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

SECTION 1. Conversion. — The State Polytechnic College of Palawan (SPCP) in the Province of Palawan is hereby converted into a state university to be known as the Western Philippines University (WPU), hereinafter referred to as the University. The main campus of the University shall be in Aborlan, Palawan.

SEC. 2. General Mandate. — The University shall primarily provide advanced education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, engineering, environment, education, arts and sciences, rural development and other relevant fields of study. It shall also promote research and extension services, and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization.

SEC. 3. Curricular Offerings. — The University shall offer undergraduate and graduate studies in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, engineering, environment, education, arts and sciences, coastal resource management, marine biology and oceanography, rural development and other degrees/courses within its areas of specialization and according to its capabilities as the Board of Regents may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, particularly to meet the needs of the Province of Palawan and the region.

The University may maintain and operate the existing laboratory high school, if it has a College Education. Otherwise, the existing laboratory high school shall remain and operate until the existing students shall have completed their high school education.

SEC. 4. Administration. — The University 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 University and the exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Regents and the president of the University insofar as authorized by the Board.

SEC. 5. The Governing Board. — The Governing Board of the University shall be the Board of Regents, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be composed of the following:

1. The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as chairperson;
   
2. The president of the University, as vice chairperson;
   
3. The Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture of the Senate, as member;
   
4. The Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of Representatives, as member;
   
5. The Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), as member;
   
6. The Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), as member;
   
7. The Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture (DA), as member;
   
8. The president of the Federation of Faculty Associations of the University, as member;
   
9. The president of the Federation of Student Councils of the University, as member;
   
10. The president of the Federation of Alumni Associations of the University, as member; and
    
11. Three (3) prominent citizens who have distinguished themselves in their profession or fields of specialization of the University, as members.
    

The Board of Regents shall appoint the three (3) prominent citizens from among a list of at least five (5) persons qualified in the Province of Palawan, as recommended by the search committee constituted by the University president, in consultation with the Chairperson of CHED, and the other members of the Board, based on the normal standards and qualifications for the position set by the Board.

The term of office of the president of the federation of faculty associations, the president of the federation of student councils, and the president of the federation of alumni associations shall be coterminous with their respective terms of office, as set forth in their respective Constitutions and By-Laws.

The three (3) prominent citizens shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment.

SEC. 6. Promulgation and Implementation of Policies. — The Board shall promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies on education and other pertinent 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."

SEC. 7. Powers and Duties of the Board of Regents. — 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:

1. To promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the University;
   
2. To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support of the University in the manner it may determine in its discretion to carry out the purposes and functions of the University;
   
3. To import duty-free economic, technical and cultural books and/or publications, upon certification by the CHED that such imported books and/or publications are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical or cultural purposes, in accordance with the provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code, as amended;
   
4. 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 University, and subject to the limitations, directions and instructions of the donor, if any.
   
   Such donations shall be exempt from the donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions 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 (NIRC), as amended: Provided, That such donations shall not be disposed of, transferred or sold;
   
   
5. 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 University, 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 University.
   
   Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, any income generated by the University from tuition fees and other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and land grants, shall be retained by the University, and may be disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension or other programs/projects of the University: Provided, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for which they are collected.
   
   If, for reasons beyond its control, the University shall not be able to pursue any project for which the 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 University;
   
   
6. To adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and school fees for greater access to poor but deserving students;
   
7. To authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, including necessary supplies, materials and equipment;
   
8. To appoint upon recommendation of the president of the University, vice presidents, deans, directors and heads of campuses, faculty members, and other officials and employees of the University;
   
9. 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 law to the contrary notwithstanding; and to remove them for cause in accordance with the requirements of due process of law;
   
10. To approve the curricula, instructional programs and rules of discipline drawn by the administrative and academic councils herein provided;
    
11. To set policies on admission and graduation of students;
    
12. To award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of outstanding contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and technology, agriculture or in any field of specialization within the academic competence of the University; and to authorize the awarding of certificates of completion of nondegree and nontraditional courses;
    
13. To establish and absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the Province of Palawan as branches and extension 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 access to educational opportunities mandated by the Constitution;
    
14. To establish research and extension centers of the University where such will promote the development of the latter,
    
15. To establish chairs in the University and to provide fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students;
    
16. To delegate any of its powers and duties provided for hereinabove to the president and/or other officials of the University as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the University;
    
17. To authorize an external management audit of the University, to be financed by the CHED, subject to Commission on Audit (COA) rules and regulations; and to institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results and recommendations;
    
18. To collaborate with other governing boards of the state colleges and universities within the Province of Palawan or the region, under the supervision of the CHED and in consultation with the DBM, and work towards the restructuring of the University to become more efficient, relevant, productive and competitive;
    
19. To enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable development and management of the economic assets of the University, the proceeds of which shall be used for the development and strengthening of the University;
    
20. To develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local government units, institutions and agencies, both public and private, local and foreign, in the furtherance of the purpose and objectives of the University;
    
21. To develop academic arrangements for institution-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;
    
22. To set up the adoption of modern and innovative modes of transmitting knowledge such as the use of information technology, the dual system, open learning or distance education, community laboratory, etc. for the promotion of greater access to education;
    
23. To establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative decision-making and transparency within the University;
    
24. To privatize, where most advantageous to the University, management of nonacademic services such as health, food, building or grounds or property maintenance and such other similar activities; and
    
25. To extend the term of the president of the University beyond the age of retirement but not later than the age of seventy (70), whose performance has been unanimously rated by the governing Board as outstanding, after unanimous recommendation by the search committee.
    

SEC. 8. Meetings of the Board. — The Board shall regularly convene at least once every quarter. However, the chairperson of the Board may, upon three (3) days' prior written notice, call a maximum of two (2) special meetings whenever necessary.

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 Board or the president of the University is among those present in the meeting.

In the absence of the Chairperson of the CHED, a Commissioner of the CHED, duly designated by him/her, shall represent him/her in the meeting with all the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, however, That during this meeting, the president of the University as vice chairperson shall be the presiding officer: Provided, further, That this proviso notwithstanding, the Chairperson of the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as the regular chair of the Board of Regents, 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 designate their respective representatives to attend the 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.

SEC. 9. The University President. — The University shall be headed by a president, who shall render full time service. He/She shall be appointed by the Board, upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee. He/She shall have a term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for reappointment for another term: Provided, That in order to effect a smooth transition to a state university, the incumbent President of the State Polytechnic College of Palawan, if qualified, shall be the first president of the University.

The president of the University shall be assisted by a vice president for academic affairs, who shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the president without prejudice to the appointment of more than one (1) vice president when so warranted.

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 have the authority to designate an officer-in-charge of the University pending the appointment of a new president.

In case of vacancy in the office of the president as mentioned in the immediately preceding paragraph, his/her successor or the officer-in-charge shall hold office for the unexpired term only.

The powers and duties of the president of the University, 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 University 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.

SEC. 10. The Administrative Council. — There shall be an administrative council consisting of the president of the University as chairperson, vice presidents, deans, directors and other officials of equal rank as members, whose duty is to review and recommend to the Board the policies governing the administration, management and development planning of the University.

SEC. 11. The Academic Council. — There shall be an academic council with the president of the University as chairperson and all members of the academic staff with the rank of not lower than assistant professor as members.

The Academic Council shall have the power to review and recommend the curricular offerings and rules of discipline of the University, subject to the approval of the Board of Regents. It shall fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as for graduation and conferment of degrees, subject to review and/or approval by the Board of Regents through the president of the University. It shall have the disciplinary power over students of the University and shall formulate academic policies and rules and regulations on discipline, subject to the approval of the Board of Regents.

SEC. 12. The Secretary of the University. — The Board shall appoint a secretary, who shall serve as such for both the Board and the University and shall keep all records and proceedings of the Board. He/She shall communicate to each member of the Board the notices of meetings.

SEC. 13. The Treasurer of the University. —The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be the ex officio treasurer of the University.

SEC. 14. 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 University: Provided, however, That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.

SEC. 15. Scholarship Program/Admission. — The University shall provide a scholarship program and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to the University.

No student shall be denied admission to the University by reason of sex, religion, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin.

SEC. 16. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. —The University 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.

SEC. 17. Authority to Loan or Transfer. — 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 University such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by the University, 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 University, and the time so employed shall be counted as part of their regular services.

SEC. 18. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. — All assets, real and personal, personnel and records of the State Polytechnic College of Palawan, as well as liabilities or obligations, are hereby transferred to the University. The positions, rights and security of tenure of the faculty members and personnel therein employed under existing laws shall be respected.

All parcels of land belonging to the government and occupied by the State Polytechnic College of Palawan are hereby declared to be property of the WPU and shall be titled under that name: Provided, That should the University cease to exist or be abolished or should such parcels of land aforementioned be no longer needed by the University, the same shall revert to the Province of Palawan.

SEC. 19. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the State Polytechnic College of Palawan. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of the WPU shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 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 University shall accomplish the following:

1. Submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its corresponding program budget to the CHED, for corresponding recommendation to the DBM;
   
2. Undergo a management audit in cooperation with CHED; and
   
3. Accordingly set up its organizational, administrative as well as academic structure, including the appointment of the University key officials.
   

SEC. 21. Filing of Report. — On or before the fifteenth (15^th) day of the second (2^nd) 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 University.

SEC. 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 University.

SEC. 23. 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.

SEC. 24. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,

(Sgd.)  FRANKLIN M. DRILON	(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 January 21, 2004 and January 19, 2004, respectively.

(Sgd.) OSCAR G. YABES	(Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO
Secretary of the Senate	Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved:  MAR 03 2004