Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 609)
The Tarlac College of Agriculture in the Municipality of Camiling, Province of Tarlac was established as an independent state college by Presidential Decree No. 609.
The college offers a four-year secondary agricultural course, Associate in Technical Agriculture, Bachelor of Science degrees in Agriculture, Agricultural Education, Home Technology, Agricultural Engineering, and postgraduate degrees such as Master of Science in Agriculture.
The President of the Republic of the Philippines appoints the President of the Tarlac College of Agriculture upon the recommendation of the board of trustees.
The board of trustees is composed of the Secretary of Education as ex-officio chairman, the Provincial Governor of Tarlac, the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Secretary of Agrarian Reform, the Secretary of Labor, the Director of Vocational Education, the college president, and the president of the Tarlac College of Agriculture Alumni Association.
They can create new colleges within the institution, appropriate funds, confer academic degrees, appoint staff, approve curricula and rules, set fees, provide scholarships, enact ordinances, and receive and administer donations.
A majority of all the members constitutes a quorum of the board of trustees.
The College Council, consisting of the college president as presiding officer and all instructors and professors, prescribes curricula and rules of discipline subject to board approval.
No, civil service eligibility is not required for appointment as professor or regular instructor at the college.
No religious tests are allowed for faculty appointments, and sectarian teachings are prohibited under penalty of dismissal.
The Treasurer of the Philippines is the ex-officio treasurer of the college, overseeing the auditing and disbursement of funds according to existing rules.
They are absorbed by the new Tarlac College of Agriculture with salary adjustments subject to the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
All properties, assets, land grants, and liabilities of the former college are absorbed by the Tarlac College of Agriculture.
Provisions of Republic Act Numbered 4337 that are inconsistent with the decree are repealed or modified accordingly.
The decree took effect upon its approval on December 18, 1974.