Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11978)
Republic Act No. 11978 establishes a College of Medicine in the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-South La Union Campus to offer a Doctor of Medicine Program and to develop professional physicians to strengthen the healthcare system in the Philippines, especially addressing the needs of La Union and Region I.
It is located in the Municipality of Agoo, Province of La Union, Philippines.
The College is mandated to offer a Doctor of Medicine Program, including an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine Program, which consists of basic science and clinical courses using a learner-centered, competency-based, and community-oriented approach.
The College is governed by the Board of Regents of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), as defined under Presidential Decree No. 1778 and other applicable laws and regulations.
The Dean is appointed by the Board of Regents of DMMMSU upon the recommendation of the Chancellor of the DMMMSU-South La Union Campus following consultation with College constituents. The Dean serves a full-time term of three years and may be reappointed once.
No student shall be denied admission based on sex, gender, religion, cultural or community affiliation, physical disability, ethnic origin, or other forms of discrimination.
The College shall provide scholarship and affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students. Students who avail of scholarships under Republic Act No. 11509 (Doktor Para sa Bayan Act) must render return service as provided by the said law. Other nationally-funded scholarship recipients may also have return service obligations based on signed contracts.
The importation of medical books, equipment, or instruments certified by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are exempt from customs duties under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA No. 10863). Grants, donations, and contributions for educational purposes are exempt from donor's tax and may be deducted from the donor's taxable income as provided under the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
The College enjoys academic freedom and institutional autonomy pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
All appropriations, assets, personnel, liabilities, and records of the College shall be titled or named after the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University. Government land occupied by the College remains property of the university and will revert to the Municipality of Agoo or the Republic of the Philippines if no longer needed or if the university ceases to exist.