SECTION 1. Conversion/Integration. - The Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) located in the Municipality of Sta. Maria, with campuses in the municipalities of Narvacan, Tagudin, Santiago, Cervantes, and in the City of Candon, all in the Province of Ilocos Sur, as well as the other campuses that will be created prior to the effectivity of this Act, is hereby converted into a state university, and integrating therewith the North Luzon Philippine State College (NLPSC) located in the City of Candon, Province of Ilocos Sur, to be known as the University of Ilocos Philippines (UIP). Its main campus shall be located in the City of Candon, Province of Ilocos Sur.

Upon effectivity of this Act, notwithstanding compliance with the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for a university status, the NLPSC shall immediately be integrated into the existing ISPSC as a regular campus to be known as the ISPSC – Main Campus.

The existing reasonably-sized laboratory junior high school shall continue to operate under the supervision of the College of Education of the UIP to serve the in-campus requirements of its students.

The existing and any other future technical-vocational courses or programs under the supervision of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall continue to be offered in the UIP.

(a) Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education of the Senate;

(b) Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of Representatives;

(c) Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority;

(d) Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology;

(e) Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture;

(f) Regional Director of the TESDA;

(g) President of the federation of faculty associations of the UIP;

(h) President of the federation of student councils of the UIP;

(i) President of the federation of alumni associations of the UIP; and

(j) Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished themselves in their professions or fields of specialization.

The Board shall appoint two (2) prominent citizens who shall be selected from a list of at least five (5) qualified persons from the Province of Ilocos Sur as recommended by a search committee constituted by the President of the UIP, in consultation with the Chairperson of the CHED and other members of the Board, based on the standards and qualifications for the position set by the Board. They shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment.

The membership 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 in the Board shall be coterminous with their terms of office, as provided under their respective constitutions and by laws.

(a) Promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies on education, other pertinent provisions of the Constitution on education, agriculture, science and technology, and the policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994”;

(b) Approve the curricula, instructional programs, and rules on student discipline drawn by the Administrative and Academic Councils as herein provided;

(c) Appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of the UIP, the vice presidents, deans, directors, heads of the campuses, faculty members, and other officials and employees of the UIP;

(d) Fix and adjust the salaries of faculty members, 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 may it deem proper; 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 remove them for cause in accordance with the requirements of due process of law;

(e) Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to impose, after due consultation with the concerned sectors. The fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the UIP, shall constitute its special trust funds, and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank. All interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the UIP.

(f) Adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees for greater access of poor but deserving students in accordance with Republic Act No. 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act”;

(g) Establish professional chairs in the UIP and provide fellowships for qualified faculty members, and scholarships to deserving students;

(h) Receive appropriate sums as may be provided by law for the support of the UIP, and all other sums in the manner it may, in its discretion, determine to carry out the purposes and functions of the UIP;

(i) Set the policies on admission and graduation of students;

(j) Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and technology, agriculture or any field of specialization within the academic competency of the UIP, and authorize the awarding of certificates of completion of nondegree and nontraditional courses;

(k) Establish research and extension centers to promote the development of the UIP;

(l) Develop academic arrangements for institutional capability building with appropriate institutions and agencies, whether public, private, local or foreign, and appoint experts or specialist as consultants, part-time, visiting or exchange professors, scholars or researchers, as the case may be;

(m) Adopt modern and innovative modes of transmitting knowledge for the promotion of greater access to education such as the use of information technology, dual training system, open distance learning, and community laboratory;

(n) Collaborate with the governing bodies of other state universities and colleges within the Province of Ilocos Sur and Region I, under the supervision of the CHED and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in restructuring the UIP to make it more efficient, relevant, productive and competitive;

(o) Absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the Province of Ilocos Sur and Region I as branches, extension or external centers, in coordination with the CHED and in consultation with the DBM, and offer therein programs or courses to carry out the constitutional mandate of providing equal access to educational opportunities;

(p) Authorize an external management audit of the UIP, to be financed by the CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit, and institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results and recommendations;

(q) Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local government units (LGUs), as well as public, private, local or foreign institutions and agencies, in the furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the UIP;

(r) Import economic, technical and cultural books and publications;

(s) Enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable development and management of economic assets, the proceeds of which shall be used for the development and strengthening of the UIP;

(t) Receive, in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds and administer and dispose of the same, when necessary, for the benefit of the UIP and subject to the limitations, directions and instructions of the donor, if any;

(v) Delegate any of its powers and duties provided to the President and other officials of the UIP as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the UIP;

(w) Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative and transparent decision-making within the UIP;

(x) Where most advantageous to the UIP, privatize the management of nonacademic services such as health, food, building, grounds or property maintenance, and such other similar activities;

(y) Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, including the necessary supplies, materials and equipment; and

(z) Promulgate rules and regulations, as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes and functions of the UIP.

In case the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education and the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education shall not be able to attend the Board meeting, they may designate their respective representatives to attend the meeting, who shall have the same rights and responsibilities as regular members 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 for their attendance to the meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business authorized by resolutions of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations.

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent President of the UIP, the Board shall constitute the search committee for the Presidency.

The powers and duties of the President of the UIP, in addition to those usually pertaining to the Office of the President of similar universities and those delegated by the Board.

The salary of the President of the UIP shall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 11466 or the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019”, and by such other laws amendatory thereto, which may hereinafter be enacted, and shall be comparable to that being received by the presidents of similar educational institutions.

The President of the UIP shall be assigned by a Vice President for Academic Affairs, a Vice President for Administration, and a Vice President for Research and Development, Extension, Services and Training, who shall all be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the President.

SEC. 17. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment, Supplies and Detail of Personnel. - 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 UIP, such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by the UIP, 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.

(c) UIP Center for Rural Health Research, Reform and Policy – shall primarily focus on the creation of knowledge, policies, innovation, and technologies that will redound to the health benefits of the local, national, and global communities;

(g) Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center – shall primarily on the generation of knowledge and the creation of policies to improve the public service sector of the society.

Whenever necessary, the University shall create consortia to promote a wider scope of operation and ensure a bigger community of beneficiaries of the research center herein created.

(a) Employment of full-time, permanent faculty members who posses relevant degrees in their areas of specialization, as required by the CHED, and shall have participated in research and development activities in their respective disciplines, as evidenced by refereed publications and other scholarly outputs;

(b) Offering of a comprehensive range of degree programs in all levels, from basic post-secondary to doctoral programs;

(c) Conduct viable research programs in specific disciplinal and multidisciplinary areas of study that produce new knowledge, as evidence by refereed publications, citations, inventions, and patents, among others;

(d) Establishment and maintenance of comprehensive learning resources and support structures, to include libraries, practicum laboratories, relevant educational resources, and linkages with relevant disciplinal and professional sectors, so as to allow students to explore basic, advance, and even cutting-edge knowledge in a wide range of disciplines or professions; and

(e) Maintenance of linkages and affiliation with other research institutions in various parts of the world to ensure that the research activities of the UIP are functioning at current global standards; and regional office, shall regularly provide technical assistance to the UIP and monitor its compliance with the requirements of the Commission.

The ISPSC shall retain its status as a state college prior to the effectivity of this Act until it is able to comply with the requirements provided therein.

(a) Submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its program and budget to the CHED for recommendation to the DBM;

(b) Set up its organizational, administrative, and academic structure, including the appointment of key officials of the UIP; and

(c) Undergo a management audit in coordination with the CHED.

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives on January 20, 2021 amended by the Senate of the Philippines on January 17, 2022 and which amendments were concurred in by the House of Representatives on January 25, 2022.

   
   
 

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

(SGD.) MARK LLANDRO L. MENDOZA             Secretary General         House of Representatives

 

Approved: APR 27 2022

 

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
    President of the Philippines