Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro ManilaFourteenth Congress
First Regular SessionBegun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand seven.
Republic Act No. 9500 April 29, 2008
AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AS THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "University of the Philippines Charter of 2008."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The University of the Philippines is hereby declared as the national university.
The State shall promote, foster, nurture and protect the right of all citizens to accessible quality education. Toward this end, it is the policy of the State to strengthen the University of the Philippines as the national university.
SEC. 3. Purpose of the University. - As the national university, a public and secular institution of higher learning, and a community of scholars dedicated to the search for truth and knowledge...
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Republic Acts
AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AS THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Republic Act No. 9500
Summary of Republic Act No. 9500 (University of the Philippines Charter of 2008):
Declaration of Policy and Purpose of the University (Sections 2-3)
- Declares the University of the Philippines (UP) as the national university.
- Outlines the purposes and functions of UP as the national university, including:
- Leading in setting academic standards and innovations in various disciplines (Sec. 3a).
- Serving as a graduate university and providing advanced studies (Sec. 3b).
- Conducting basic and applied research and promoting research in other institutions (Sec. 3c).
- Providing community, public, and volunteer services, and assistance to the government and private sector (Sec. 3d).
- Protecting the rights and welfare of academic and non-academic personnel (Sec. 3e).
- Providing training and learning opportunities in leadership, citizenship, and democratic values (Sec. 3f).
- Serving as a regional and global university through international cooperation (Sec. 3g).
- Promoting democratic governance and active participation of constituents (Sec. 3h).
The University System and Constituent Universities (Section 4)
- Establishes UP as a university system composed of existing and future constituent universities established by the Board of Regents.
- Lists the existing constituent universities: UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Los Baños, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao, UP Baguio, and UP Open University.
Academic Freedom and Excellence (Sections 5-6)
- Affirms the right and responsibility of UP to exercise academic freedom (Sec. 5).
- Mandates UP to maintain and enhance high academic standards in instruction, research, extension, and public service (Sec. 6).
Commitment to National Development and Social Responsibility (Sections 7-8)
- Requires UP to study the state of the nation, identify key concerns, formulate policies, and provide advice and recommendations to Congress, the President, and other government agencies (Sec. 7).
- Commits UP to serve the Filipino nation and humanity, and relate its activities to the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people (Sec. 8).
Democratic Access and Sports (Sections 9-10)
- Mandates UP to take affirmative steps to enhance access for disadvantaged students, such as indigenous peoples, poor and deserving students, and students from depressed areas (Sec. 9).
- Prohibits discrimination in admission based on age, gender, nationality, religion, economic status, ethnicity, disability, or political affiliation (Sec. 9).
- Requires UP to undertake and support comprehensive sports programs (Sec. 10).
Institutional Autonomy (Section 11)
- Grants UP greater flexibility and autonomy as the national university, allowing it to exclusively determine its teaching, research, and extension thrusts, plans, policies, programs, and standards.
- Requires UP to recommend its annual budget to the President and Congress based on its determination.
Board of Regents (Sections 12-13)
- Establishes the Board of Regents as the governing body of UP, composed of various ex-officio members, faculty, student, staff, and alumni representatives, and appointed regents (Sec. 12).
- Outlines the powers and duties of the Board, including:
- Defining the thrusts and adopting policy guidelines for UP (Sec. 13a).
- Approving academic programs, graduation, and honors (Sec. 13b-d).
- Conferring honorary degrees (Sec. 13e).
- Approving rules on student discipline (Sec. 13f).
- Creating, reorganizing, or abolishing academic and administrative units (Sec. 13g).
- Establishing professorial chair awards and providing fellowships, scholarships, and grants (Sec. 13h-i).
- Electing the President of the University for a single term of six (6) years (Sec. 13j).
- Appointing faculty and staff, determining their compensation and benefits, and granting leave of absence (Sec. 13k-l).
- Fixing tuition fees and other charges, and managing the income and funds of UP (Sec. 13m-n).
- Authorizing construction, maintenance, and acquisition of properties (Sec. 13o-p).
- Authorizing faculty and staff to travel abroad for study, conferences, and research (Sec. 13q).
- Exercising general corporate powers and delegating powers to the President or other officials (Sec. 13r-s).
- Prescribing rules and regulations for the governance of UP (Sec. 13t).
President of the University (Sections 14-15)
- Establishes the President of the University as the chief academic officer, head of the faculty, and chief executive officer (Sec. 14).
- Provides for the appointment of the President by the Board for a single term of six (6) years (Sec. 14).
- Requires the appointment of a Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents (Sec. 15).
University Council and Chancellor (Sections 16-18)
- Establishes a University Council in each constituent university as the highest academic body, composed of the Chancellor and faculty members (Sec. 16).
- Outlines the powers of the University Council, including fixing admission and graduation requirements, prescribing academic programs, recommending graduation and honors, exercising disciplinary power over students, and reviewing academic courses and policies (Sec. 17).
- Vests the administration of each constituent university in the Chancellor, who is elected by the Board upon nomination by the President (Sec. 18).
Faculty and Appointment Requisites (Sections 19-20)
- Provides for the election of Deans by the Board upon nomination by the President and recommendation of the Chancellor (Sec. 19).
- Exempts faculty members and research, extension, and professional staff (REPS) from civil service examinations or regulations as a requisite for appointment (Sec. 20).
- Allows the appointment of faculty members without regard to licensing requirements of professional regulatory boards (Sec. 20).
- Prohibits religious or political tests or inquiries in the appointment of faculty members (Sec. 20).
Student Affairs (Section 21)
- Establishes student councils at the college, institute, constituent university, and system levels (Sec. 21a).
- Guarantees freedom of expression and autonomy in student publications, funded by student fees (Sec. 21b).
Land Grants and Real Properties (Sections 22-24)
- Declares that land grants and real properties ceded to UP are reserved for its purposes, and confirms UP's absolute ownership over these properties (Sec. 22a-b).
- Allows the Board to plan and implement land leases, subject to environmental protection and non-conflict with UP's academic mission (Sec. 22c).
- Permits the use of income from real properties as security for transactions to generate additional revenues for educational purposes (Sec. 22d).
- Allows the Board to approve joint ventures involving the income derived from real properties, without alienating the properties (Sec. 22e).
- Requires revenue generation plans from land grants and real properties to be consistent with UP's academic mission and protect it from undue commercial influence (Sec. 22f).
- Prohibits the sale of existing real properties, except for donated properties where the terms allow alienation (Sec. 23).
- Establishes conditions and procedures for leases longer than five (5) years and certain transactions involving assets, including public bidding, comprehensive development plans, fairness opinion reports, and approval requirements (Sec. 23).
- Establishes an independent trust committee to recommend banks to manage UP's funds and provide investment guidance to the Board (Sec. 24).
Tax Exemptions (Section 25)
- Exempts UP's revenues and assets used for educational purposes from all taxes and duties (Sec. 25a).
- Exempts gifts and donations to UP from donor's tax and allows 150% deduction from the donor's gross income (Sec. 25b).
- Exempts importation of books, supplies, materials, and equipment certified by the Board from customs duties (Sec. 25c).
- Exempts UP from paying value-added tax (Sec. 25d).
- Exempts academic awards from taxes (Sec. 25e).
Reportorial Requirements, Auditing, and Appropriations (Sections 26-28)
- Requires UP to submit an annual report to Congress containing financial statements, income sources, contracts, investments, and expenditure programs (Sec. 26).
- Mandates the Commission on Audit to audit UP's accounts and disbursements (Sec. 26).
- Provides for the interpretation of any doubt in favor of UP's academic freedom and fiscal autonomy (Sec. 27).
- Appropriates the amount needed for implementation from UP's current funds and lump sum appropriations in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Sec. 28).
- Establishes a centennial fund of P100,000,000.00 per year for five (5) years, included in the annual GAA (Sec. 28).
Separability Clause and Repealing Clause (Sections 29-30)
- Includes a separability clause to preserve the validity of other provisions if any part is declared unconstitutional (Sec. 29).
- Repeals Act No. 1870 and other laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Act (Sec. 30).
Effectivity (Section 31)
- Provides for the effectivity of the Act fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation (Sec. 31).
Declaration of Policy and Purpose of the University (Sections 2-3)
- Declares the University of the Philippines (UP) as the national university.
- Outlines the purposes and functions of UP as the national university, including:
- Leading in setting academic standards and innovations in various disciplines (Sec. 3a).
- Serving as a graduate university and providing advanced studies (Sec. 3b).
- Conducting basic and applied research and promoting research in other institutions (Sec. 3c).
- Providing community, public, and volunteer services, and assistance to the government and private sector (Sec. 3d).
- Protecting the rights and welfare of academic and non-academic personnel (Sec. 3e).
- Providing training and learning opportunities in leadership, citizenship, and democratic values (Sec. 3f).
- Serving as a regional and global university through international cooperation (Sec. 3g).
- Promoting democratic governance and active participation of constituents (Sec. 3h).
The University System and Constituent Universities (Section 4)
- Establishes UP as a university system composed of existing and future constituent universities established by the Board of Regents.
- Lists the existing constituent universities: UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Los Baños, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao, UP Baguio, and UP Open University.
Academic Freedom and Excellence (Sections 5-6)
- Affirms the right and responsibility of UP to exercise academic freedom (Sec. 5).
- Mandates UP to maintain and enhance high academic standards in instruction, research, extension, and public service (Sec. 6).
Commitment to National Development and Social Responsibility (Sections 7-8)
- Requires UP to study the state of the nation, identify key concerns, formulate policies, and provide advice and recommendations to Congress, the President, and other government agencies (Sec. 7).
- Commits UP to serve the Filipino nation and humanity, and relate its activities to the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people (Sec. 8).
Democratic Access and Sports (Sections 9-10)
- Mandates UP to take affirmative steps to enhance access for disadvantaged students, such as indigenous peoples, poor and deserving students, and students from depressed areas (Sec. 9).
- Prohibits discrimination in admission based on age, gender, nationality, religion, economic status, ethnicity, disability, or political affiliation (Sec. 9).
- Requires UP to undertake and support comprehensive sports programs (Sec. 10).
Institutional Autonomy (Section 11)
- Grants UP greater flexibility and autonomy as the national university, allowing it to exclusively determine its teaching, research, and extension thrusts, plans, policies, programs, and standards.
- Requires UP to recommend its annual budget to the President and Congress based on its determination.
Board of Regents (Sections 12-13)
- Establishes the Board of Regents as the governing body of UP, composed of various ex-officio members, faculty, student, staff, and alumni representatives, and appointed regents (Sec. 12).
- Outlines the powers and duties of the Board, including:
- Defining the thrusts and adopting policy guidelines for UP (Sec. 13a).
- Approving academic programs, graduation, and honors (Sec. 13b-d).
- Conferring honorary degrees (Sec. 13e).
- Approving rules on student discipline (Sec. 13f).
- Creating, reorganizing, or abolishing academic and administrative units (Sec. 13g).
- Establishing professorial chair awards and providing fellowships, scholarships, and grants (Sec. 13h-i).
- Electing the President of the University for a single term of six (6) years (Sec. 13j).
- Appointing faculty and staff, determining their compensation and benefits, and granting leave of absence (Sec. 13k-l).
- Fixing tuition fees and other charges, and managing the income and funds of UP (Sec. 13m-n).
- Authorizing construction, maintenance, and acquisition of properties (Sec. 13o-p).
- Authorizing faculty and staff to travel abroad for study, conferences, and research (Sec. 13q).
- Exercising general corporate powers and delegating powers to the President or other officials (Sec. 13r-s).
- Prescribing rules and regulations for the governance of UP (Sec. 13t).
President of the University (Sections 14-15)
- Establishes the President of the University as the chief academic officer, head of the faculty, and chief executive officer (Sec. 14).
- Provides for the appointment of the President by the Board for a single term of six (6) years (Sec. 14).
- Requires the appointment of a Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents (Sec. 15).
University Council and Chancellor (Sections 16-18)
- Establishes a University Council in each constituent university as the highest academic body, composed of the Chancellor and faculty members (Sec. 16).
- Outlines the powers of the University Council, including fixing admission and graduation requirements, prescribing academic programs, recommending graduation and honors, exercising disciplinary power over students, and reviewing academic courses and policies (Sec. 17).
- Vests the administration of each constituent university in the Chancellor, who is elected by the Board upon nomination by the President (Sec. 18).
Faculty and Appointment Requisites (Sections 19-20)
- Provides for the election of Deans by the Board upon nomination by the President and recommendation of the Chancellor (Sec. 19).
- Exempts faculty members and research, extension, and professional staff (REPS) from civil service examinations or regulations as a requisite for appointment (Sec. 20).
- Allows the appointment of faculty members without regard to licensing requirements of professional regulatory boards (Sec. 20).
- Prohibits religious or political tests or inquiries in the appointment of faculty members (Sec. 20).
Student Affairs (Section 21)
- Establishes student councils at the college, institute, constituent university, and system levels (Sec. 21a).
- Guarantees freedom of expression and autonomy in student publications, funded by student fees (Sec. 21b).
Land Grants and Real Properties (Sections 22-24)
- Declares that land grants and real properties ceded to UP are reserved for its purposes, and confirms UP's absolute ownership over these properties (Sec. 22a-b).
- Allows the Board to plan and implement land leases, subject to environmental protection and non-conflict with UP's academic mission (Sec. 22c).
- Permits the use of income from real properties as security for transactions to generate additional revenues for educational purposes (Sec. 22d).
- Allows the Board to approve joint ventures involving the income derived from real properties, without alienating the properties (Sec. 22e).
- Requires revenue generation plans from land grants and real properties to be consistent with UP's academic mission and protect it from undue commercial influence (Sec. 22f).
- Prohibits the sale of existing real properties, except for donated properties where the terms allow alienation (Sec. 23).
- Establishes conditions and procedures for leases longer than five (5) years and certain transactions involving assets, including public bidding, comprehensive development plans, fairness opinion reports, and approval requirements (Sec. 23).
- Establishes an independent trust committee to recommend banks to manage UP's funds and provide investment guidance to the Board (Sec. 24).
Tax Exemptions (Section 25)
- Exempts UP's revenues and assets used for educational purposes from all taxes and duties (Sec. 25a).
- Exempts gifts and donations to UP from donor's tax and allows 150% deduction from the donor's gross income (Sec. 25b).
- Exempts importation of books, supplies, materials, and equipment certified by the Board from customs duties (Sec. 25c).
- Exempts UP from paying value-added tax (Sec. 25d).
- Exempts academic awards from taxes (Sec. 25e).
Reportorial Requirements, Auditing, and Appropriations (Sections 26-28)
- Requires UP to submit an annual report to Congress containing financial statements, income sources, contracts, investments, and expenditure programs (Sec. 26).
- Mandates the Commission on Audit to audit UP's accounts and disbursements (Sec. 26).
- Provides for the interpretation of any doubt in favor of UP's academic freedom and fiscal autonomy (Sec. 27).
- Appropriates the amount needed for implementation from UP's current funds and lump sum appropriations in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Sec. 28).
- Establishes a centennial fund of P100,000,000.00 per year for five (5) years, included in the annual GAA (Sec. 28).
Separability Clause and Repealing Clause (Sections 29-30)
- Includes a separability clause to preserve the validity of other provisions if any part is declared unconstitutional (Sec. 29).
- Repeals Act No. 1870 and other laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Act (Sec. 30).
Effectivity (Section 31)
- Provides for the effectivity of the Act fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation (Sec. 31).