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

SECTION 1. The Faith Academy, operated by the Faith Academy, Inc., herein referred to as the "Academy", is hereby declared and officially recognized as a basic educational institution of international character authorized to operate educational programs that primarily and principally adhere to universally accepted and recognized educational policies.

SEC. 2. The Academy, established by religious groups and missions boards, shall be governed by a Board of Trustees, herein referred to as the " Board", and elected in accordance with its corporate charter.

The Academy, having been established primarily for foreign missionary personnel and their dependents and for other temporary residents, shall be covered by the exemption provided in Section 4 (2), Article XIV of the Philippine Constitution.

SEC. 3. To enable the Academy to continue carrying out its educational program, improve its standard of instruction, and meet the special needs of the foreign temporary resident community for quality education, it shall:

(a) Accept applicants for admission, regardless of nationality, in accordance with its own eligibility standards, and rules for admission and grade placement;

(b) Be managed and administered by a head of school, who shall possess the qualifications prescribed by the Board;

(c) Be able to accept provisions and donations of any kind to carry out the purposes of the Academy and be entitled to use properties, real or personal, so donated, and construct and own buildings thereon exclusively for educational purposes: Provided, That whenever necessary to carry out its objectives, it shall allow the Christian Education Assistance Foundation (CEAF), the owner of the Academy's properties, to obtain leases on real properties, acquire personal properties, tangible or intangible, or any interest in such properties other than real, by purchase, lease, barter, donation, gift or otherwise, and dispose of, mortgage or encumber them for the benefit of the Academy.

(d) Upon consultation with the Secretary of Education, determine its own basic education curriculum, calendar of studies, and work schedule, and teach whatever language it may deem appropriate, and determine the reasonable amount of fee which shall be imposed upon its students to maintain and conform with the Academy's standard of education;

(e) Maintain standards of education compatible with those obtaining in similar schools of generally recognized international standing;

(f) Contract its own teaching and management personnel selected by the Academy' administration either locally or abroad, whether Filipino or of other nationality, such foreign personnel being exempt from laws that impose nationality restrictions on employment or those that impose restrictions on the administration of educational institutions, except laws that have been or will be enacted for the protection of employees: Provided, That such exemption shall not extend to their liability for income taxes; and

(g) Be granted benefits and privileges under the law as a nonstock, nonprofit educational institution.

SEC. 4. Foreign scholars, trainees, participants, students, volunteers, fellows or professors appointed, selected, hired, employed, or contracted by the Academy shall be allowed entry as special non-immigrants under Section 47(a)(2) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, otherwise known as " The Philippine Immigration Act of 1940", as amended, and as such shall be exempt from the payment of visa and immigration fees: Provided, That such persons are holders of valid passports and are not otherwise disqualified.

SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the members of the Board of the Academy, shall formulate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 6. If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,    

 

(SGD.) VICENTE C. SOTTO III         President of the Senate

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO         Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act was passed by the House of Representatives as House Bill No. 8741 on January 14, 2019 and adopted by the Senate as an amendment to Senate Bill No. 1669 on January 21, 2019.   

 

(SGD.) MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA         Secretary of the Senate

(SGD.) DANTE ROBERTO P. MALING         Acting Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: MAR 08 2019

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
    President of the Philippines