REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8461 AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH CHOOL LANAO DEL NORTE CAMPUS, AND PPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR January 19, 1998

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8461, January 19, 1998 ]

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH CHOOL LANAO DEL NORTE CAMPUS, AND PPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. There is hereby established a science high school in the Province of Lanao del Norte, to be known as the Philippine Science High School Lanao del Norte Campus, hereinafter referred to as PSHSLNC, which shall be under the supervision of the Department of Science and Technology.

SEC. 2. The purpose of the said high school shall be to offer, on a scholarship basis, a free secondary course with special emphasis on the sciences and mathematics to prepare its students for science and technology careers.

SEC. 3. The head of this school shall be known as the Director of the Philippine Science High School Lanao del Norte Campus (PSHSLNC). He or she shall be appointed by the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Science High School, subject to the approval of the Board. The salary of the Director shall be subject to the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System and shall be comparable to that being received by the Director of similar educational institution of like enrollment and standing. He shall not be removed from office except for cause. His functions, powers, and duties, in addition to those specifically provided for in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the office of the principal of a public high school.

SEC. 4. The PSHS Board of Trustees shall have, with respect to the PSHSLNC, the following powers and duties:

1. To fix the site of the PSHSLNC in Mount Turong-Turong, Tubod, Lanao del Norte;
   
2. To receive and appropriate to the ends specified by law such sums as may be provided by law for the support of the high school;
   
3. To approve appointments made and contracts entered into by the Director, in connection with the employment of the professors, instructors, lecturers, and other employees of the PSHSLNC; to fix their compensation and other conditions of employment in accordance with existing laws on compensation and position classification; and to remove them for cause after an investigation and hearing shall have been had;
   
4. To approve the curricula, courses of study and rules of discipline drawn up by the Executive Council as hereinafter provided;
   
5. To provide fellowships for faculty members and approve the grant of scholarships, stipends and such other allowances to deserving students;
   
6. To approve the issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful candidates for graduation;
   
7. To provide its own rules of procedures and to prescribe for the administration of the high school such general rules and regulations, not contrary to law, as are consistent with the purpose of the high school as defined in Section 2 of this Act;
   
8. To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal property of all kinds and to administer the same in accordance with the directions and instructions of the donor and, in default thereof, in such manner as the Board of Trustees may, in its discretion, determine for the benefit of the high school or for aid to any of its students; and
   
9. To establish the criteria for the selection and admission of students this shall include, among other criteria, competitive examinations among graduates of elementary schools in Northern and Central Mindanao, Region XII.
   

SEC. 5. There shall be a PSHSLNC Board, hereinafter referred to as the PSHSLNC Board, composed of the PSHSLNC Director as chairman; the regional director, Department of Science and Technology; the regional director, Department of Education, Culture and Sports; the president of the Parents-Teachers Association of the PSHS Regional School; the president of the Alumni Association; and two (2) representatives from the private sector to be appointed by the chairman of the PSHS Board of Trustees, as members.

Until such time that there shall have been organized a Philippine Science High School Lanao del Norte Campus Alumni Association, the president of the Alumni Association of the PSHS shall also be an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees.

SEC. 6. The functions of the PSHSLNC Board shall be:

1. To prescribe for the administration of the PSHSLNC rules and regulations as are consistent with this Act and the policies laid down by the PSHS Board of Trustees;
   
2. To act as citizens' committee to interpret the educational needs of the region to the Board of Trustees; and
   
3. To exercise such other functions, powers and duties as the Board of Trustees may prescribe or delegate.

A quorum of the PSHSLNC Board shall consist of a majority of all the members holding office at the time the meeting of the Board is called. All processes against the PSHSLNC Board shall be served on the Director or secretary thereof.SEC. 7. On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of July each year, the Board of Trustees shall submit to the Office of the President of the Philippines, through the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, and to both Houses of Congress, an annual report setting forth the progress, condition and needs of the high school.SEC. 8. There shall be an Executive Council consisting of the Director, the heads of departments, and such other ranking faculty members or officials of the high school as may be determined by the Director.The Council shall have the power to screen and select the students to be admitted to the high school; to select students who shall be recipients of scholarships, stipends and other allowances; and to develop the curricula, courses of study, and rules of discipline, all subject to the approval of the PSHSLNC Board. The Council shall have the exclusive power to recommend students eligible for graduation. Through the Director, it shall have disciplinary power over the students. The Council shall implement and execute the policies laid down by the Board of Trustees and exercise such other functions, powers and duties as the Board may prescribe. SEC. 9. There shall be a registrar of the Philippine Science High School Lanao del Norte Campus, who shall also act as secretary of the PSHSLNC Board, to be appointed by the Director with the approval of the PSHS Board of Trustees. He shall keep such records as may be prescribed by the PSHSLNC Board. SEC. 10. There shall also be a treasurer of the Philippine Science High School Lanao del Norte Campus, who shall be appointed by the Director with the approval of the PSHS Board of Trustees. All accounts and expenses shall be audited by the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representative. SEC. 11. All legacies, gifts and donations for the benefit of the high school or for its support and maintenance, or for aid to any of its students shall be tax exempt and shall be an allowable deduction from the gross income of the donors. The high school shall be exempt from the payment of all kinds of taxes, fees, assessments, and other charges of the national government, its branches, subdivisions and agencies. SEC. 12. The heads of bureaus or offices of the national government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon request of the Director of the high school, such apparatus, supplies and other properties as may be needed by the high school, and to detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of the bureau or office, they can be spared without serious detriment to the public service.The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as are required under such detail, and the time employed shall be counted as part of their regular office hours, all laws, rules and regulations limiting the detail of government employees notwithstanding. Any officer or employee of the government engaged as lecturer in the high school may receive honoraria at rates in accordance with existing rules and regulations. SEC. 13. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.SEC. 14. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved, lapsed into law on January 19, 1998, without the signature of the President, in accordance with Article VI, Section 27 (1) of the Constitution.