H. No. 4544 / 91 OG No. 21, 3220 (May 22, 1995)

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7911, February 23, 1995 ]

AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SEVENTY-THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX, ENTITLED "AN ACT CONVERTING THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY MEMORIAL SCHOOL OF ARTS AND TRADES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF IBA, PROVINCE OF ZAMBALES, INTO A POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE TO BE KNOWN AS THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE," AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7336 is hereby amended by adding eight new sections to be denominated as Sections 2-A, 2-B, 2-C, 2-D, 2-E, 2-F, 2-G, and 2-H, to read as follows:

"SEC. 2-A. The head of the College shall be known as the President of the Ramon Magsaysay Polytechnic College. He shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education and the Board of Trustees as hereinafter provided."SEC. 2-B. The governing body of the College shall be the Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Polytechnic College. It shall be composed of the following:"(a) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, chairman;"(b) The President of the Ramon Magsaysay Polytechnic College, vice-chairman;"(c) The Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority, member;"(d) The chairman of the Committee on Education of the Senate or a member of said committee having the power to vote as his representative, member;"(e) The chairman of the Committee on Education of the House of Representatives or a member of said committee having the power to vote as his representative, member;"(f) The president of the faculty association of the College, member;"(g) The president of the supreme student council of the College, member;"In addition, the Board may appoint the following members, when deemed necessary;"The president of the alumni association of the College; and"The president of the employees association of the College."The president of the alumni association and of the employees association so appointed by the Board and the representatives of the Senate and the House committee chairmen shall have the same powers, authority, and privileges as the regular members of the Board."In the absence or inability of the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education to exercise powers and functions as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the president of the College shall act as chairman. In the inability of both, the members of the Board present constituting a majority, may elect from among themselves a temporary chairman."The members of the Board of Trustees shall serve without compensation, other than actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board or other official business authorized by the Board."SEC 2-C. The Board of Trustees shall have the following powers and duties, in addition to its general powers of administration:"(a) To receive to the end specified by law such sum as may be provided by law for the support of the College;"(b) To confer degrees upon successful candidates for graduation of the College. It may also confer annual honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of learning, statesmanship or eminence in science, agriculture, forestry, industry or public service related to such fields;"(c) To appoint upon recommendation of the President, subject to civil service law, rules and regulations, the dean, the registrar, the heads of departments, professors, instructors, lecturers, administrative and supervisory officials, and other employees of the College as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the College program; to fix their compensation and salaries subject to law and other pertinent budget and compensation regulations; to prescribe hours of service and other duties and conditions as it may deem proper; to grant them in its discretion, leave of absence under regulations as it may promulgate, other provisions of laws notwithstanding; to prescribe rules of academic discipline for the educational and professional growth of the faculty members and other personnel; and to remove them for cause, after an investigation and hearing shall have been held pursuant to civil service law governing disciplinary action;"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."Fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the College shall constitute special trust funds and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank, and all interest that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the College."The income generated by the College may at their discretion, be disbursed for the professional growth and development, health, welfare and other similar benefits of the faculty members and personnel, for extension and student welfare expenses so that flexibility of income shall be focused on faculty, personnel and student welfare activities, and for expenses necessary for the attainment of its purposes under this Act."(d) To approve curricular offerings and rules of discipline drawn up by the council as hereinafter provided;"(e) To provide fellowships and scholarships for deserving faculty members and students;"(f) To prescribe rules for its government and to enact for the government of the College such general ordinances and regulations, not contrary to law, as are consistent with purposes of the College; and"(g) To receive in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal property of all kinds and to administer the same for the benefit of the College or a department thereof, or for the aid to any student 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."SEC. 2-D. A quorum of the Board of Trustees shall consist of a majority of all members holding office at the time the meeting of the Board is called. All processes against the Board of Trustees shall be served on the President or Secretary thereof."SEC. 2-E. On or before the fifteenth day of December of each year, the Board of Trustees shall submit to the President of the Philippines a detailed report setting forth the progress, condition, and needs of the College."SEC. 2-F. There shall be a College Council consisting of the President of the Ramon Magsaysay Polytechnic College, as presiding officer, and a professors and instructors of the College, as members. The Council shall have the power to prescribe the curricula and the rules of discipline, and recommend appointments of personnel subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. It shall fix the requirements for admission to the College, as well as for graduation and conferring of tides or degrees, subject to review by the Board of Trustees. The Council alone shall have disciplinary power over the students within the limits prescribed by the rules of discipline as approved by the Board of Trustees."SEC. 2-G. The body of instructors and professors of the College shall constitute the faculty of the College with the President of the College as presiding officer."In the appointment of professors or instructors, no religious test shall be applied nor shall religious opinions of affiliations of the appointee be made a matter of examination or inquiry."SEC. 2-H. There shall be a Secretary of the College, appointed by the Board of Trustees upon the recommendation of the President of the College. He shall be the Secretary of the Board and also the Secretary of the College and shall keep such records of the College as may be determined by the Board of Trustees."

SEC. 2. Section 3 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 3. The College shall offer one-year to three-year technical-vocational courses and undergraduate courses in the field of industrial education and technology, as well as engineering courses and architecture, or such other courses which are relevant to the needs of its service area."

SEC. 3. Section 4 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 4. The incumbent vocational college superintendent of the Ramon Magsaysay Polytechnic College shall act as President of the College until such time that the President of the Philippines shall have appointed the College President in the manner provided by this Act."

SEC. 4. Section 5 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC 5. The academic and administrative staff of the College be organized following the staffing pattern of state colleges and universities of the same type pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations."

SEC. 5. Section 8 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 8. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current fiscal year appropriations of the Ramon Magsaysay Polytechnic College. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued appropriations shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act."

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved,

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 7, 1995 and February 2, 1995, respectively.

Approved: February 23, 1995 (Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

Source: Supreme Court E-Library