Davao Oriental State University (Dorsu) Baganga, Canteel, and Tarragona Campuses Act

Senate Weffior of the Secrap TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 26 FEB -5 P3:50 SENATE RECEIVED BY: 1782 S. No. - Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go AN ACT CONVERTING THE EXTENSION CAMPUSES OF THE DAVAO ORIENTAL STATE UNIVERSITY (DORSU) IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF BAGANGA, CATEEL, AND TARRAGONA, PROVINCE OF DAVAO ORIENTAL, INTO REGULAR CAMPUSES AND TO BE KNOWN RESPECTIVELY AS DORSU-BAGANGA CAMPUS, DORSU-CATEEL CAMPUS, AND DORSU-TARRAGONA CAMPUS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Article II, Section 17 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that "the State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development." Education is a fundamental right and a vital tool for socio-economic development, especially in areas such as the Municipalities of Baganga, Cateel, and Tarragona in the Province of Davao Oriental. As the premier state university in the province, the Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) is mandated to provide accessible, quality, and relevant higher education to support local and regional development. On May 28 2018, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11033 which converted the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) in the City of Mati, including all its existing satellite campuses, into a State University to be known as the Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU). However, the

extension campuses in Baganga, Cateel, and Tarragona remain limited in terms of program offerings, personnel, and facilities due to their current operational status. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority's 2024 Census of Population (2024 POPCEN) for Region XI, the Municipality of Baganga has a population of 59,796, Cateel has 45,623, and Tarragona has 27,349. These growing communities require localized access to complete higher education programs, especially for students who face geographical and financial challenges in pursuing tertiary education outside their municipalities. By converting these extension campuses into full-fledged campuses, DOrSU will be able to expand its academic programs, improve its facilities, and employ more faculty and staff, thereby promoting equitable access to education, and supporting human capital development of the region. In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO

Socate Offire of the secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session FEB -5 P3:50 SENA 728. RECEIVED BY: S. No. Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go AN ACT CONVERTING THE EXTENSION CAMPUSES OF THE DAVAO ORIENTAL STATE UNIVERSITY (DORSU) IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF BAGANGA, CATEEL, AND TARRAGONA, PROVINCE OF DAVAO ORIENTAL, INTO REGULAR CAMPUSES AND TO BE KNOWN RESPECTIVELY AS DORSU-BAGANGA CAMPUS, DORSU-CATEEL CAMPUS, AND DORSU-TARRAGONA CAMPUS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 "Davao Oriental State

2 University (DOrSU) Baganga, Cateel, and Tarragona Campuses Act."

Sec. 2. Conversion of the Extension Campuses of the Davao Oriental

4 State University (DOrSU) into Regular Campuses. - The DOrS shall convert its 5 extension campuses located in the Municipalities of Baganga, Cateel, and Tarragona, 6 in the Province of Davao Oriental into regular campuses, to be known as the "DOrSU 7 Baganga, DOrSU-Cateel, and DOrSU-Tarragona Campuses."

Sec. 3. General Mandate. - The DOrSU- Baganga, DOrSU-Cateel, and

9 DOrSU Tarragona Campuses shall offer undergraduate and graduate courses within their areas of competencies and specialization, as the Board of Regents, hereinafter referred to as the Board, may deem necessary for the accomplishment of their objectives, and those which respond to the human resource development needs of the Province of Davao Oriental and Davao Region.

The DOrSU- Baganga, DOrSU-Cateel, and DOrSU-Tarragona Campuses shall be mandated to undertake research and extension services in support of the socio- economic development of the Province of Davao Oriental and to provide progressive leadership in these areas.

Sec. 4. Supervision and Management of the DOrSU-Baganga, DOrSU-

6 Cateel, and DOrSU-Tarragona Campuses. - The DOrSU-Baganga, DOrSU-Cateel, 7 and DOrSU-Tarragona Campuses shall be headed by a Campus Director who shall 8 render full-time service and shall be appointed by the Board, subject to its guidelines, 9 qualifications, and standards, and upon the recommendation of the Search Committee 10 duly constituted for the purpose of selecting the Campus Director.

Sec. 5. Compliance with the Requirements of the Commission on

Higher Education (CHED). - The DOrSU shall ensure compliance of DOrSU- Baganga, DOrSU-Cateel, and DOrSU-Tarragona Campuses with policies, standards, and guidelines of the CHED for their operation as regular campuses, including those related to their offering of courses and the introduction of new or revised programs 16 prior to their conversion as regular campuses.

Sec. 6. Management of Personnel, Assets and Records of the

18 Campuses. - All assets, both real and personal, personnel, and records of the DOrsU- 19 Baganga, DOrSU-Cateel, and DOrSU-Tarragona Campuses, as well as their liabilities or obligations, shall be transferred to the DOrSU. The positions, rights, and security of tenure of faculty members and personnel therein employed under existing laws prior to their conversion into regular campuses shall be respected. All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the DOrsU- 24 Baganga, DOrSU-Cateel, and DOrSU-Tarragona Campuses shall be transferred to the DOrSU: Provided, That should the campuses or the DOrSU cease to exist or be abolished or should such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the 27 DOrSU, the same shall revert to their local government units concerned or the Republic

**, 1 of the Philippines, as the case may be.

Sec. 7. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292,

3 otherwise known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997" ", shall form part 4 of this Act.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions

6 of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is

8 declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected 9 thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any laws, acts, decrees, executive orders,

issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect on the fiscal year immediately

14 following its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of 15 general circulation. Approved,