AN ACT CONVERTING THE RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL AND POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MORONG, PROVINCE OF RIZAL, INTO A STATE COLLEGE, TO BE KNOWN AS THE RIZAL POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Nineth Congress
Third Regular Session

[ REPUBLIC ACT No. 7933, March 01, 1995 ]

AN ACT CONVERTING THE RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL AND POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MORONG, PROVINCE OF RIZAL, INTO A STATE COLLEGE, TO BE KNOWN AS THE RIZAL POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. The Rizal Technological and Polytechnic Institute in the Municipality of Morong, Province of Rizal, is hereby converted into a state college, to be known as the Rizal Polytechnic College, hereinafter referred to as the State College.

Section 2. The State College shall primarily provide higher technological, professional, occupational and vocational instruction and training in the applied arts and sciences. It shall likewise promote applied research, advanced studies and progressive leadership in its chosen areas of specialization.

Section 3. The existing high schools shall be transferred to the jurisdiction and supervision of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports: Provided, That these high schools shall be allowed to remain and operate within the campus of the College until they shall have been transferred to other locations, or until their students shall have been accommodated in other high schools, public or private: Provided, further, That the State College may operate a reasonably-sized, laboratory school if it offers a teacher training program.

Section 4. The governing body of the State College shall be the Board of Trustees of the Rizal Polytechnic College, hereinafter referred to as the Board. It shall be composed of the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education as chairman, the President of the College as vice-chairman, the chairpersons of the committees on education of the Senate and the House of Representatives or any member of both committees having the power to vote as their representatives, the representative of the alumni association of the State College, and two (2) prominent citizens of Region IV who have distinguished themselves in any of the professions or fields of specialization of the State College to be appointed by the President of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, as members.

Of the first group of appointive members, 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 or 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 Commission on Higher Education 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 Commission on Higher Education shall temporary perform the fuctions of the chairman of the said Board. The chairman may assign qualified officials to represent him with full authority in the Board.

Section 5. A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of all members holding office at the time a meeting is called. All processes against the Board shall be served on the President or the secretary thereof.

Section 6. The members of the Board 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 7. The Board shall have the following powers and duties, in addition to its general powers of administration and the exercise of all the powers of a corporation as provided in Section 36 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, otherwise known as the Corporation Code of the Philippines:

Section 8. On or before the fifteenth day of the second month after the opening of the 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 aceds of the State College.

Section 9. There shall be a State College council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, consisting of the President of the State College and all members of the faculty with the rank of professor. The Council shall have the power to prescribe the curricula and rules of discipline, subject to the approval of the Board. It shall fix the requirements for admission to the State College, as well as for graduation and the 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 10. The head of the State College shall be known as the President of the Rizal Polytechnic College. He shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board. His salary shall be comparable to that being received by presidents of similar educational institutions of like enrollment and standing, subject to the revised compensation and position classification system.

The powers and duties 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.

In order not to disrupt the operation of the institution and to insure the smooth transition from polytechnic institute to a state college, the incumbent head of the Rizal Technological and Polytechnic Institute shall serve as the first president of the Rizal Polytechnic College, until his successor shall have been appointed.

Section 11. The body of instructors and professors of the State College shall constitute the faculty of the State College.

The faculty shall be covered by the appropriate civil service rules and regulations.

Section 12. No member of the faculty of the State College shall attempt directly or indirectly, under penalty of dismissal by the Board, 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 13. There shall be a secretary of the State College who shall be appointed by the Board 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.

Section 14. 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 representative.

Section 15. No student shall be denied admission to the State College by reason of sex, ethnic consideration or religious belief or affiliation.

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 the 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. All assets of the Rizal Technological and Polytechnic Institute, whether fixed or movable, records and personnel, are hereby transferred to the Rizal Polytechnic College, subject to the following conditions;

Section 18. The amount needed to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Rizal Technological and Polytechnic Institute. 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 19. The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education is hereby directed to take such steps as are necessary for the immediate implementation of this Act.

Section 20. All laws inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 21. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 7, 1995 and February 2, 1995, respectively.

Approved: March 1, 1995

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines