AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STATE COLLEGE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF COMPOSTELA, PROVINCE OF COMPOSTELA VALLEY TO BE KNOWN AS THE COMPOSTELA VALLEY STATE COLLEGE, INTEGRATING THEREWITH AS REGULAR BRANCHES THE BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTERNAL STUDIES CENTERS IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF MONKAYO, MARAGUSAN, MONTEVISTA AND NEW BATAAN, ALL LOCATED IN THE PROVINCE OF COMPOSTELA VALLEY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Fifteenth Congress

Third Regular Session

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

[ REPUBLIC ACT No. 10598, June 04, 2013 ]

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STATE COLLEGE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF COMPOSTELA, PROVINCE OF COMPOSTELA VALLEY TO BE KNOWN AS THE COMPOSTELA VALLEY STATE COLLEGE, INTEGRATING THEREWITH AS REGULAR BRANCHES THE BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTERNAL STUDIES CENTERS IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF MONKAYO, MARAGUSAN, MONTEVISTA AND NEW BATAAN, ALL LOCATED IN THE PROVINCE OF COMPOSTELA VALLEY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Establishment. - There is hereby established a state college in the Municipality of Composte!a, Province of Compostela Valley to be known as the Compostela Valley State College, hereinafter referred to as the College, and integrating therewith as its regular branches the Bukidnon State University (BSU) External Studies Centers in the municipalities of Monkayo, Maragusan, Montevista and New Bataan, all located in the Province of Compostela Valley. The main campus shall be located in the Municipality of Compostela.

Section 2. General Mandate. - The College shall primarily provide advanced education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in agriculture, science and technology and other related fields. It shall also undertake research and extension services in support of the socioeconomic development of the Province of Compostela Valley and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization.

Section 3. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. - The College shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy, pursuant to paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.

Section 4. Curricular Offerings. - The College shall offer undergraduate, graduate and short-term technical course in the fields of agriculture, forestry, arts and sciences, information technology, teacher education, industrial technology and other courses within its areas of specialization and according to its capabilities as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary to carry out its objectives and in order to meet the needs of the Province of Compostela Valley and Region Xl.

The College may maintain and operate a reasonably-sized laboratory school if it has an Institute of Education.

Section 5. Administration. - The College shall have the general powers of a corporation set forth in Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, as amended, otherwise known as "The Corporation Code of the Philippines". The administration of the College and the exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees and the President of the College.

Section 6. The Governing Board. - The governing body of the College shall be the Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be composed of the following:

The Board shall appoint the two (2) prominent citizens from among a list of at least five (5) qualified persons in the Province of Compostela Valley, as recommended by the search committee constituted by the College President, in consultation with the Chairperson of the CHED and the other members of the Board, based on the normal standards and qualifications for the position.

The term of office 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 shall be coterminous with their respective terms of office, as set forth in their respective constitutions and bylaws.

The two (2) prominent citizens shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment.

Section 7. Powers and Duties of the Board of Trustees. - 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:

Section 8. Meetings of the Board. - The Board shall regularly convene once every three (3) months. Whenever necessary, the Chairperson of the Board may call, upon three (3) days prior written notice, a maximum of two (2) special meetings within the same period.

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 College is among those present in the meeting.

If the Chairperson of the CHED is unable to attend, a Commissioner may be designated as representative to the meeting with all the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, however, That during this meeting, the President of the College as Vice Chairperson shall be the Presiding officer: Provided, further, That this proviso notwithstanding, the Chairperson of the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as the regular Chair of the Board, in which I case said CHED Commissioner shall act as the Presiding Officer.

In case the Chairpersons of the Congressional Committees on Education shall not be able to attend the Board meeting, they may duly designate their respective representatives to attend the said meeting, who shall have the same rights and responsibilities as a regular member 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 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.

Section 9. The College President. - The College shall be headed by a President, who shall render full-time service and who shall be appointed by the Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications and/or standards set by the Board, upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee. The College President shall have a term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for reappointment for another term.

Pending the appointment of the first President of the College, the Chairperson of the CHED shall appoint an Officer-in-Charge of the College: Provided, That the Officer-in-Charge of the College shall be entitled to additional compensation for services rendered as interim head of the College, subject to budgeting, accounting and auditing rules of the COA.

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the President of the College, 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 the office, the Board shall designate an Officer-in-Charge of the College within six (6) months from the date of vacancy, pending the appointment of a new President. The successor or the Officer-in-Charge shall serve only the unexpired portion of the term.

The powers and duties of the President of the College, in addition to those specifically provided in us Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the President of similar colleges, and those delegated by the Board.

The salary of the President of the College shall be in accordance with the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System and shall be comparable to that being received by the Presidents of similar educational institutions.

The President of the College shall be assisted by a Vice President for Academic Affairs who shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the President,

Section 10. Heads of College Branches. - The BSU External Studies Centers located in the municipalities of Monkayo, Maragusau, Montevista and New Bataan shall be called College Branches and shall be headed by Directors who shall render full-time service, The Branch Directors shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the search committee and the College President, subject to the guidelines, qualifications and standards set by the Board: Provided, That the incumbent heads f the BSU External Studies Centers in the said four (4) municipalities shall serve as Directors of their respective branches.

Section 11. The Secretary of the College. - The Board shall appoint a Secretary, who shall serve as such for both the Board and the College and shall keep all records and proceedings of the Board. The Secretary of the College shall serve upon each member of the Board the appropriate notice of the Board meetings.

Section 12. The Treasurer of the College. - The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be the ex officio Treasurer of the College.

Section 13. The Administrative Council. - There shall be an Administrative Council consisting of the President of the College as Chairperson, vice president, deans, directors and other officials of equal rank as members, whose duty is to review and recommend to the Board policies governing the administration, management and development planning of the College.

Section 14. The Academic Council. - There shall be an Academic Council to be composed of the President of the College, who shall act as 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 and rules of discipline of the College, 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 review and approval by the Board through the President of the College. It shall have the disciplinary power over students of the College and shall formulate academic policies and rules and regulations on discipline, subject to the approval of the Board.

Section 15. The Faculty. - No political beliefs, g ender preference, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin and religious opinion or affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the College: Provided, That the 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 16. Scholarship Program/Admission. - The College shall provide a scholarship program and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to the College.

No student shall be denied admission to the College by reason of sex, religion, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin.

Section 17. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus/Equipment/Supplies and Detail of Personnel. - The heads of the bureaus and offices of the national government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon the request of the President of the College, such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by the College, and to detail employees for duty therein when, ill the judgment of the head of the bureau or office, such apparatus, equipment, supplies or services 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 College, and the time employed shall be counted as part of their regular services.

Section 18. Campus Site, Assets and Liabilities. - The College shall have an area for its exclusive use as campus site for its academic and instructional programs, research and development activities, and experimental and laboratory facilities.

The Board shall forthwith recommend a suitable site within the Municipality of Compostela for this purpose. The parcels of land to be occupied by the Compostela Valley State College, including land assets belonging to the government occupied by the BSU, External Studies Centers in the municipalities of Monkayo, Maragusan, Montevista and New Bataan, are hereby declared property of the Compostela Valley State College, and shall be titled under that name: Provided, That should the College cease to exist or be abolished, or should said parcel of land aforementioned be no longer needed by the College, the same shall revert to the LGUs concerned.

All assets, real and personal, personnel and records of then BSU External Studies Centers aforementioned, as well as liabilities Or obligations, are hereby transferred to the College. The positions, rights and security of tenure of faculty members and personnel therein employed under existing laws prior to the conversion into a state college shall be respected.

Section 19. Tax Exemption on Importation and Donations. - The importation of economic, technical and cultural books or publications, which is for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical or cultural purposes made by the College upon certification by the CHED shall be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended.

Donations in any form to the College shall be exempt from the donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income in the computation of the income tax other donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

Section 20. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of tills Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The BSU External Studies Centers in the municipalities of Monkayo, Maragusan, Montevista and New Bataan in the Province of Compostela Valley shall continue to receive funding from the BSU until such time that the said External Studies Centers are fully integrated as regular branches of the College.

Section 21. Development Plan, Management Audit, Organizational, Administrative, Academic Structure. – Within the period of one hundred twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the College shall accomplish the following:

Section 22. Filing of Report. - On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the second (2 nd) month after the opening of the regular classes each year, the Board shall file with the Office of the President of the Philippines, through the Chairperson of the CHED, and with both Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress, conditions and needs of the College.

Section 23. Suppletory 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 College.

Section 24. Parity Clause. - All other powers, functions and privileges, responsibilities and limitations to state colleges and their officials under existing laws shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the College and/or its officials, whenever appropriate.

Section 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Board, in consultation with the CHED, shall formulate the rules and regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 26. Compliance with CHED Requirements. – The provisions of this Act notwithstanding, the establishment or conversion of the institution into a state college shall become effective only upon the determination and declaration by the CHED, based on the recommendation of a panel of experts, that the institution has complied with the requirements for a college status. The CHED, through its regional office, shall regularly provide technical assistance to the institution and monitor compliance with the requirements of the Commission.

The CHED shall designate a panel of experts who shall prepare a recommendation to the Chairperson of the CHED, on whether the institution has substantially complied with the requirements for the grant of college status.

The following are the operational requirements for a college:

The institution shall retain its status prior to the effectivity of this Act, unless in the meantime it is able to comply with the requirements provided herein, within a period not exceeding January 1, 2016.

Section 27. 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 thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 28. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 29. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 6, 2013 and February 4, 2013, respectively.

Approved: JUN 04 2013

(SGD.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President of the Philippines