Charter for Don Mariano Marcos State College

Constitutional and policy foundation

The decree directs that the State’s education system shall be complete, adequate and integrated and relevant to national development, and that educational institutions shall develop scientific, technological and vocational efficiency.
The decree anchors itself on Presidential Decree No. 6-A (the Educational Development Decree of 1972, promulgated September 29, 1972), establishing a declared policy to reorient education toward economic growth and social development.
The conversion is intended to broaden curricula and redirect objectives to hasten regional development, specifically benefiting La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Benguet, and to contribute to national goals.

Conversion and purpose of the College

The Don Mariano Marcos Memorial College of Agriculture, located in Bacnotan, La Union, is converted into the Don Mariano Marcos State College, referred to as the College (Section 1).
The College’s primary mission is to provide professional and advanced vocational and technical instruction and training in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and industrial technologies (Section 2).
The College must promote research, advanced studies, and progressive leadership in its fields of specialization (Section 2).
The College provides instruction beyond its present offerings by offering secondary and collegiate curricular offerings and by expanding into new program levels (Section 3).

Academic offerings and student eligibility

The College shall offer under-graduate and graduate courses in agriculture, fishery, forestry and industrial technologies, as the Board of Trustees deems necessary to carry out the College’s objectives (Section 3).
The College shall offer opportunity or short-term technical or vocational courses within its areas of specialization to meet regional needs (Section 3).
No student is denied admission on account of sex, ethnic consideration, or religious belief or affiliation (Section 4).

Governance: President and Board of Trustees

The College is headed by a President appointed by the President of the Philippines (Section 5).
The President’s salary is fixed by the Board of Trustees and must be comparable to that received by Presidents of similar educational institutions of like enrollment and standing (Section 5).
The President’s powers and duties include those usually pertaining to the office of the President of a State College, in addition to powers specifically provided in the decree (Section 5).
The governing body is a Board of Trustees (Section 6).
The Board of Trustees is composed of:
- the Secretary of Education and Culture as Chairman;
- the Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority;
- the President of the College; and
- four (4) other distinguished citizens of Region No. 1, appointed by the President of the Philippines (Section 6).

Board composition, terms, quorum, and allowances

Among the four appointed citizens: one must be an authority in agriculture, one in trades and technology, one in general education, and one in commerce and industry (Section 6).
At least one of the four appointed members must be an alumnus of the State College (Section 6).
Of the four first appointed members:
- one serves one year,
- one serves two years,
- one serves three years,
- one serves four years (Section 6).
Thereafter, appointed successors hold office for a term of four years and until successors are appointed and qualified (Section 6).
In case of a permanent vacancy, the President of the Philippines appoints a replacement who serves only the unexpired term (Section 6).
When the Chairman (Secretary of Education and Culture) is unable to perform duties due to illness, absence, or other cause—or when the office is vacant—the Undersecretary of Education and Culture temporarily acts as Chairman (Section 6).
The Chairman may assign qualified officials to represent him with full authority in the Board (Section 6).
A quorum exists when there is a majority of all the members holding office at the time a meeting is called (Section 7).
All processes against the Board of Trustees must be served on the President or Secretary of the Board (Section 7).
Board members serve without compensation but receive an allowance of One Hundred Pesos per meeting actually attended, not exceeding Three Hundred Pesos a month, plus reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings and other authorized official business (Section 8).

Board powers, College Council, and faculty status

The Board receives and appropriates for the College’s support only such sums as may be provided for the purpose specified by law (Section 9).
The Board confers degrees on successful graduates and may confer honorary degrees recognizing learning, statesmanship, eminence in specialization, or public service, but honorary degrees must not be conferred in consideration of or to reciprocate personal favors (Section 9).
The Board authorizes the President to award proficiency certificates or diplomas to students who completed non-degree courses (Section 9).
The Board appoints college leadership and staff—including a vice-president, deans, directors, secretary of the College, registrar, heads of departments, professors, instructors, lecturers, and other officials and employees—on recommendation of the President of the College (Section 9).
The Board fixes these officials’ compensations, hours of service, and other duties under conditions it deems proper, and it grants leaves of absence under regulations it promulgates, notwithstanding provisions of existing laws to the contrary (Section 9).
The Board may remove appointees for cause after an investigation and hearing (Section 9).
The Board may establish professorial chairs and provide for their maintenance and/or endowment as may be necessary (Section 9).
The Board approves curricula rules and discipline drawn by the College Council (Section 9).
The Board fixes tuition fees, matriculation fees, graduation fees, laboratory fees, and special fees that constitute a special trust fund for the College (Section 9).
The Board provides fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students (Section 9).
The Board prescribes rules for its own government and enacts rules and regulations for the College’s government, as necessary and not contrary to law (Section 9).
The Board may receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal property of all kinds for the College or its departments, or for student aid, following donor directions; if donor directions are absent, the Board determines the manner in its discretion (Section 9).
Donations are exempt from all taxes and are treated as deductible items from donors’ income tax (Section 9).
The Board may import duty free commodities for educational purposes as an exception to existing laws (Section 9).
The Board authorizes the College to undertake construction and/or repair of buildings and other farm structures, machinery and equipment, land improvement, and other facilities, notwithstanding any contrary law or executive order, provided the funds come from its appropriations (Section 9).
A College Council exists and consists of the College President and all faculty members with the rank of professor (Section 11).
The College Council prescribes curricula and discipline rules subject to Board approval (Section 11).
The College Council fixes requirements for admission, graduation, and conferment of degrees, subject to Board review (Section 11).
The Council alone recommends students or others as recipients of degrees (Section 11).
Through the College President or its authorized committee, the Council exercises disciplinary power over students within limits set by the discipline rules (Section 11).
The College’s faculty comprises instructors and professors of the College (Section 12).
Faculty members are exempt from civil service examinations or regulations as a prerequisite to appointment (Section 12).

Restrictions and disciplinary consequence for faculty

Faculty members may not directly or indirectly influence students or any person in the College toward any ideology, political or otherwise, that preaches the overthrow of the government through violence or subversion (Section 13).
Any violation is penalized by dismissal by the Board of Trustees (Section 13).

Administrative officers and financial controls

The College has a Secretary of the College, appointed by the Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the President of the College (Section 14).
The Secretary serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees and keeps the College records determined by the Board (Section 14).
The Treasurer of the Philippines is ex-officio treasurer of the College (Section 15).
All College accounts and expenses are audited by the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representative (Section 15).
National government bureau or office heads may loan or transfer, upon request of the College President, needed apparatus, equipment, or supplies and may detail employees to perform duties for the College when such detail does not seriously detriment public service (Section 16).
Detailed employees perform duties as required under their detail, and the time spent counts as part of their regular official service (Section 16).

Transfer of assets, land titling, and appropriations

All assets, fixed and movable; records; and personnel of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial College of Agriculture are transferred to the College (Section 17).
All government parcels of land occupied by the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial College of Agriculture are declared property of the College and shall be titled under the College’s name (Section 17).
In addition to existing appropriations of the former College, the decree appropriates five million pesos from any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriate for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the College (Section 18).
Thereafter, funds for maintenance and operation of the College are included in the annual General Appropriations decree (Section 18).

Reporting, implementation, and reconciliation of laws

On or before the fifteenth day of the second month after opening of regular classes each year, the Board of Trustees submits to the President of the Philippines a detailed report on the College’s progress, conditions, and needs (Section 10).
The Secretary of Education and Culture must take the steps necessary for the immediate implementation of the decree (Section 19).