AN ACT CONVERTING THE MINDORO COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY INTO A STATE COLLEGE, PROVIDING A CHARTER FOR THIS PURPOSE, EXPANDING ITS CURRICULAR OFFERINGS, REDIRECTING ITS OBJECTIVES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

Nineth Congress
Third Regular Session

[ REPUBLIC ACT No. 8007, May 25, 1995 ]

AN ACT CONVERTING THE MINDORO COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY INTO A STATE COLLEGE, PROVIDING A CHARTER FOR THIS PURPOSE, EXPANDING ITS CURRICULAR OFFERINGS, REDIRECTING ITS OBJECTIVES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

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

Section 1. The present Mindoro College of Agriculture and Technology in the Municipality of Victoria, Oriental Mindoro, is hereby converted into a state college, hereinafter referred to as the State College.

Section 2. The State College shall primarily provide higher vocational, professional and technical instruction and training in agricultural and industrial fields with special emphasis given to agricultural industry. It shall also promote research, advanced studies and progressive leadership in the fields of agriculture, including agricultural education and home technology, with special emphasis given to agricultural industry, fishery, forestry, and industrial education.

Section 3. In addition to its present secondary agricultural course and undergraduate courses leading to the degrees of bachelor of science in agriculture and bachelor of science in agricultural education, the State College shall offer undergraduate courses leading to the degrees of bachelor of science in food technology, bachelor of science in nutrition, bachelor of science in home technology, bachelor of science in agricultural technology, bachelor of science in agricultural engineering, and bachelor of science in elementary agriculture; courses in fresh-water fish culture, processing of agricultural products and such other degrees, courses and special courses as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary. It shall also offer opportunity for short-term technical or vocational courses within its areas of specialization to meet the needs of the island provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.

Section 4. No student shall be denied admission to the State College by reason of age, ethnic consideration, or religious belief or affiliation.

Section 5. The head of the State College shall be known as the President of the Mindoro College of Agriculture and Technology. He shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees.

His salary shall be comparable to that being received by presidents of similar educational institutions of like enrollment and standing, subject to the provisions of the revised compensation and position classification system.

The duties and powers of the President of the State College, in addition to those specifically provided for in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the office of the president of a state college or university.

Section 6. The governing body of the State College shall be the Board of Trustees of the Mindoro College of Agriculture and Technology. It shall be composed of the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), who shall be the chairman, the Director of Agricultural Training Institute, the Dean of the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture in Los Ba-os, the President of the State College, and four (4) prominent citizens of Region IV to be appointed by the President of the Philippines, as members.

Of the four appointed members, one shall be an authority on agriculture, one on science, one on arts and trades, and one on technology: Provided, That at least one of the four appointed members shall be a citizen of Oriental Mindoro, if not an alumnus of the Mindoro College of Agriculture and Technology. Of the first group appointed, the President shall designate one to serve for one (1) year; one to serve for two (2) years; one to serve for three (3) years; and the other to serve for four (4) years. Thereafter, persons appointed to succeed such members shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. In case of permanent vacancy, the position shall be filled by appointment by the President of the Philippines. Such appointee shall hold office for the unexpired term only.

When the chairperson of the CHED is unable to perform his duties as chairman of the Board due to illness, absence or other cause, or in case of a vacancy in the office, any commissioner of the CHED shall temporarily perform the functions of the chairman of the said Board. The chairman may assign qualified officials to represent him with full authority in the Board.

Section 7. A quorum of the Board of Trustees shall consist of a majority of all members holding office at the time a meeting is called. All processes against the Board of Trustees shall be served on the president or the secretary thereof.

Section 8. The members of the Board of Trustees shall not receive salary but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred either in attendance upon meetings of the Board or upon other official business authorized by resolution of the Board, subject to existing budget laws, rules and regulations on honoraria and allowances.

Section 9. The Board of Trustees shall have the following powers and duties in addition to its general powers of administration, and the exercise of all powers of a corporation as provided in Section 13 of Act No. 1459, as amended, otherwise known as the corporation law:

Section 10. On or before the fifteenth day of the second month after the opening of regular classes each year, the Board of Trustees shall file with the Office of the President of the Philippines a detailed report, setting forth the progress, conditions and needs of the State College.

Section 11. There shall be a State College council consisting of the President of the State College and all members of the faculty. The council shall have the power to prescribe the curriculum and rules of discipline, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. It shall fix the requirements for admission to the State College, as well as for graduation and conferring of degrees, subject to review by the Board of Trustees. The council alone shall have the power to recommend students or others to be recipients of degrees. Through the President of the State College or its duly authorized committee, the council shall have disciplinary power over the students within the limits prescribed by the rules of discipline.

Section 12. The body of instructors and professors of the State College shall constitute the faculty of the State College, with the President of the State College as the presiding officer.

Section 13. No member of the faculty of the State College shall attempt directly or indirectly, under penalty of dismissal by the Board of Trustees, to influence students or any person in the State College towards any ideology, political or otherwise, which preaches the overthrow of the government through violence or subversion.

Section 14. There shall be a secretary of the State College who shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the President of the State College. He shall also be the secretary of the Board and shall keep such records of the State College as may be determined by the Board of Trustees.

Section 15. The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be the ex officio treasurer of the State College and all accounts and expenses therefor shall be audited by the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representatives and all disbursements shall be made in accordance with auditing rules and regulations.

Section 16. The heads of bureaus and offices of the national government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon request of the President of the State College, such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by the State College and to detail employees for duty therein, when in 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 the public service. The employees so detailed shall perform such duty as required of them under such detail and the time so employed shall be counted as part of their regular official service.

Section 17. The requirements provided in this Act as may prove adverse to the present faculty and employees of the State College who may be absorbed by virtue of this Act shall not apply to them. But future appointees to the State College shall be subject to all the requirements provided in this Act.

Section 18. All parcels of land, buildings, equipment, facilities, whether fixed or movable, personnel and records owned by the Mindoro College of Agriculture and Technology, as well as its obligations and appropriations thereof, shall be transferred to the State College.

Section 19. The amount needed to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Mindoro College of Agriculture and Technology. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of the State College shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 20. The chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education is hereby directed to take steps as are necessary for the immediate implementation of this Act.

Section 21. All laws, decrees, executive orders contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 22. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Lapsed into law on May 25, 1995 without the President's signature, pursuant to Sec. 27(1), Article VI of the Constitution.