AN ACT CONVERTING THE NEGROS OCCIDENTAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE (NOAC) IN THE CITY OF KABANKALAN

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 9141

Conversion of Negros Occidental Agricultural College to Negros State College of Agriculture
• Section 1: Converts the Negros Occidental Agricultural College (NOAC) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental into a state college called the Negros State College of Agriculture (NSCA).

Establishment of Extension Campuses
• Section 2: Establishes five extension campuses of NSCA in different municipalities of Negros Occidental, with specific areas of focus:
- Sipalay Campus: Trade technical courses, mining science, metallurgy, and other relevant programs.
- Candoni Campus: Technical agriculture, forestry, cooperatives, and compact farming systems.
- Cauayan Campus: Agro-fishery, marine studies, and community-responsive programs.
- Ilog Campus: Fisheries, marine sciences, and aquaculture.
- Main Campus in Kabankalan City: Existing agricultural programs, including graduate courses.

Academic Programs and Offerings
• Section 3: NSCA shall offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs, short-term technical or diploma courses, vocational training in agricultural sciences and related fields to meet the needs of the province and region.
• Section 4: NSCA shall provide advanced instruction and professional training in agriculture, science, technology, education, and other relevant fields as deemed necessary by the Board of Trustees. It shall promote research, advanced studies, extension, and progressive leadership in each area of specialization, while retaining its primary mandate as an agricultural institution. The existing high school shall be transferred to the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), but NSCA may operate a reasonably-sized laboratory school if it has a Department of Education.

Board of Trustees
• Section 5: The administration of NSCA shall be vested in the Board of Trustees, composed of the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as Board Chairman, President of NSCA as Vice Chairman, Chairpersons of the Senate and House Committees on Education, Regional Directors of NEDA and DOST, presidents of faculty, student, and alumni associations, and two prominent citizens of the province.

Powers and Duties of the Board of Trustees
• Section 7: The Board shall have various powers and duties, including:
- Enacting rules and regulations (7a)
- Receiving and appropriating funds (7b)
- Receiving and administering legacies, gifts, and donations (7c)
- Fixing tuition fees and other charges (7d)
- Adopting a socialized tuition scheme for greater access to poor but deserving students (7e)
- Authorizing construction, repair, and purchase of facilities and properties (7f)
- Appointing and removing personnel (7g, 7h)
- Approving curricula, programs, and rules of discipline (7i)
- Setting admission and graduation policies (7j)
- Awarding honorary degrees and certificates (7k)
- Establishing and absorbing tertiary institutions as branches (7l)
- Establishing research and extension centers (7m)
- Establishing chairs, fellowships, and scholarships (7n)
- Delegating powers and duties to the President and other officials (7o)
- Authorizing external management audits (7p)
- Entering into joint ventures with business and industry (7q)
- Setting up innovative modes of knowledge transmission (7r)
- Extending the term of the President beyond retirement age but not later than 70 years old, upon outstanding performance and unanimous recommendation (7s)

Board Meetings
• Section 8: The Board shall convene at least once every quarter, with the Chairman of CHED or a designated Commissioner present. In the absence of the CHED Chairman, the President of NSCA shall preside as Vice Chairman.

President of NSCA
• Section 9: NSCA shall be headed by a President appointed by the Board of Trustees for a term of four years, extendible for another four years upon unanimous recommendation by the Search Committee, but not beyond the age of 70.

Administrative and Academic Councils
• Section 10: There shall be an Administrative Council chaired by the President to review and recommend policies on administration, management, and development planning.
• Section 11: There shall be an Academic Council chaired by the President and composed of instructional staff with the rank of at least Assistant Professor, to prescribe curricular offerings, admission and graduation requirements, academic policies, and rules on discipline.

Secretary and Treasurer
• Section 12: The Board shall appoint a Secretary to keep records and proceedings.
• Section 13: The Treasurer of the Philippines shall be the ex officio treasurer of NSCA.

Transition and Personnel
• Section 15: The incumbent superintendent of NOAC, if qualified, shall serve as the first President of NSCA, with the remaining term counted as the first term.
• Section 16: All assets, liabilities, personnel, and records of NOAC shall be transferred to NSCA, without impairing the positions, rights, and security of tenure of personnel.

Support from National Government
• Section 17: Heads of national government bureaus and offices are authorized to loan or transfer apparatus, equipment, supplies, and detail employees for duty at NSCA when needed.

Scholarship Program and Academic Freedom
• Section 18: NSCA shall provide a scholarship program and affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students, without discrimination based on sex, religion, culture, or ethnic origin.
• Section 19: NSCA shall enjoy academic freedom.

Annual Report to Congress
• Section 20: The Board shall file a detailed report on the progress, condition, and needs of NSCA with both Houses of Congress annually.

Integration of Existing Schools
• Section 21: NSCA may accept the affiliation and integration of existing national schools within the province whose programs can contribute to its objectives, in coordination with CHED and consultation with DBM, with the transfer of funds, properties, assets, and obligations of the integrated school.

Funding and Appropriations
• Section 22: The necessary amount to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be added to the current year's appropriations of NOAC, except for the existing high school. Thereafter, funds for the continued operation and maintenance of NSCA shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Initial Requirements
• Section 23: Within 120 days after the approval of this Act, NSCA shall:
- Submit a five-year development plan and program budget to CHED for recommendation to DBM (23a)
- Undergo a management audit in cooperation with CHED (23b)
- Set up its organizational, administrative, and academic structure, including the appointment/designation of key officials (23c)
- Set in motion the establishment of at least four separate degree-granting units, one in arts and sciences and another at the graduate level (23d)

Faculty Exemption from Civil Service Examination
• Section 24: Faculty members of NSCA at the tertiary level shall be exempt from any civil service examination as a requisite for appointment, without prejudice to the right of the Board to impose other professional examination requirements to maintain high academic standards.

Governing Charter
• Section 25: The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292 (Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997) shall form an integral part of this Act and serve as the governing charter of NSCA.

Repealing Clause
• Section 27: All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Effectivity
• Section 28: This Act shall take effect upon its approval.