AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY, PROVIDING FOR THE COMPOSITION AND POWERS OF ITS GOVERNING BOARD, PRESCRIBING ITS CURRICULAR OFFERINGS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Eighteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-sixth day of July, two thousand twenty one.

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11695, April 11, 2022 ]

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY, PROVIDING FOR THE COMPOSITION AND POWERS OF ITS GOVERNING BOARD, PRESCRIBING ITS CURRICULAR OFFERINGS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Revised Tarlac State University Charter".

Section 2. General Mandate. – The Tarlac State University, hereinafter referred to as the TSU, shall primarily provide advance instruction and professional training in literature, philosophy, science and technology, and arts, and other relevant fields of study, It shall also undertake research and extension services and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization.

Section 3. Curricular Offerings. – The TSU shall offer undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate courses, within its competency and areas of specialization in the fields of science and technology, medicine and allied medical professions, law, business, arts and humanities, education, sports and human kinetics, and programs on public administration, public works, human services, social work, and other relevant fields of study, as the Board of Regents, hereinafter referred to as the Board, may deem necessary for the accomplishment of its objectives, and those which respond to meet the human resource development needs of the Province of Tarlac and Region III.

The existing reasonably-sized laboratory school for early childhood, primary, junior and senior high school, and special education shall continue to operate under the supervision of the College of Education of the TSU to serve the in-campus requirements of its students.

Section 4. The Board of Regents. – The governing body of the TSU shall be the Board,  which shall be chaired and cochaired by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the President of the TSU, respectively, and with the following as members:

The Board shall appoint two (2) prominent citizens who shall be selected from a list of at least five (5) qualified persons in the Province of Tarlac, as recommended by a search committee constituted by the President of the TSU, in consultation with the Chairperson of the CHED and other members of the Board, based on the standards and qualifications for the position set by the Board, They shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment.

The membership of the President of the federation of faculty associations, the President of the federation of student councils, and the President of the federation of alumni associations and the Representative of the nonteaching personnel in the  board, shall be coterminous with their terms of office, as provided under their respective constitutions and bylaws.

Section 5. Powers and Duties of the Board. – In addition to its general powers of administration and the powers granted to the board of directors of a corporation under existing laws, the Board shall have the following specific powers and duties:

Section 6. Meetings of the Board. – The Board shall regularly convene once every three (3) months. The Chairperson of the Board may, however, call a special meeting whenever necessary: Provided, That members are notified in writing at least three (3) days prior to the conduct of said meeting.

A quorum of the Board shall consist of majority of all its members holding office at the time of the meeting: Provided, however, That the Chairperson of the Board or the President of the TSU is among those present in the meeting.

In case the CHED Chairperson cannot attend a meeting of the Board, a CHED Commissioner duly designated by the CHED Chairperson as representative to the meeting, shall have all the rights and responsibilities of regular member: Provided, That during the meeting, the President of the TSU, as Vice Chairperson, shall be the presiding officer: Provided, further, That this provision notwithstanding, the Chairperson of the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as the regular Chairperson of the Board, in which case, the said CHED Commissioner shall act as the presiding officer.

In case the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education and the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education will not be able to attend the Board meeting, they may designate their respective representatives to attend the meeting, who shall have the same rights and responsibilities as the regular members of the Board.

The members of the Board shall not receive any salary, but shall be entitled to reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred, either for their attendance to the meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business authorized by resolutions of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations.

Section 7. The University President. – The TSU shall be headed by a President who shall be appointed by the Boardm subject to its guidelines on quaifications and standards, and based on the recommendation of a search committee duly constituted for the purpose of selecting the President. The TSU President shall render full-time service, serve a term of four (4) years, and may be reappointed to another term: Provided, That this provision shall not adversely affect the term of the incumbent President.

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent President of the TSU, the Board shall constitute the Search Committee for the Presidency.

The powers and duties of the President of the TSU, in addition to those specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the President of universities and those delegated by the Board.

The salary of the President of the TSU hall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 11466, otherwise known as the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019,” and 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.

In case of a 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 the office, the Board shall designate an Officer-in-Charge of the TSU, pending the appointment of a new President: Provided, That the Officer-in-Charge shall serve only during the unexpired portion of the term.

The President of the TSU shall be assisted by a Vice President for Academic Affairs, a Vice President for Administration, and a Vice President for Research, Development and Extension, who shall all be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the President of the TSU.

Section 8. The Secretary of the University. – The Board shall appoint a Secretary who shall serve for both the Board and the TSU and shall keep all records and proceedings of the Board. The Secretary of the TSU shall serve upon each members of the Board the appropriate notice of board meetings.

Section 9. The Treasurer of the University. - The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be the ex officio Treasurer of the TSU.

Section 10. The Administrative Council. – There shall be an Administrative Council consisting of the President of the TSU as Chairperson, and the vice presidents, deans, directors and other officials of equal rank as members, whose duties shall be to review and recommend to the Board the policies that shall govern the administration, management and development planning of the TSU.

Section 11. The Academic Council. – There shall be an Academic Council to be composed of the President of the TSU, who shall act as chairperson, and all academic staff with the rank of at least an assistant, as members.

The Academic Council shall also have the power to review and recommend the curricular offerings and 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 conferment of degrees, subject to the review and approval of the Board through the President of the TSU.

It shall exercise disciplinary power over the students of the TSU and shall issue rules and regulations on student discipline, subject to the approval of the Board.

Section 12. The Faculty. – No political belief, gender preference, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin, nor religious opinion or affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the TSU: Provided, That said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board: Provided, further, That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.

Section 13. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. – The TSU shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution.

Section 14. Scholarship Programs/Admission. – The TSU shall provide scholarship and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to the TSU.

No student shall be denied admission to the TSU by reason of gender, religion, cultural or community affiliation, physical disability or ethnic origin.

Section 15. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment, Supplies and Detail of Personnel. – Upon the request of the President of the TSU, the heads of the bureaus and offices of the national government may loan or transfer to the TSU such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by it, and detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of bureau or office, the apparatus, equipment, supplies or service of such employees can be spared without serious detriment to public service.

The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the President of the TSU and the time thus served shall be counted as part of their regular service.

Section 16. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. – All assets, real and personal, personnel, and records of the TSU, as well as liabilities or obligations, are hereby transferred to the TSU: Provided, That the positions, rights and security of tenure of faculty members and personnel therein employed under existing laws prior to the conversion into a university shall be respected: Provided, further, That the incumbents of the positions shall remain in the same status until otherwise provided by the Board: Provided, finally, That the TSUshall also accordingly upgrade or increase its human resource components as may be deemed appropriate by the Board.

All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the TSUare hereby declared to be the property of the TSU and shall be titled under its name: Provided, That should the TSU cease to exist or be abolished or should such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the TSU, the same shall revert to the concerned LGU or to the Republic of the Philippines, as the case may be.

Section 17. Tax Exemption on Importation and Donations. – The importation by the TSU of economic, technical and cultural books or publications, which are for economic, technical, vocational, specific, philosophical, historical or cultural purposes shall, upon certification by the CHED, be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).”

All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions made to and used actually, directly and exclusively by the TSU, shall be exempt from donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

Section 18. 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, a detailed report on the progress, condition, and needs of the TSU with the Office of the President of the Philippines, through the CHED Chairperson, and with both Houses of Congress, through the Chairperson of the CHED.

Section 19. Suppletory Application. – The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997,” shall form an integral part of this Act and shall serve as part of the governing charter of the University.

Section 20. Transitory Provision. – Upon the effectivity of this Act, all employees of the TSU shall be retained in their present positions and no one shall be adversely affected by the approval of the amendments of the original Charter.

Section 21. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the Board, in consultation with the CHED, issue the rules and regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 23. 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.

Section 24. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 6764, otherwise known as the "Tarlac State University Charter", and all other laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 25. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act which was originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives on August 3, 2021, amended by the Senate of the Philippines on January 31, 2022, and which amendment was concurred in by the House of Representatives on February 2, 2022.

Approved: Lapsed into law on APR 11 2022 without the signature of the President, in accordance with Article VI, Section 27 (1) of the Constitution.

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
President of the Philippines