QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 11972)
Republic Act No. 11972 establishes a medical school to be known as the “University of Eastern Philippines-College of Medicine,” located in the Municipality of Catarman, Province of Northern Samar.
The College shall primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine Program, including an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine Program, with basic science and clinical courses, using a learner-centered, competency-based, and community-oriented approach.
The primary goal is to develop a corps of professional physicians to strengthen the country’s healthcare system and to respond to the human resource development needs of Northern Samar and Region VIII. It is also mandated to undertake research and extension services and provide progressive leadership in these areas.
Governance is vested in the Board of Regents of the UEP. Its powers are mainly defined under Republic Act No. 4126 (the law converting the Samar Institute of Technology into UEP) and other applicable laws and regulations, unless otherwise provided in RA 11972.
The Dean is appointed by the Board, subject to Board guidelines, qualifications, and standards, upon recommendation of the President of UEP, following a process of consultation with the constituents of the College.
The Dean renders full-time service, serves a term of three (3) years, and may be reappointed to another term.
Within six (6) months from the effectivity of the Act, the President of UEP shall constitute the search committee for the deanship.
The Board appoints faculty upon recommendation of the UEP President. No political belief, sex, gender, cultural or community affiliation, ethnic origin, or religious opinion/affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry in appointing faculty. Faculty appointments are still subject to Board guidelines and standards, and no faculty member shall teach for or against any particular religious denomination.
The College must provide scholarships and affirmative action programs for poor but deserving students who qualify for admission. Students who avail of scholarships under RA 11509 (“Doktor Para sa Bayan Act”) must render return service as required by that law. Other nationally-funded scholarship recipients may be required to render return service depending on their contract. No student shall be denied admission due to sex, gender, religion, cultural/community affiliation, physical disability, ethnic origin, or any other form of discrimination.
It invokes academic freedom and institutional authority pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution.
Yes. Heads of national government agencies and instrumentalities may, upon request through the UEP President and the Board, loan or transfer supplies/equipment and detail personnel to the College, provided it is not detrimental to public service.
Upon vacancy due to death, compulsory retirement, resignation, removal for cause, or incapacity, the Board upon recommendation of the President designates an Officer-in-Charge pending appointment of a new Dean. The Officer-in-Charge serves only during the unexpired portion of the term.
All appropriations, assets (real and personal), personnel, and records, as well as liabilities or obligations of the College are titled/named after UEP.
Parcels of land belonging to the government and occupied by the College shall be property of UEP and titled under its name. If UEP ceases to exist/ceases to be abolished, or if such parcels are no longer needed by UEP, the land reverts to the Municipality of Catarman or to the Republic of the Philippines, as the case may be.
Importation by the College of medical books/publications and medical/laboratory/scientific equipment, upon CHED certification, is exempt from customs duties under RA 10863. Grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes are exempt from donor’s tax and are allowable deductions from gross income for the donor under the NIRC of 1997, as amended.
UEP must ensure compliance with applicable CHED policies, standards, and guidelines prior to the establishment of the College and the offering of new and revised courses/programs related thereto.
The Act takes effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.