CONVERTING THE MOUNTAIN STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LA TRINIDAD, PROVINCE OF BENGUET, INTO A UNIVERSITY, TO BE KNOWN AS THE BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 2010
• Sections: 28

Preamble

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the Philippines-directs the

State to establish and maintain a complete, adequate, and integrated system of

education relevant to the goals of national development and further prescribes

that all educational institutions shall aim to develop scientific, technological

and vocational efficiency;

WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 6-A also known as the

Educational Decree of 1972, it has been declared a policy of the government to

re-orient the educational system toward an accelerated national economic growth

and meaningful social development;

WHEREAS, the establishment of a state university in the

Province of Benguet will provide better educational services to the people of

these economically and socially depressed provinces by bringing closer to them

university education and training in the arts, sciences, humanities, technology

and other socio-cultural areas, as well as conduct scientific researches and

technological studies;

WHEREAS, the present purely agricultural curricular

offerings of the College will be expanded to provide for a complete, adequate

and integrated system of education relevant to the goals of the national

government; in particular, to develop scientific, technological, vocational and

other professional courses;

WHEREAS, the establishment of the "university will be a

direct response to the urgent need for a faster pace of economic development and

social-political progress of the depressed area inhabited predominantly by our

cultural minorities of the North. The development of the natural and manpower

resources of the area will greatly be enhanced by making available to the people

in the area relevant, and more easily accessible university education at a

cheaper cost; and

WHEREAS, dispersal of higher institutions of learning to the

provinces to decongest Metro Manila and other cities thickly populated with

students is in line with the policy of the New Order;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby

order and decree:

Section 1

SECTION 1. The present Mountain State Agricultural College

located in the municipality of La Trinidad, Province of Benguet, is hereby

converted into a state university to be known as the Benguet State University

(BSU), hereinafter referred to as the University.

Section 2

SEC. 2. The University shall provide graduate and

undergraduate courses in the arts, sciences, humanities and professional fields

in agriculture, natural sciences, technology, and other technical and

professional courses as the Board of Regents may determine and deem proper. It

shall also promote research, extension, agribusiness and advanced studies and

progressive leadership in its field of specialization.

Section 3

SEC. 3. There shall be organized in the University of

Horticultural Research and Training Institute (HORTI) and other relevant

research centers to develop technologies on sub-tropical agriculture and natural

resources which will backstop and enhance the growth and development of the

Cordillera area and other highland areas.

Section 4

SEC. 4. The governing board of the University shall be the

Board of Regents to be composed of the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports

as Chairman, the President of the University as Vice-Chairman, the Regional

Director of the National Economics and Development Authority (NEDA), and two (2)

prominent citizens of the Region, one of whom must be an alumnus of the

University who have distinguished themselves in their respective professional or

field of specialization to be appointed by the President of the Philippines on

recommendation of the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, in consultation

with the other members of the Board. The Minister of Education, Culture and

Sports may designate his representative to sit for him in meetings of the Board

of Regents: Provided, that; one of the two' first appointive Regents

shall serve for one (1) year, and the other for two (2) years. Thereafter, the

appointees shall hold office for a term of two (2) years. In case of permanent

vacancy, the appointee shall hold office for the unexpired term only.

Section 5

SEC. 5. A quorum of the Board of Regents shall consist of a

majority of all the members holding office at the time of the meeting. All

processes against the University shall be served to the Chairman of the Board or

to the President of the University.

Section 6

SEC. 6. The management of the University and the exercise of

its corporate powers are hereby vested in the Board of Regents, and in the

President of the University in so far as authorized by the Board of Regents.

Section 7

SEC. 7. The Chairman and Members of the Board of Regents

shall serve without compensation, but they may be entitled to a moderate

honorarium or allowance per month, and reimbursement of actual and necessary

expenses incurred in attendance to meetings or other official business duly

authorized by the Board of Regents.

Section 8

SEC. 8. The head of the University shall be known as the

President of the Benguet State University who shall be appointed by the

President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Minister of Education,

Culture and Sports after consultation with the Board of Regents. He shall have

the powers and perform duties pertaining to the office of university president,

in addition to those specifically provided for in the decree.

Section 9

SEC. 9. The Board of Regents shall have the following powers

and duties in addition to its general powers of administration and supervision

and the exercise of all the powers of a corporation as provided in

Section Thirty-Six of Batas Pambansa Bilang 68, otherwise known as the

Corporation Code of the Philippines:

To receive and appropriate to the ends specified by law such sums of money

as may be provided for the support and maintenance of the University;

To prescribe rules for its own government and to enact for the government of

the University such rules and regulations not contrary to law, as may be

necessary to carry out the purpose and functions of the University;

To import commodities for educational purposes, duty-free as an exception to

existing laws as well as to receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of

real and personal property of all kinds, to administer the same for the benefit

of the University, specific department thereof, or for aid to any student in

accordance with the discretion and instruction of the donor, or in default

thereof, in much manner as the Board of Regents may in its discretion determine.

All such donations shall be considered deductible items for the income tax

returns of the donors;

To approve the curricular and rules of discipline drawn by the University

Council as hereinafter provided;

To confer degrees upon successful candidates for graduation and to such

other candidate as may be qualified; to award honorary degrees upon persons in

recognition of learning, public service, statemanship or prominence in any field

of specialization of the University; to authorize the University President to

award certificates for completion of non-degree program;

To appoint on recommendation of the President of the

University—vice-presidents, deans, directors, heads of departments, professors,

instructors and other officials and employees of the University; to fix their

compensation hours of service, and such after due investigation and hearing;

To establish chairs in the University and to provide fellowships for

qualified faculty members and other scholarships to deserving students;

To fix the tuition fees, matriculation, graduation, laboratory, and other

special fees and charges as if may proper to impose. Such fees and charges

including other income generated by the University shall be taken up in the

books of accounts of the University in accordance with existing rules and

regulations;

To constitute a revolving fund out of income derived from production and

other income generating projects;

To authorize the University President to enter into contracts and/or

negotiate for the construction, repair and acquisition of buildings,

machineries, equipment and other physical facilities, or to acquire loans for

improving them.

To authorize the University President to enter into formal agreements or

consortia with academic, research and of institutions both here and abroad,

subject to certain guidelines to be framed by the University Council and final

approval by the Board of Regents; and

To name after prominent Filipinos or heroes hall buildings, grounds or

branch of the University;

Section 10

SEC. 10. Any member of the faculty or of the non-teaching

staff of the University shall be under penalty of dismissal by the Board of

Regents if he attempts directly or indirectly to influence students of the

University towards any ideology, political or otherwise, which preaches the

overthrow of the government of any of its instrumentalities through violence or

subversion.

Section 11

SEC. 11. No student shall be denied admission to the

University by reason of age, sex, nationality, religion, or political

affiliation.

Section 12

SEC. 12. There shall be an Administrative Council consisting

of the University President as Chairman, and the Vice-Presidents, Deans,

Directors and other officials as may be designated by the University President

as members, whose duty shall be to prepare and promulgate general policies of

the University governing personnel, financial management and development

planning, subject to approval by the Board of Regents.

Section 13

SEC. 13. There shall be a University Council composed of the

University President as Chairman, Vice-Presidents, Deans, heads of departments,

professors, associate professors and assistance professors. The University

Council shall have the power to recommend students and other deserving

individuals to be recipient of degrees or awards. It shall have disciplinary

power over the students within the limits prescribed by the rules and

regulations on discipline approved by the Board of Regents.

Section 14

SEC. 14. There shall be a College Council in each College or

unit of the University with the Dean as Chairman and all the faculty of the

College or unit as members.

Section 15

SEC. 15. There shall be a Secretary of the University who

shall be appointed by the Board of Regents. He shall also be the Secretary of

the Board of Regents. He shall keep records of the University and such other

documents as may be directed by the Board of Regents.

Section 16

SEC. 16. Heads of bureaus, agencies and offices of the

national, provincial, city, municipal governments are hereby authorized to loan

or transfer upon requests of the University such apparatus and supplies as may

be needed by the University and to detail employee or employees for duty therein

when in the judgment of the head of the Bureau or office, such employee can be

spared without serious detriment to the public service. Employees so detailed

shall perform such duty as required under such detail and the time so employed

shall be counted as part of their regular official service.

Section 17

SEC. 17. The provincial government of the Province of

Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao hereby directed to

cooperate with the University in setting up and sponsoring a Special Cultural

Office of the University which shall gather, collate, and synchronize the

teaching, preservation, and integration of the socio-cultural heritage of the

various ethnic tribes of the mountain region into the national social millieu.

For this purpose, the four provinces may each sponsor at least one professional

chair in the University.

Section 18

SEC. 18. The University is hereby authorized to integrate

into its systems other educational institutions within the Province of Benguet

and/or other Mountain Provinces that may be qualified vis-a-vis the standards

set by the University as approved by the Board of Regents.

Section 19

SEC. 19. The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be the

ex-officio Treasurer of the University, and all accounts and expenses hereof

shall be audited by the Commission on Audit in accordance with existing rules

and regulations, except as provided by this Decree.

Section 20

SEC. 20. All the present officials, administrative staff,

members of the faculty and employees of the Mountain State Agricultural College

shall be absorbed by the University with their respective position, designation,

and ranks. All the assets, records and appropriations of the Mountain State

Agricultural College shall be transferred to the Mountain State University.

Section 21

SEC. 21. All parcels of land that are reserved for the

Mountain State Agricultural College and for other educational institutions that

may be integrated into the University, or their predecessors interests under

various Executive Orders or Proclamation are hereby declared the property of the

Benguet State University. All such parcels, registered or unregistered, shall be

titled in the name of the University and, in the documentation process, the

University shall be exempt from paying taxes; such real estate property of the

University shall also be exempt from taxes that are ordinarily or usually levied

on private properties.

Section 22

SEC. 22. The Minister of Education, Culture and Sports is

hereby directed to take such steps as are necessary for the immediate

implementation of this law. For this purpose, he is hereby authorized to create

a technical committee to advise the Board of Regents of the University toward

the proper establishment, development, and expansion of the programs of the

University.

Section 23

SEC. 23. In addition to the present appropriations of the

Mountain State Agricultural College, the sum of Five Million Pesos

(P5,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated out of the Funds of the National Treasury

not otherwise appropriated to carry out the purposes of this decree. Thereafter,

funds needed for the maintenance and continued support and operation of the

University shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 24

SEC. 24. The Board of Regents shall submit to the President

of the Philippines a detailed report setting forth the programs, conditions,

needs, and plans of the University within sixty (60) days after the close of

each school calendar year.

Section 25

SEC. 25. The President of the Philippines and the two next

ranking officials of the Republic of the Philippines shall constitute the Board

of Visitors of the University, whose function shall be to make visits to the

University at such time and date as they may determine or deem proper, to

examine the property, courses of study, discipline, accounts, and general

conditions of the University.

Section 26

SEC. 26. Republic Act No. 5923, otherwise known as the

Charter of the Mountain Agricultural College, Presidential Decree No. 1437,

defining the composition and powers of the governing Board, the appointment and

term of office of the presidents of chartered state colleges and universities,

and for other purposes, and such other laws, acts, decrees, or executive orders

contrary to or inconsistent with this decree are hereby repealed or amended

accordingly.

Section 27

SEC. 27. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 12th day of January, in the year of Our

Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-six.