REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11973, December 20, 2023

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11973, December 20, 2023 ]

AN ACT ESTABLISHING IN THE CITY OF LIGAO, PROVINCE OF ALBAY, A COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE OF THE BICOL UNIVERSITY, TO BE KNOWN AS THE BICOL UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Establishment. - There is hereby established a College of Veterinary Medicine in the Bicol University, to be located in the City of Ligao, Province of Albay, which shall be known as the "Bicol University-College of Veterinary Medicine".

SEC. 2. General Mandate. - The Bicol University-College of Veterinary Medicine, hereinafter referred to as the "College", shall primarily offer a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Program. The program shall be a six-year course consisting of two-year preparatory veterinary medicine curriculum, including general education courses, and a four-year professional veterinary medicine curriculum consisting of basic animal sciences, and veterinary medical sciences, and using learning competency-based standards and outcomes-based approach. The professional veterinary physicians who are adept in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of animal diseases, including terrestrial and aquatic animals.

SEC. 3. Governance. - The governance of the College shall be vested in the Board of Regents (the Board) of the BU, whose powers are defined under Republic Act No. 5521, entitled "An Act Establishing the Bicol University, Defining its Powers, Functions, and Duties, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes". The DVM Program, and all programs, projects, and activities to be implemented in the College shall be in accordance with State policies on education, other pertinent provisions of the Philippine Constitution, as well as the policies, standards, and the thrust of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

SEC. 4. Compliance. - The BU, prior to the establishment of the College and the offering of new and revised courses and programs related thereto, shall ensure compliance with the applicable policies, standards, and guidelines of the CHED.

SEC. 5. Scholarship Programs and Admission. - The College shall provide scholarships and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to the College. Students who have availed themselves of nationally-funded scholarship programs to complete the DVM Program under the College shall be required to render a return service as provided for by applicable laws and regulations, or the contract to be signed between the student and the College.

No student shall be denied admission to the College by reason of sex, gender, religion, cultural or community affiliation, physical disability, ethnic origin, or any other forms of discrimination.

SEC. 6. Duty and Tax Exemptions. - The importation by the College of medical, scientific, and technical books or publications, medical equipment or instruments which are for medical, laboratory or scientific and technical purposes shall, upon certification by the CHED, be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)".

All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions made to and used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes by the College, shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 8. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997", shall form part of this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provisions of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected are in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive order,s and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

(SGD.) JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI

(SGD.) FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act, which originated in the House of Representatives, was passed by the House of Representatives on March 15, 2023, amended by the Senate of the Philippines on September 25, 2023, and which amendments were concurred in by the House of Representatives on September 27, 2023.

(SGD.) RENATO N. BANTUG, JR.

(SGD.) REGINALD S. VELASCO

Secretary of the Senate

Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: DEC 20 2023

(SGD.) FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR.

President of the Philippines