H. No. 22 / 91 OG No. 21, 3216 (May 22, 1995)

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7910, February 23, 1995 ]

AN ACT CONVERTING THE LEYTE STATE COLLEGE INTO A STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:SECTION 1. The Leyte State College in the City of Tacloban is hereby converted into a state university to be known as the Leyte Normal University, hereinafter referred to as the University. The main campus of the University shall be in the City of Tacloban.SEC. 2. The University shall primarily provide higher professional and special instructions for special purposes and promote research and extension services, advanced studies and progressive leadership in education and other related fields as may be relevant.SEC. 3. The University shall offer undergraduate and graduate courses in the fields of education and other related degree courses as the Board of Regents may deem necessary to carry out its objectives.SEC. 4. The existing high school shall be transferred to the jurisdiction and supervision of the Commission on Higher Education: Provided, That this high school shall be allowed to remain and operate within the campus of the University until it shall have been transferred to another location or until its students shall have been accommodated in other high schools, public or private: Provided, further, That the University may operate a reasonably sized laboratory school of one or, at most, two classes per curriculum year, if it offers a teacher training program.SEC. 5. The University shall have the general powers of a corporation set forth in the Corporation Code. 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. 6. The governing body 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, chairman;
2. The president of the University, vice-chairman;
3. The chairman of the Committee on Education of the Senate, member;
4. The chairman of the Committee on Education of the House of Representatives or his representative, member;
5. The representative of the National Economic and Development Authority, member;
6. The president of the faculty, member; and
7. The president of the supreme student council of the University, member.

In addition, the Board may elect the following as members when deemed necessary,.The president of the alumni association of the University and two (2) prominent citizens who have distinguished themselves in the field of teaching education.The president of the alumni association as well as the two (2) prominent citizens so elected by the Board shall have the same powers, authority, and privileges as the regular members of the Board.The chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, the president of the University, the Education Committee Chairmen of the Senate and the House, and the representative of the National Economic and Development Authority shall have an ex officio term of office, while the presidents of the faculty and the supreme student council and, when deemed necessary, the president of the alumni association shall serve for one (1) year and, when likewise necessary, the two (2) prominent citizens shall serve for four (4) years and two (2) years, respectively.For purposes of the provisions of this section, the faculty, alumni, and supreme student council in the campus of the University shall organize their respective associations.SEC. 7. 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, arts, culture, and sports.SEC. 8. 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 enact rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be necessary to carry out the objectives and functions of the University;
2. To import duty-free essential commodities, materials, and equipment which are not available locally for actual, direct, and exclusive use of the University's educational and technological programs;
3. To receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds which shall be administered and of in accordance with the limitations, directions, and instructions of the donor, if any, for the benefit of the University. Such legacies, gifts, and donations shall be exempt from all kinds of taxes and shall be deductible from the gross income in the computation of the income tax of the donor;
4. To fix 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;
5. To authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machineries, equipment, and other facilities and the purchase of real and personal properties, necessary supplies, materials, and equipment. Such purchases and transactions which are made by the University through the Board shall be exempt from all customs duties and taxes;
6. To confirm the appointments and/or designations of vice-president(s) , deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty members, and other officials and employees of the University made by the president of the University;
7. To approve the curricula, institutional programs, and rules of discipline drawn by the administrative and academic councils as herein provided;
8. To confer degrees upon successful candidates for graduation and to award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of outstanding contribution in the field of education or in any field of specialization; and
9. To establish chairs in the University and to provide fellowship for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students.

SEC. 9. A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of all members holding office at the time of the meeting: Provided, however, that among those present is the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, who is the chairman of the Board, or the president of the University who acts as the presiding officer in the former's absence. The Board shall convene regularly once every two (2) months. The chairman of the Board may call a special meeting whenever necessary.The members of the Board shall not receive salary but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred either in attendance in meetings of the Board or in other official business authorized by resolution of the Board subject to existing laws on honoraria and allowances.SEC. 10. The University shall be headed by a president to be appointed by the Board of Regents and shall hold office for a term of six (6) years without reappointment unless he reaches the age of retirement or earlier removed for cause or incapacitated to discharge the duties of the office.In case of vacancy in the office of the president by reason of death, resignation, incapacity of the president to perform the functions of his office, or removal for cause, the Board shall have the authority to designate an officer-in-charge of the University pending the appointment of a successor.The powers and duties of the president of the University, in addition to those specifically provided for in this Act, shall include those usually pertaining to the office of the president of a university.The salary of the president of the University shall be fixed by the Board and shall be comparable to that being received by the president of similar educational institutions of like enrollment and standing.SEC. 11. The president of the University, whose term may be terminated according to this Act, shall be entitled to full retirement benefits under existing laws.SEC. 12. There shall be an administrative council consisting of the president of the University as chairman, the vice-president(s), deans, directors, and other officials of equal rank whose duty is to implement the policies governing the administration, management, and development planning of the University as approved by the Board.SEC. 13. There shall be an academic council with the president of the University as chairman and all members of the instructional staff with the rank of not lower than assistant professor as members. The academic council shall have the power to prescribe curricular offerings subject to the approval of the Board. It shall fix the requirements for admission to the University as well as for graduation and the conferring of degrees subject to review and/or approval by the Board through the president of the University. It shall also have disciplinary powers over the students through the president within the limits prescribed by the rules of discipline as approved by the Board.SEC. 14. There shall be a secretary of the University who shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the president of the University. He shall also be the secretary of the Board and shall keep such records of the University as may be determined by the Board.SEC. 15. The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be the ex officio treasurer of the University.SEC. 16. No 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. 17. No student shall be denied admission to the University by reason of sex, nationality, religion, or political affiliation.SEC. 18. The University shall enjoy academic freedom.SEC. 19. The incumbent head of the Leyte State College shall automatically become the president of the University upon the approval of this Act.SEC. 20. On or before the fifteenth day of the second 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 Commission on Higher Education and to both Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress, conditions, and needs of the University.SEC. 21. The President of the Philippines, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall constitute a board of visitors of the University whose duty shall be to: attend the commencement exercises of the University and to make visits at such time as they deem proper; examine the property, course of study, discipline, and the state of finances of the University; inspect all books of accounts of the institution; and make a report to the Congress of the Philippines upon the same with such recommendations as it favors.SEC. 22. All the assets, fixed and movable, personnel, and records of the Leyte State College in the City of Tacloban, as well as liabilities or obligations, are hereby transferred to the University: Provided, however, That the positions, rights, and security of tenure of personnel therein employed under existing laws prior to absorption by the University are not impaired: Provided, further, That the incumbents of the positions shall remain in the same status until otherwise provided for by the Board. AU parcels of land belong to the government occupied by the Leyte State College are hereby declared to be the property of the Leyte Normal University and shall be titled under that name: Provided, That should the University cease to exist or he abolished or should such parcels of land aforementioned be no longer needed by the University, the same shall revert to the provinces, municipalities, or cities where they are located.SEC. 23. All accounts and expenses of the University shall be audited by the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representative.SEC. 24. The heads of 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 the bureau or office such apparatus, equipment, supplies, or services of such employees can be spared without serious detriment to the 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 official service.SEC. 25. It shall be a continuing policy of the University to accept the affiliation and/or integration within its operation of any existing national school whose program can contribute largely and effectively to the attainment of its objectives: Provided, however, That in case of integration, the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education is hereby authorized to determine and approve the specific existing national schools that are to be integrated as part of the University. In this particular case, it is understood that a funds, properties, and other assets as well as obligations of the integrated schools shall be transferred to the University.SEC. 26. 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.The income generated by the University 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 the flexibility on use of income shall be focused on faculty, personnel improvement and student welfare activities, and for expenses necessary for the attainment of its purposes under this Act.SEC. 27. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Leyte State College. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its operation and maintenance shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.SEC. 28. 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. 29. 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