Republic Act No. 10231: An act separating the camarines sur polytechnic college naga city campus (formerly bicol college of arts and trades) in the city of naga, province of camarines sur from the camarines sur polytechnic college in nabua, camarines sur and converting it into a state college to be known as the bicol state college of applied sciences and technology and appropriating funds therefor

Fifteenth Congress Third Regular Session

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

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10231

AN ACT SEPARATING THE CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE NAGA CITY CAMPUS (FORMERLY BICOL COLLEGE OF ARTS AND TRADES) IN THE CITY OF NAGA, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE IN NABUA, CAMARINES SUR AND CONVERTING IT INTO A STATE COLLEGE TO BE KNOWN AS THE BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Separation/Conversion

The Camarines Sur Polytechnic College Naga City Campus (formerly Bicol College of Arts and Trades) in the City of Naga, Province of Camarines Sur is hereby separated from the Camarines Sur Polytechnic College in Nabua, Camarines Sur and converted into a state college to be known as the Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST), herein referred to as the College.

Section 2. General Mandate

The College shall primarily provide advanced education, higher technological, professional and vocational instruction and training in the sciences, arts, education, entrepreneurship, engineering and other related courses. It shall also undertake research and extension services and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specification.

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 and graduate studies in the fields of industrial technology, arts and sciences, architecture, nontraditional courses and other degrees/courses within its areas of specialization and according to its capabilities as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, particularly to meet the needs of the Province of Camarines Sur and the Bicol Region.

The existing high school shall be transferred to the jurisdiction and supervision of the Department of Education (DepED): Provided,That the high school shall be allowed to remain and operate within the campus of the College until the existing students shall have completed their high school education: Provided, further,That the College may operate a reasonably-sized laboratory school, if it has an Institute of Education: Provided, furthermore,That the existing graduate school shall become an integral part of the 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 board of the College shall be the Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be composed of the following:

(a)The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Chairperson;

(b)The President of the College, Vice Chairperson;

(c)The Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture of the Senate, member;

(d)The Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of Representatives, member;

(e)The Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), member;

(f)The Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), member;

(g)The President of the faculty association of the College, member;

(h)The President of the student council of the College, member;

(i)The President of the alumni association of the College, member; and (j) Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished themselves in their profession or fields of specialization of the College, members. The Board shall appoint the two (2) prominent citizens from among a list of at least five (5) qualified persons in the Province of Camarines Sur 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 faculty association the President of the student council, and the President of the alumni association shall be coterminous with their respective terms of office, as set forth in their respective constitutions and by laws.

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:

(a)To promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies and the provisions of the Philippine Constitution on education, agriculture, science and technology, as well as the policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994″;

(b)To promulgate rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the College;

(c)To receive and appropriate ail sums as may be provided for the support of the College in the manner it may determine in its discretion, in order to carry out the purposes and functions of the College;

(d)To import economic, technical and cultural books and/or publications;

(e)To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds and to administer and dispose of the same when necessary for the benefit of the College, and subject to the limitations, directions and instructions of the donor, if any;

(f)To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges such as, but not limited to, matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to impose, after due consultations with the involved sectors. Such fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the College, shall constitute special trust funds and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank, and all interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the College. Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, any income generated by the College from tuition fees and other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and land grants, shall be retained by the College and may be disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension or other programs/projects of the College: Provided,That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for which these are collected.

If, for reason beyond its control, the College shall not be able to pursue any project for which funds have been appropriated and allocated under its approved program of expenditures, the Board may authorize the use of said funds for any reasonable purpose which, in its discretion, may be necessary and urgent for the attainment of the objectives and goals of the College;

(g)To adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees for greater access to poor but deserving students;

(h)To authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment and other facilities and the purchase and acquisition of real and personal properties, including necessary supplies, materials and equipment;

(i)To appoint, upon recommendation of the President of the College, Vice President/s, deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty members and other officials and employees of the College;

(j)To fix and adjust salaries of faculty members and administrative officials and employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System and other pertinent budget and compensation laws governing hours of service and such other duties and conditions as it may deem proper; to grant them, at its discretion, leaves of absence under such regulations as it may promulgate, any provision of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding; and to remove them for cause in accordance with the requirements of due process of law;

(k)To approve the curricula, instructional programs and rules of discipline drawn by the Administrative and Academic Councils as herein provided;

(l)To set policies on admission and graduation of students;

(m)To award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding contribution in the fields of agriculture, public service, arts, science and technology, education or in any field of specialization within the academic competence of the College; and to authorize the awarding of certificates of completion of nondegree and nontraditional courses:

(n)To establish and absorb nonchartered tertiary institutions within the Province of Camarines Sur as branches and centers, in coordination with the CHED and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and to offer therein programs or courses to promote and carry out equal and greater access to educational opportunities as mandated by the Constitution;

(o)To establish research and extension centers of the College where such will promote the development of the latter;

(p)To establish professorial chairs in the College and to provide fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students;

(q)To delegate any of its powers and duties provided for hereinabove to the President or Officer-in-Charge and/or other officials of the College as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the College;

(r)To authorize an external management audit of the College, to be financed by the CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit (COA); and to institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results and recommendations;

(s)To collaborate with other governing boards of state universities and colleges within the Province of Camarines Sur or the Bicol Region, under the supervision of the CHED and in consultation with the DBM, and work towards the restructuring of the College to become more efficient, relevant, productive and competitive;

(t)To enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable development and management of the economic assets of the College, the proceeds from which shall be used for the development and strengthening of the same;

(u)To develop consortia and other forms of linkages with local government units (LGUs), institutions and agencies, both public and private, local and foreign, in furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the College;

(v)To develop academic arrangements for institutional capability building with appropriate institutions and agencies, public and private, local and foreign, and to appoint experts/specialists as consultants, part-time or visiting or exchange professors, scholars or researchers, as the case may be;

(w)To set up the adoption of modern and innovative modes of transmitting knowledge such as the use of information technology, the dual learning system, open learning or distance education and community laboratory for the promotion of greater access to education;

(x)To establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative decision-making and transparency within the College;

(y)To privatize, where most advantageous to the College, the management of nonacademic services such as health, food, building, grounds, or property maintenance and such other similar activities; and (z) To extend the term of the President of the College beyond the age of retirement, but not beyond the age of seventy (70), whose performance has been unanimously rated by the Board as outstanding, based on the guidelines, qualifications and/or standards set by the Board, after unanimous recommendation by the search committee.

Section 8. Meetings of the Board

The Board shall regularly convene once every three (3) months. Whenever necessary, the Chairperson of the Board may, upon three (3) days prior written notice, call 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 CHED or the President of the College is among those present in the meeting.

In ones absence, the Chairperson of the CHED shall designate a Commissioner of the CHED as representative in 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 provisonotwithstanding, the Chairperson of the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as the regular Chair of the Board, in which 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 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.

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent 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 his/her 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 of the College 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 this 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 the Vice President/s, who shall be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the President.

Section 10. 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 shall serve upon each member of the Board the appropriate notice of the Board meetings.

Section 11. The Treasurer of the College

The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be the ex officiotreasurer of the College.

Section 12. The Administrative Council

There shall be an Administrative Council consisting of the President of the College as Chairperson, Vice President/s, 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 13. 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 the 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/or 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 14. The Faculty

No political beliefs, gender 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 said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications and/or 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 15. 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 16. 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 maybe needed by the College, and to detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of 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 so employed shall be counted as part of their regular services.

Section 17. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel

All assets, real and personal, personnel and records of the Camarines Sur Polytechnic College Naga City Campus (formerly Bicol College of Arts and Trades), as well as liabilities or obligations, are hereby transferred to the Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST). 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.

Specific parcels of land belonging to the provincial government of Camarines Sur and occupied by the Camarines Sur Polytechnic College Naga City Campus (formerly Bicol College of Arts and Trades), are hereby declared to be property of the BISCAST and shall be titled under that name: Provided,That should the College cease to exist or be abolished or should such parcels of land aforementioned be no longer needed by the College, the same shall revert to the provincial government of Camarines Sur.

Section 18. Tax Exemption on Importation and Donations

The importation of economic, technical and cultural books and/ or publications, which are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical or cultural purposes made by the BISCAST, 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.

All donations in any form to the BISCAST shall be exempt from the donors tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income in the computation of the income tax of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

Section 19. Appropriations

The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current years appropriations of the Camarines Sur Polytechnic College Naga City Campus (formerly Bicol College of Arts and Trades), except the sums needed to continue the operation of the existing high school. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of the BISCAST shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 20. 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:

(a)Submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its corresponding program budget to the CHED, for corresponding recommendation to the DBM;

(b)Undergo a management audit in cooperation with the CHED; and (c) Set up its organizational, administrative as well as academic structure, including the appointment of the key officials of the College.

Section 21. 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 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 22. 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 23. Parity Clause

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

Section 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations

The Board, in consultation with the CHED, shall formulate the guidelines to fully implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 25. 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 26. 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 27. Effectivity

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

Approved,

| (Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE President of the Senate | (Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives |

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on March 23, 2011 and July 24, 2012, respectively.

EMMA LIRIO-REYES

Secretary of Senate

MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP

Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: OCT 19 2012

BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

President of the Philippines

For information and research only, and not legal advice. This text may not reflect later amendments. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.

In plain language