WHEREAS, the Constitution mandates the establishment and maintenance of a complete, adequate and integrated system of education consistent with the goals of national development and prescribes that "all educational institutions shall aim to inculcate love of country, teach the duties of citizenship, and develop moral character, personal discipline, and scientific, technological, and vocational efficiency";

WHEREAS, it is the avowed purpose of government to restructure the educational system to attain accelerated economic growth and meaningful social development as enunciated in Presidential Decree No. 6-A, otherwise known as the Educational Decree of 1972;

WHEREAS, education in the tertiary level designed to meet changing occupational patterns in Central Luzon will contribute substantially to the industrialization strategy as envisioned by the National Economic and Development Authority to forestall a crisis in skilled manpower resources and to minimize unemployment in this region;

WHEREAS, providing the skilled manpower training requirements of new and developing industries in industrial estates within the region would enhance the socio-economic posture of Central Luzon and nearby regions;

WHEREAS, having been established on November 4, 1861 as the "Escuela de Artes y Officios", the Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades is the oldest vocational school in the Philippines from whose roster of graduates could be found pioneers in the field of vocational education, captains in industry, and countless craftsmen and artisans who have solidly integrated themselves into the warp and woof of the national fabric; is strategically located within the heart of Central Luzon and would best meet the demands and needs of the youth within the periphery of its service area;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree the following:

SECTION 1. The Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades in Bacolor, Pampanga, is hereby given full college status and converted into the DON HONORIO VENTURA COLLEGE OF ARTS AND TRADES, hereinafter referred to in this Decree as the College. The College shall offer courses in arts, industrial education and technology leading to baccalaureat and graduate degrees.

SEC. 2. It shall be the function of the College (1) to provide pre-service training in the basic manipulative skills, technical knowledge and related information, desirable attitudes and habits work, and other cultural and professional training imperative to the preparation of an individual for painful employment in the trades, industry, and technical and professional pursuits; (2) to provide in-service training for purposes of upgrading occupational, technological, scientific and professional competencies for those already employed that they may be able to meet the standard requirements of their respective fields of endeavor; (3) to prepare individuals for progressive leadership in social and economic development through vocational, scientific and technological training (4) to provide specialization of Vocational-Technical Teacher Education for the purpose of supplying "the teachers of Industrial and Practical Arts, Mathematics and the Physical Sciences of which there is an acute need within its service area.

SEC. 3. The College shall be headed by a President who shall have the powers and duties usually pertaining to the President of a state college or university, in addition to those specifically provided in this Decree.

The powers of administration and/or supervision now exercised by the Superintendent of the Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades are hereby transferred to the President of the College.

SEC. 4. The President of the College shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Education and Culture after consultation with the Board of Trustees: Provided, That the first President of the College shall be appointed by the President at the same time as the appointive members of the first Board upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Education and Culture.

SEC. 5. There shall be a Vocational College Dean, who shall exercise administrative-supervisory functions over departments concerned with shop and academic related subjects instruction, and a secretary of the College who shall also act as secretary of the Board of Trustees.

SEC. 6. The appointment of Instructors and Professors in the Technical, Technology, and Teacher Education Departments shall be based on demonstrated performance and proven competence and not necessarily upon qualification in a Civil Service examination or completion of degree courses.

SEC. 7. The present teachers, instructors and other personnel of the Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades shall continue in office under the Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades.

SEC. 8. The governing body of the College shall be the Board of Trustees to be composed of the following:

1. The Secretary of Education and Culture as the Chairman.
2. The President of the College as Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer
3. Three members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines.

In the absence or inability of the Secretary of Education and Culture to perform his duties as Chairman, an Undersecretary of Education and Culture and in his absence, the Regional Director for Region III of the Department, shall temporarily act as Chairman. The three appointive members shall be chosen from prominent citizens of Region III who have expertise and reputation in the fields of industry, vocational education, or economic development. Of the three appointive members, one shall cone from the College alumni association or parent-teachers association. Of the first group appointed, one shall serve for one year; a second, for two years and a third, for three years. Thereafter, persons appointed to succeed such members shall hold office for a term of three years.

SEC. 9. The members of the Board of Trustees shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to an allowance of one hundred pesos (P100.00) per meeting actually attended, but not to exceed three hundred pesos (P300.00) per month and to reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses incurred in attendance of Board meeting.

SEC. 10. In addition to general powers of administration of college and university governing boards, the Board of Trustees shall have the following powers and duties:

1. To receive and appropriate in accordance with law, rules and regulations such sums as may be provided for the support of the College.
2. To confer decrees upon successful candidates for graduation of the College. It may also confer honorary degrees upon persons who have distinguished themselves in learning, statesmanship, or eminence in the fields of specialization of the College or who have brought honor and distinction to the region and the nation.
3. To authorize the President to award proficiency certificates or diplomas to students who successfully complete non-decree courses.
4. To appoint, on recommendation of the President of the College, deans, directors, secretary of the College, registrar, heads of departments, professors, instructors, lecturers, and other employees of the College; to fix their compensation, hours of service, and such other duties and conditions as it may deem proper, any provision of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding; to grant to them, in its discretion, leave of absence under such regulations as it may promulgate, any other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, and to remove them for cause after an investigation and hearing shall have been had; to establish chairs in the College and to provide for the maintenance or endowment of such chairs as the progress of instruction may make necessary;
5. To fix tuition fees, matriculation fees, graduation fees, laboratory fees, and such special fees as will constitute a special trust fund for the College, subject to guidelines prescribed by the Department of Education and Culture.
6. To provide scholarships for deserving students and fellowships for qualified faculty members.
7. To receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal property of all kinds and to administer the same for the benefit of the College, or of its departments, or faculty, or for aid to any student or students in accordance with the desires of the donors and applicable law. All such donations shall be exempt from all taxes and may be considered as deductible items from the income tax of the donors.
8. To submit to the President of the Philippines on or before the fifteenth day of the second month after the opening of regular classes each year, a detailed report on the progress, conditions, and needs of the College.

SEC. 11. A majority of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to do business. All processes against the Board of Trustees shall be served on the Chairman or Secretary thereof.

SEC. 12. The administration and supervision of the San Vicente Pilot School for Philippine Craftsmen, which is located within the school site of the College, shall be vested in the President of the College under the governing Board of Trustees of the College until otherwise provided by law.

SEC. 13. The curriculum of the secondary, technical, technology, and teacher education departments, and of other curricula the College may deem fit to offer and the rules of discipline of the College shall comply with standard requirements prescribed by the Department of Education and Culture.

SEC. 14. The school site, buildings, facilities and all equipment and records of the Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades are hereby transferred to the Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades.

SEC. 15. The salaries of officials and personnel of the Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades, shall be standardized with those of the same officials and personnel of similar institutions.

SEC. 16. In addition to the present appropriation of the Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades, the amount of P475,000.00 is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated for the initial operation and maintenance of the College. Thereafter, such sums as are necessary for the same purpose shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 17. This Decree shall take effect upon approval.

Done in the City of Manila, this 5th day of May in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.

			(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President of the Philippines
	By the President:
	(Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA
		Presidential Assistant