Republic Act No. 12300: An act establishing a state college in the municipality of alabel, province of sarangani and appropriating funds therefor

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12300, September 15, 2025 ]

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STATE COLLEGE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ALABEL, PROVINCE OF SARANGANI 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 Alabel, Province of Sarangani, which shall be known as the "Sarangani State College (SSC)".

Section 2. General Mandate

The SSC shall primarily provide both advanced instruction and professional training in agriculture, fisheries, education, marine and maritime studies, engineering, arts and sciences, and other fields of study. It shall promote research and extension services and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization.

Section 3. Curricular Offerings

The SSC shall offer short-term technical-vocational, undergraduate and graduate courses in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, education, marine and maritime studies, engineering, arts and sciences, and other degree courses, as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, and those which respond to the human resource development needs of the Province of Sarangani and the South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos (SOCCSKSARGEN) Region.

Section 4. Administration

The SSC shall have the general powers of a corporation set forth in Republic Act (RA) No. 11232, otherwise known as the "Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines". The administration of the DISC and the exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees and the President of the SSC.

Section 5. The Board of Trustees

The governing body of the SSC shall be the Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be chaired by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with the President of the SSC as Vice Chairperson, and the following as members:

(a)Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education of the Senate;

(b)Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of Representatives;

(c)Regional Director of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev);

(d)Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology;

(e)President of the federation of faculty associations of the SSC;

(f)President of the federation of student councils of the SSC;

(g)President of the federation of alumni associations of the SSC;

(h)Representative of the non-teaching or personnel association of the SSC; and (i) Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished themselves in their profession or fields of specialization. The Board shall appoint the two (2) prominent citizens from among a list of at least five (5) qualified persons in the Province of Sarangani, as recommended by the search committee to be constituted by the President of the SSC, in consultation with the Chairperson of the CHED and other members of the Board, based on the guidelines, qualifications, and standards for the position set by the Board. They shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment.

The terms of office of the presidents of the federation of faculty associations, federation of student councils, federation of alumni associations, and the representative of the non-teaching personnel association shall be coterminous with their terms of office, as provided under their respective constitutions and bylaws.

Section 6. Powers and Duties of the Board

The administration of the SSC and the exercise of its corporate powers are vested in the Board, which 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 Section 35 of RA No. 11232:

(a)Promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies and provisions of the 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)Approve the curricula, instructional programs, and rules on student discipline drawn by the Administrative and Academic Councils as herein provided;

(c)Appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of the SSC, the vice presidents, chancellors, deans, directors, heads of the campuses, faculty members, and other officials of the SSC;

(d)Prescribe the salaries of faculty members and administrative officials and employees, subject to the provisions of RA No. 11466, otherwise known as the "Salary Standardization law of 2019", civil service rules and regulations governing hours of service and such other requirements and conditions, and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations;

(e)Grant them, at its discretion, leaves of absence under such regulations as it may promulgate, any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, and remove them for cause in accordance with the requirements of the civil service rules and regulations and due process of law;

(f)Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as matriculation fees, graduation fees, and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to impose, after due consultation with the concerned sectors. The fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the SSC, shall constitute its funds to be used exclusively in the pursuit of its mandate as a state college, and shall be deposited in any authorized govenrment depository bank. All interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the SSC; The fees and charges collected by the SSC, including govenrment subsidies and proceeds from other income sources, as well as interests that would accrue therefrom shall be retained by the SSC: Provided, That in no case shall the said income be used for the payment of allowances and other benefits not authorized by law: Provided, further, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for which they were collected.

If the SSC, for reasons beyond its control, would 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 fund for any reasonable purpose for which it deems necessary and urgent for the attainment of the objectives of the SSC: Provided, That funds collected from students for specific purposes shall not be realigned or reprogrammed to other expenditures;

(g)Adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees for greater access of poor but deserving students in accordance with Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act";

(h)Establish professional chairs in the SSC and provide fellowships for qualified faculty members, and scholarships to deserving students;

(i)Receive and appropriate sums as may be provided by law for the support of the SSC, and all other sums in the manner it may, in its discretion, determine to carry out the purposes and functions of the SSC;

(j)Set the policies on admission and graduation of students;

(k)Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and technology, sports and human kinetics, or any field of specialization within the academic competency of the SSC, and authorize the awarding of certificates of completion of nondegree and nontraditional courses;

(l)Develop academic arrangements for institutional capability building with appropriate institutions and agencies, whether public, private, local or foreign, and appoint experts or specialist as consultants, part-time, visiting or exchange professors, scholars or researchers, as the case may be;

(m)Adopt modern and innovative modes of transferring knowledge to allow greater access to education such as the use of information technology, online programs, dual training system, open distance learning, and community laboratory;

(n)Absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the Province of Sarangani and SOCCSKSARGEN Region as branches, extension campuses, and external centers, in coordination with the CHED and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and offer therein programs or courses to carry out the constitutional mandate of providing equal access to educational opportunities;

(o)Authorize an external management audit of the SSC, to be financed by the CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit, and institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results and recommendations;

(p)Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local government units (LGUs), as well as public, private, local or foreign institutions and agencies, in the furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the SSC;

(q)Import books or publications, instruments, equipment, and apparatuses for economic, technical-vocational, scientific, medical, philosophical, historical, legal or cultural purposes;

(r)Enter into joint ventures with business and industry, after consultation with the DEPDev, for the profitable development and management of economic assets, the proceeds of which shall be used for the development and strengthening of the SSC;

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

(t)Extend the term of the President of the SSC beyond the age of retirement, but not beyond the age of seventy (70), based on the guidelines, qualifications and standards set by the Board: Provided, That such extension shall be subject to the term limits provided in Section 8 of this Act: Provided, further, That the President's performance has been rated by the Board as outstanding and a unanimous recommendation for such extension has been decided upon by the Search Committee;

(u)Delegate any of its powers and duties provided to the President and other officials of the SSC, as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the SSC;

(v)Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative and transparent decision-making within the SSC;

(w)Where most advantageous to the SSC, outsource the management of nonacademic services such as health, food, building, or grounds or property maintenance, and such other similar activities;

(x)Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, including the necessary supplies, materials and equipment; and (y) Promulgate rules and regulations, as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes and functions of the SSC.

Section 7. 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, That the Chairperson of the Board or the President of the SSC is among those present in the meeting.

In case the Chairperson of the CHED cannot attend a meeting of the Board, a CHED Commissioner duly assigned by the Chairperson of the CHED as representative to the meeting, shall have all the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, That during the meeting, the President of the DISC, 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 a the presiding officer.

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

The members of the Board shall serve without compensation other than reimbursement 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 8. The College President

The SSC shall be headed by a President who shall be appointed by the Board, subject to its guidelines, qualifications and standards, and based on the recommendation of a search committee duly constituted for the purpose of selecting the President. The SSC President shall render full-time service for four (4) years and may be reappointed to another term.

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent President of the SSC, the Board shall constitute the Search Committee for the Presidency and shall ensure the appointment or reappointment of a President on or before the expiration of the term.

The powers and duties of the President of the SSC, 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 SSC shall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 11466, and by such other laws amendatory thereto which may hereinafter be enacted, the joint circular for state universities and colleges' leveling instruments, and guidelines of the CHED and the DBM.

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 (OIC) of the SSC, pending the appointment of the President: Provided, That the OIC shall serve only during the unexpired portion of the term.

The President of the SSC shall be assisted by the following officials: Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Administration, Planning, and Finance; and Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension. They shall all be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the President of the SSC.

Section 9. The Secretary

The Board shall appoint a Secretary who shall serve as such for both the Board and the SSC and shall keep all records and proceedings of meetings of the Board in addition to other duties and responsibilities. The Secretary of the SSC shall serve upon each member of the Board the appropriate notice of Board meetings.

Section 10. The Treasurer

The Treasurer of the Philippine shall be the ex officio Treasurer of the SSC.

Section 11. The Administrative Council

There shall be an Administrative Council consisting of the President of the SSC, as Chairperson, and the vice president, deans, director and other officials of equal rank, as members, whose duty is to review and recommend to the Board the policies that shall govern the administration, management and development planning of the SSC.

Section 12. The Academic Council

There shall be an Academic Council consisting of the President of the SSC, as Chairperson, and all academic staff with the rank of at lease an assistant profession, as members.

The Academic Council shall have the power to review and recommend the curricular offerings and rules of discipline, fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as for their graduation and conferment of degrees, exercise disciplinary power over the students and shall formulate rules and regulations on student discipline, subject to review and approval by the Board through the President of the SSC.

Section 13. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy

The SSC shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution.

Section 14. The Faculty

No political belief, sex, gender, cultural or community affiliation, ethnic origin, nor religious opinion or affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the SSC: 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 religious denomination.

Section 15. Scholarship Programs and Admission

The SSC shall provide a scholarship programs and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to the SSC. No student shall be denied admission to the SSC by reason of sex, gender, religion, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin, or any other forms of discrimination.

Section 16. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel

All assets, both real and personal, personnel, and records of the SSC, as well as liabilities or obligations, shall be titled under or named after the SSC.

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

Section 17. Duty and Tax Exemptions

The importation of books or publications, instruments, equipment, and apparatuses, which are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, medical, philosophical, historical, legal or cultural purposes made by the SSC, upon certification by the CHED, shall be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of RA No. 10863, otherwise known as "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)".

All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions made to and used actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes by the SSC, shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be allowed as allowable deduction from the gross income of the donor for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

Section 18. Compliance with CHED Requirements

Notwithstanding with the provisions of this Act, the establishment of the SSC shall become effective only upon the determination and declaration by the CHED, based on the recommendation of a panel of experts constituted for the purpose, that the SSC has complied with the requirements for a college status based on CHED Memorandum Order No. 46, series of 2012 or the "Policy Standards to Enhance Quality Assurance in Philippine Higher Education, through the Outcomes-Based and Typology-Based QA": Provided, That the panel may issue such a recommendation when the DISC has substantially complied with the requirements for the grant of university status.

The following operational requirements for a university, as established by the CHED, shall be complied with:

(a)Employment of full-time, permanent faculty members who posses relevant degrees in their areas of specialization, as required by the CHED, and shall have participated in research and development activities in their respective disciplines, as evidenced by referred publications and other scholarly outputs;

(b)Offering of a comprehensive range of degree programs characterized by a core curriculum that holistically develops thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, technical, and social skills in line with the mission of the SSC;

(c)Establishment and maintenance of comprehensive learning resources and support structures that are appropriate for developing knowledge and skills in the specific natural science, social science, humanities, and professional disciplines offered by the SSC, including laboratories, books, and journals;

(d)Maintenance of linkages with the community that would ensure the development of relevant academic and extension programs and the application of their learning outcomes; and (e) Conduct of outreach programs involving students in social development-oriented experiences that allow them to contextualize their knowledge within actual social and human experiences. The CHED, through its regional office, shall regularly provide technical assistance to the SSC and monitor its compliance with the requirements of the CHED.

Section 19. Development Plan and Organizational Structure

Within a period of one hundred twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the SSC shall accomplish the following:

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

(b)Submit the revised Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan in accordance with RA No. 11396, otherwise known as the "SUCs Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) Act";

(c)Undergo a management audit in coordination with the CHED; and (d) Set up its organizational, administrative, and academic structure, including the designation of the key officials and other administrative personnel of the SSC.

Section 20. 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 its compliance with the requirements for a university status with the Office of the President of the Philippines and both Houses of Congress, through the Chairperson of the CHED.

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. Suppletory Application

The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997', shall form part of this Act.

Section 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations

Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in consultation with the CHED, shall issue rules and regulations to implement its provisions.

Section 24. 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 are in full force and effect.

Section 25. Repealing Clause

All 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 26. Effectivity

This Act shall become effective fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

| (SGD.) FRANCIS "CHIZ" G. ESCUDERO President of the Senate | (SGD.) FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ Speaker of the House of Representatives |

This Act, which originated in the House of Representatives, was passed by the House of Representatives on August 7, 2024, amended by the Senate of the Philippines on June 9, 2025, and which amendments were concurred in by the House of Representatives on June 10, 2025.

RENATO N. BANTUG, JR.

Secretary of the Senate

REGINALD S. VELASCO

Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: Lapsed into law on SEP 15 2025 without the signature of the President, in accordance with Article VI, Section 27 (1) of the Constitution

FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR.

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.

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