QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1341)
PD No. 1341 converted the Philippine College of Commerce into a university known as the “Polytechnic University of the Philippines.”
The University shall primarily provide higher occupational, technical and professional instruction and training in the applied arts and sciences, and also promote applied research, advance studies, and progressive leadership in the stated fields.
In addition to ladder-type higher vocational, technical, and professional programs in business and distributive arts, education, and related social sciences, the University shall offer programs in other polytechnic areas, including agriculture, arts and trades, and fisheries.
The President is appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of Education and Culture after consultation with the University Board of Regents.
The President acts as the Chief Executive Officer and is vested with progressive, dynamic intellectual and administrative leadership, including general supervision over academic and business/financial operations.
Examples include: (1) being Chief Executive Officer; (2) heading faculties and any branch; (3) general supervision of academic and business/financial operations; (4) promulgating/enforcing policies affecting any unit; (5) appointing qualified persons subject to Board approval and making arrangements for emergencies between Board meetings; (6) instituting disciplinary action against personnel and students; (7) deciding appeals in controversies between ranking officials with final/conclusive decisions; (8) granting/denying sabbatical leaves and leaves of absence without pay (subject to conditions); (9) making ad-interim appointments; (10) preparing an annual report including budget.
They include: the Secretary of Education and Culture (Chairman); the Director General of NEDA (or authorized representative); the Secretary of Industry (or authorized representative); the Secretary of Labor (or authorized representative); the University President; the President of the Alumni Association (provided he is not employed by the University in any capacity); and a prominent private-sector citizen.
If absent/inability or if there is no Secretary, the Undersecretary of Education and Culture sits as Chairman; in his absence or inability, the University President automatically acts as Chairman.
Members serve without compensation other than actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings or official business authorized by the Board.
The Board may confer degrees in the graduate and undergraduate courses to successful candidates for graduation.
It can fix tuition fees, matriculation fees, graduation fees, laboratory and special fees, and deposit them in a designated bank as a special trust fund of the University, subject to government audit.
A quorum consists of a majority of all members.
Regular meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman or upon request of four (4) members, with notice issued at least three (3) days prior.
They include the University President, Vice-Presidents, the Secretary of the University, and such other academic and administrative officials deemed necessary to assist effective administration, as determined by the Board of Regents.
All parcels of land, buildings, equipment, facilities, and related obligations and appropriations of the Philippine College of Commerce (and any national schools integrated) shall stand transferred to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, while those integrated schools continue receiving their corresponding shares from the special education fund of the concerned local government as enjoyed under existing laws/decrees.
The Secretary of Education and Culture is authorized to determine and approve the specific existing national schools to be integrated as part of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. For integration, all funds, properties, assets, and obligations of the integrated schools are transferred to the University pursuant to Section 12.
Section 14 appropriates THREE MILLION (P3,000,000.00) from any available amount in the Treasury of the Philippines to carry out the provisions of the decree. Thereafter, additional sums necessary are to be appropriated annually.
It took effect immediately.