[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8619, April 02, 1998 ]

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MORE RESPONSIVE SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8304 ENTITLED "AN ACT CONVERTING THE SAN RAFAEL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TIGAON, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR, INTO A SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS THE SAN RAFAEL NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR"



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

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 8304 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"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 Philippine Science High School-Camarines Sur Campus, hereinafter referred to as the PSHS-CSC, under the supervision of the Department of Science and Technology."
SEC. 2. The name "San Rafael National Science High School" referred to under this Act shall be amended to read as the "Philippine Science High School-Camarines Sur Campus."

SEC. 3. Section 3 of the same Act shall be amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 3. The Philippine Science High School-Camarines Sur Campus, shall be governed by a Board of Trustees which shall be composed of:

"(a) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, chairman;

"(b) The Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, vice chairman;

"(c) The president of the University of the Philippines, member;

"(d) The congressional representative of the district where the high school is located, member;

"(e) The director of the Science Education Institute, member;

"(f) The director of the Philippine Science High School-Diliman, member; and

"(g) The director of the Philippine Science High School-Camarines Sur Campus.

"The Secretary of Science and Technology, the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports and all the members of the Board shall have an ex officio term of office."
SEC. 4. The same Act is hereby amended by adding a new section after Section 7 to be denominated as Section 7-A to read as follows:
"SEC. 7-A. There shall be a local school board to be composed of:

"(a) The regional director, Department of Science and Technology, Region V, chairman;

"(b) The director of the PSHS-CSC, vice chairman;

"(c) The regional director, Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Region V, member; and

"(d) The regional director, National Economic and Development Authority, Region V, member.

"The local school board shall act as the citizens committee to interpret the educational needs of the region to the Board of Trustees. It shall also exercise such other functions, powers and duties as the Board of Trustees may delegate."
SEC. 5. Section 8 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 8. The head of the school shall be known as the Director of PSHS-Camarines Sur Campus. He shall be appointed by the chairman subject to the approval of the Board. His compensation shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees in accordance with existing compensation laws. 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. 6. Section 16 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 16. Immediately after the approval of this Act, the Department of Science and Technology shall issue the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act for the following school year."
SEC. 7. Section 18 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 18. All personnel, assets, liabilities and records of the San Rafael National Science High School are hereby transferred to and absorbed by the Philippine Science High School-Camarines Sur Campus."
SEC. 8. The same Act is hereby amended by adding a new section after Section 18 to be denominated as Section 18-A to read as follows:
"SEC. 18-A. The current first year students of San Rafael National High School shall be given the accreditation test under the PSHS transfer program. Those who will qualify shall be considered as regular students of the PSHS-CSC; otherwise, those who will not qualify together with the students in the higher year levels shall remain as regular students of the San Rafael National High School under the Department of Education, Culture and Sports until they graduate."
SEC. 9. Section 19 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 19. The amount needed to carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the San Rafael National Science High School. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the operation and maintenance of the Philippine Science High School-Camarines Sur Campus shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act."
SEC. 10. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,

(Sgd.) NEPTALI A. GONZALES
(Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA JR.
President of the Senate
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 December 15, 1997 and February 19, 1998, respectively.

(Sgd.) HEZEL P. GACUTAN
(Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO
Secretary of the Senate
Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved:

FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

Lapsed into law on April 02, 1998, without the signature of the President, in accordance with Article VI Section 27 (1) of the Constitution.