning of the ISPPU. 
5 
 
6 
SEC. 12. The Academic Council. – There shall be an Academic Council, which 
7 
shall formulate academic policies. It shall be composed of the President of the ISPPU, 
8 
who shall act as chairperson, and all academic staff with the rank of at least an assistant 
9 
professor, as members.  
10 
 
11 
The Academic Council shall have the power to review and recommend the 
12 
curricular offerings and rules on student discipline, subject to the approval of the Board. 
13 
It shall fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as for their graduation 
14 
and conferment of degrees, subject to the review and approval of the Board through 
15 
the President of the ISPPU. It shall exercise disciplinary power over the students of the 
16 
ISPPU and shall formulate rules and regulations on student discipline, subject to the 
17 
approval of the Board. 
18 
 
19 
SEC. 13. Heads of University Campuses. – The Campus Directors shall 
20 
respectively serve as heads or administrators of the ISPPU’s campuses and render full-
21 
time service. 
22 
 
23 
They shall be appointed or designated by the Board, upon recommendation of 
24 
the search committee and the President, subject to the guidelines, qualifications and 
25 
standards set by the Board: Provided, That, upon the effectivity of this Act, the 
26 
incumbent Campus Directors of the existing campuses of the ISPSC shall continue to 
27 
serve as such. 
28 
 
29 
SEC. 14. The Faculty. – No political belief, gender preference, cultural or 
30 
community affiliation or ethnic origin, nor religious opinion or affiliation shall be a 
31 
matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the ISPPU: Provided, That 
32 
said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications and standards set by 
33 
the Board: Provided, further, That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against 
34 
any particular church or religious sect. 
35 
 
36 
SEC. 15. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. – The ISPPU shall 
37 
enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy pursuant to paragraph 2, Section 
38 
5 of Article XIV of the Constitution. 
39 
 
40 
SEC. 16. Scholarship Programs and Admission. – The ISPPU shall provide 
41 
scholarship and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students 
42 
who qualify for admission to the ISPPU. 
43 


 
9 
 
No student shall be denied admission to the ISPPU by reason of gender, religion, 
1 
cultural or community affiliation, physical disability or ethnic origin. 
2 
 
3 
SEC. 17. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment, Supplies and 
4 
Detail of Personnel. – The heads of the bureaus and offices of the national government 
5 
are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon the request of the President of the 
6 
ISPPU, such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by the ISPPU, and 
7 
detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of bureau or office, 
8 
such apparatus, equipment, supplies or service of such employees can be spared 
9 
without serious detriment to public service. 
10 
 
11 
The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the 
12 
President the ISPPU and the time thus served shall be counted as part of their regular 
13 
service. 
14 
 
15 
SEC. 18. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. - All assets, real and personal, 
16 
personnel, and records of the ISPSC and the NLPSC, as well as their liabilities or 
17 
obligations, are hereby transferred to the ISPPU: Provided, That the positions, rights 
18 
and security of tenure of faculty members and personnel therein employed under 
19 
existing laws prior to the conversion into a university shall be respected: Provided, 
20 
further, That the incumbents occupying the positions shall remain in the same status 
21 
until otherwise provided for by the Board: Provided, finally, That the ISPPU shall also 
22 
accordingly upgrade or increase its human resource component as may be deemed 
23 
appropriate by the Board. 
24 
 
25 
All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the ISPSC and the 
26 
NLPSC and all its campuses are hereby declared property of the ISPPU, and shall be 
27 
titled under its name: Provided, That should the ISPPU cease to exist or be abolished 
28 
or should such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the ISPPU, the 
29 
same shall revert to the concerned LGU or to the Republic of the Philippines, as the 
30 
case may be. 
31 
 
32 
SEC. 19. Tax Exemption on Importation and Donations. – The importation by 
33 
the ISPPU of economic, technical and cultural books or publications, which are for 
34 
economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical or cultural purposes 
35 
shall, upon certification by the CHED, be exempt from customs duties in accordance 
36 
with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs 
37 
Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)”. 
38 
 
39 
All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions made to and 
40 
used actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes by the ISPPU, shall be 
41 
exempt from donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from 
42 
the gross income of the donor for purposes of computing the taxable income of the 
43 


 
10 
 
donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 
1 
1997, as amended. 
2 
 
3 
SEC. 20. Establishment of Research Centers. – In order to effectively carry out 
4 
its mandate, there are hereby established the following research facilities; 
5 
a. Fisheries, and Aquamarine Resources Research Center - shall primarily focus on 
6 
the creation of knowledge and technologies that will contribute to the 
7 
responsible use as well as the protection of the aquamarine resources; 
8 
b. Forest Advancement and Resources Management Research Center - shall focus 
9 
on the protection and preservation, as well as the creation of research-based 
10 
policies for the preservation) of local, flora and other forest resources; 
11 
c. ISPPU Center for Rural Health Research, Reform and Policy - shall primarily focus 
12 
on the creation of knowledge, policies, innovation, and technologies that will 
13 
redound to the health benefits of the local, national, and global communities; 
14 
d. Animal Research Center - shall focus on the generation of knowledge and 
15 
technologies that will promote an effective generation and management of 
16 
veterinary resources; 
17 
e. Tobacco and Agricultural Research Center - center shall primarily focus on the 
18 
generation of knowledge and adoption of technologies that shall enhance the 
19 
tobacco industry, and the agriculture industry as a whole, that will redound to 
20 
the benefit of the tobacco growers and the farmers in general; 
21 
f. Indigenous Peoples Education Research Center - shall focus on the preservation 
22 
and protection of indigenous peoples and communities by undertaking studies 
23 
and activities towards this end; and 
24 
g. Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center - shall primarily 
25 
focus on the generation of knowledge and the creation of policies to improve 
26 
the public service sector of the society. 
27 
Whenever necessary, the University shall create consortia to promote a wider 
28 
scope of operation and ensure a bigger community of beneficiaries of the research 
29 
center herein created. 
30 
 
31 
SEC. 21. Compliance with CHED Requirements.  – The provisions of this Act 
32 
notwithstanding, the conversion of the ISPSC to a state university shall become 
33 
effective only upon the determination and' declaration by the CHED; based on the 
34 
recommendation of a panel of experts constituted for the purpose, that the institution 
35 
has complied with the requirements for a university status based on CHED 
36 
Memorandum Order No. 46, series of 2012 (Policy-Standard to Enhance Quality 
37 
Assurance (QA) in Philippine Higher Education Through an Outcomes-Based and 
38 
Typology-based QA) Provided, That the panel may issue such recommendation when 
39 
the ISPSC has substantially complied with the requirements for the grant of university 
40 
status. 
41 
The following operational requirements for a university, as established by the 
42 
CHED, shall be complied with: 
43 


 
11 
 
a. Employment of full-time, permanent faculty members who possess relevant 
1 
degrees in their areas of specialization, as required by the CHED, and shall have 
2 
participated in research and development activities in their respective disciplines, as 
3 
evidenced by refereed publications and other scholarly outputs; 
4 
 
5 
b. Offering of a comprehensive range of degree programs m all levels, from 
6 
basic post-secondary to doctoral programs; 
7 
 
8 
c. Conduct of viable research programs in specific disciplinal and multidisciplinary 
9 
areas of study that produce new knowledge, as evidenced by refereed publications, 
10 
citations, inventions, and patents, among others; 
11 
 
12 
d. Establishment and maintenance of comprehensive learning resources and 
13 
support structures, to include libraries, practicum laboratories, relevant educational 
14 
resources, and linkages with relevant disciplinal and professional sectors, so as to allow 
15 
students to explore basic, advance, and even cutting-edge knowledge in a wide range 
16 
of disciplines or professions; 
17 
e. Maintenance of linkages and affiliation with other research institutions in 
18 
various parts of the world to ensure that the research activities of the ISPPU are 
19 
functioning at current global standards; and regional office, shah regularly provide 
20 
technical assistance the ISPPU and monitor its compliance with the requirements of the 
21 
Commission. 
22 
 
23 
The ISPSC shall retain its status as a state college prior to the effectivity of this 
24 
Act until it is able to comply with the requirements provided herein. 
25 
 
26 
SEC. 22. Development Plan, Management Audit, and Organizational, 
27 
Administrative and Academic Structure. – Within a period of one hundred twenty (120) 
28 
days after the approval of this Act, the ISPPU shall accomplish the following: 
29 
a. Submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its program and budget to 
30 
the CHED for recommendation to the DBM; 
31 
b. Set up its organizational, administrative, and academic structure, including 
32 
the appointment of key officials of the ISPPU; and 
33 
c. Undergo a management audit in coordination with the CHED. 
34 
 
35 
SEC. 23. Filing of Report. – On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the second 
36 
(2nd) month after the opening of regular classes each year, the Board shall file with 
37 
the Office of the President of the Philippines, through the Chairperson of the CHED, 
38 
and with both Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress, conditions, and 
39 
needs of the ISPPU. 
40 
 
41 
SEC. 24. Suppletory Application. – The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, 
42 
otherwise known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997”, shall form part 
43 
of this Act and serve as part of the governing charter of the ISPPU. 
44 


 
12 
 
SEC. 25. Parity Clause. – All other powers, functions, privileges, responsibilities, 
1 
and limitations under existing laws shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the 
2 
ISPPU and its officials, whenever appropriate. 
3 
 
4 
SEC. 26. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
5 
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the ISPSC and the 
6 
NLPSC. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued operation and 
7 
maintenance of the ISPPU shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
8 
 
9 
SEC. 27. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from 
10 
the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in consultation with the CHED, shall formulate the 
11 
rules and regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act. 
12 
 
13 
SEC. 28. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any part or provision of this 
14 
Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected 
15 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
16 
 
17 
SEC. 29. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
18 
and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
19 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
20 
 
21 
SEC. 30. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
22 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
23 
 
Approved,