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

SECTION 1. The San Rafael National High School in the Municipality of Tigaon, Province of Camarines Sur, is hereby converted into a science high school, to be known as the San Rafael National High School, hereinafter referred to as the High School, under the supervision of the Department of Science and Technology.

SEC. 2. The purpose of the said high school shall be to offer a secondary course with special emphasis on subjects pertaining to the sciences, with the end in view of preparing its students for a science career.

SEC. 3. The San Rafael National Science High School shall be governed by a Board of Trustees which shall be composed of:

1. The regional director, Department of Science and Technology, Region V, chairman;
   
2. (b) The director of the San Rafael National Science High School, vice-chairman;
   
3. The regional director, Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Region V, member;
   
4. The congressional representative of the district where the high school is located, member; and
   
5. The regional director, National Economic and Development Authority, Region V, member.
   

SEC. 4. The Board of Trustees shall exercise for the San Rafael Science High School all the powers and prerogatives of the board of directors of a corporation. It shall also have the following powers and duties:

1. To receive and appropriate to the ends specified by law such sums as may be provided for the support of the high school;
   
2. To approve appointments made by contracts entered into by the director in connection with the employment of faculty members, lecturers, and other employees of the high school, subject to the provisions of Section 12 of this Act, to determine academic ranks, to fix compensation and other conditions of employment, and to remove them for cause in accordance with due process;
   
3. To approve the curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline drawn up by the executive council as hereinafter provided;
   
4. To provide fellowships for faculty members and approve the grant of scholarships, stipends and such allowances to deserving students;
   
5. To approve the issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful candidates for graduation;
   
6. To provide its rules of procedures and prescribe for the administration of the high school such general rules and regulations, not contrary to law, as are consistent with the purpose of the high school as defined in Section 2 of this Act;
   
7. To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal property of all kinds and to administer the same in accordance with the directions and instructions of the donor and, in default thereof, in such manner as the board of trustees may in its discretion determine for the benefit of the high school or for aid to any of its students; and
   
8. To establish the criteria for the selection and admission of students which shall include, among others, competitive examinations.
   

SEC. 5. A quorum of the Board of Trustees shall consist of a majority of all members holding office at the time of the meeting. The notice of meeting of the Board shall be served by the director or the secretary thereof.

SEC. 6. The members of the Board shall not receive compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in their attendance of meetings or for other official functions authorized by the Board.

SEC. 7. On or before the beginning of each school year, the Board of Trustees shall file with the Department of Science and Technology a detailed report setting forth the progress, condition, and needs of the high school.

SEC. 8. The high school shall be headed by a director whose appointment shall be in accordance with prescribed civil service laws, rules and regulations. His compensation shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees. He shall not be removed from his position except for cause. His functions, powers and duties, in addition to those specifically provided for in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the office of the principal of a public high school.

SEC. 9. There shall be an executive council consisting of the director, the heads of departments, and such other ranking faculty members or officials of the high school as may be determined by the director.

The council shall have the power to screen and select the students to be admitted to the high school; to select the students who shall be recipients of scholarships, stipends, and other allowances; and to develop the curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline, all subject to the approval of the Board. The council shall have exclusive power to recommend students eligible for graduation. Through the director, it shall have disciplinary power over the students.

The council shall implement and execute the policies laid down by the Board of Trustees and exercise such other functions, powers and duties as the Board may prescribe.

SEC. 10. There shall be a registrar of the San Rafael National Science High School, who shall act as secretary of the Board to be appointed by the director with the approval of the Board of Trustees. He shall keep such records as may be prescribed by the Board.

SEC. 11. There shall be a treasurer of the San Rafael Science High School who shall be appointed by the director with the approval of the Board of Trustees. All accounts and expenses shall be subject to the usual government auditing.

SEC. 12. The faculty members of the high school and others holding academic positions shall be selected in accordance with such criteria as may be established by the Board of Trustees consistent with law which shall include, if necessary and practicable, screening and competitive examination.

Said faculty members shall be exempt from the provisions of laws, rules and regulations on wage and position classification. The members of the school's administrative staff may be paid at rates higher than those of equivalent positions covered by laws on wage and position classification.

SEC. 13. All legacies, gifts and donations for the benefit of the high school or for its support and maintenance or aid to any of its students shall be tax exempt and shall be allowed deduction from the gross income of the donors. For the purpose of income tax, the high school shall be exempt from the payment of all taxes, fees, assessments, and other charges of the government, its branches and subdivisions.

SEC. 14. All income and donations to the high school created under this Act shall constitute a special fund to be known as the San Rafael National Science High School Fund. This fund shall be expended by the Board of Trustees exclusively for the purpose of this Act.

SEC. 15. The head of bureaus or offices of the national government and their counterparts in Region V are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon request by the director of the high school, such apparatus, supplies and other properties as may be needed by the high school, and to detail employees to duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of the bureau or office, they can be spared without serious detriment to the public service.

The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as required under such detail, and the time employed shall be counted as part of their regular official hours, all laws, rules and regulations limiting the detail of government employees notwithstanding.

Any officer or employee of the government whose services are required by the high school may receive a compensation in addition to his salary at the rate to be fixed by the Board, subject to applicable laws and regulations on the matter.

SEC. 16. The Department of Science and Technology shall prescribe the curriculum and issue the rules and regulations necessary for the conversion of the San Rafael National High School into a science high school.

SEC. 17. The San Rafael National Science High School shall start to offer science and technology subjects in the school year immediately following the approval of this Act.

SEC. 18. All personnel, assets, liabilities, and records of the San Rafael National High School are hereby transferred to and absorbed by the San Rafael National Science High School.

SEC. 19. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the San Rafael National High School. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the operation and maintenance of the San Rafael National Science High School shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 20. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Lapsed into law on June 6, 1997 without the President's signature, pursuant to Sec. 27 (1), Article VI of the Constitution.