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SECTION 1. Short Title . - This Act shall be known as the "Revised Don Honorio Ventura State University Charter".

SEC. 2. Renaming of the Don Honorio Ventura State University and Other Units. - The Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) located in the Municipality of Bacolor, Province of Pampanga, shall be renamed as the Pampanga State University and shall comprise its campuses in the Municipalities of Mexico, Guagua, and Sasmuan, all in the Province of Pampanga, as well as other campuses that will created prior to and after the effectivity of this Act. The main campus of the Pampanga State University shall be in the Municipality of Bacolor, Province of Pampanga.

The Pampanga State University may open new branches or extension campuses in consortium with other academic institutions as it may deem necessary, to improve access to quality education, promote innovation and progress in the academe, and advance its research capabilities, subject to applicable arrangements with other institutions.

SEC. 3. General Mandate. - The Pampanga State University shall primarily provide advanced education, higher technological and professional courses, and training programs in education, engineering, science and technology, arts and humanities, information and communications technology, liberal arts, medical and health-related programs, and other relevant fields of study. It shall also undertake research and extension services in support of the socioeconomic development of the Province of Pampanga and the Central Luzon Region. 

SEC. 4. Curricular Offerings. - The Pampanga State University shall offer short-term, technical-vocational, undergraduate and graduate courses within its areas of competency and specialization in the fields of education, engineering, science and technology, arts and humanities, information and communications technology, liberal arts, legal management, law, medicine and allied sciences, health-related courses, entrepreneurial programs, creative industries, travel management, and other relevant fields of study, as the Board of Regents may deem necessary for the accomplishment of its objectives, and those which respond to the human resources development needs of the Province of Pampanga and the Central Luzon Region: Provided, That the Pampanga State University shall comply with the policies, standards, and guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the offering of courses and the introduction of new or revised programs: Provided, further, That no degree program shall be offered without the approval of the CHED before the same shall be approved by the Board of Regents of the Pampanga State University. 

SEC. 5. Administration. - The Pampanga State University shall have the general powers of a corporation set forth in Republic Act No. 11232, otherwise known as the "Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines". The exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Regents and the President of the Pampanga State University. 

SEC. 6. The Governing Board. - The governing body of the Pampanga State University shall be the Board of Regents, hereinafter, referred to as the Board. The Chairperson of the Board shall be the Chairperson of the CHED and the Vice Chairperson shall be the President of the Pampanga State University. The following shall be the members:

(a) Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education of the Senate; 

(b) Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of Representatives;

(c) Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA);

(d) Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology;

(e) President of the federation of faculty associations of the Pampanga State University; 

(f) President of the federation of student councils of the Pampanga State University;

(g) President of the federation of alumni associations of the Pampanga State University; 

(h) President of the federation of nonteaching personnel associations of the Pampanga State University; and 

(i) Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished themselves in their professions or fields of specialization. 

The Board shall appoint two (2) prominent citizens who shall be selected from a list of at least five (5) qualified persons from the Province of Pampanga, as recommended by a Search Committee constituted by the President of the Pampanga State University, in consultation with the Chairperson of the CHED and other members of the Board, based on the guidelines, qualifications, and standards for the position set by the Board. They shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment.

The President of the federation of faculty associations, the President of the federation of student councils, the President of the federation of alumni associations, and the President of the federation of the nonteaching personnel association of the Pampanga State University shall; be coterminous with their terms of office, as provided under their respective constitutional and bylaws.

SEC. 7. Powers and Duties of the Board. - The administration of the Pampanga State University and the exercise of its corporate powers are vested in the Board, which shall have the following specific powers and duties in addition to its general powers of administration and the exercise of all the powers granted to the Board of Directors of a Corporation under Section 35 of Republic Act No. 11232:

(a) Promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies and the provisions of the Constitution on education, agriculture, science and technology, as well as the policies, standards, and thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994"; 

(b) Approve the curricula, instructional programs, and rules on student discipline drawn by the Administrative and Academic Councils, as herein provided;

(c) Appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of the Pampanga State University, the vice presidents, deans, directors, heads of the campuses, faculty members, and other officials of the Pampanga State University;

(d) Prescribe the salaries of faculty members and administrative officials, and employees, subject to the provisions of Republic Act No. 11466, otherwise known as the "Salary Standardization Law of 2019", and other laws amendatory thereto, civil service rules and regulations governing hours of service and such other requirements and conditions, other pertinent laws, rules and regulations;

(e) Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as matriculation fees, graduation fees, and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to impose, after due consultation with the concerned sectors. The fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the Pampanga State University, shall constitute its funds to be used exclusively in the pursuit of its mandate as a State University, and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank. All interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the Pampanga State University. 

The fees and charges collected by the Pampanga State University, including government subsidies and proceeds from other income sources, as well as interests that would accrue therefrom, shall be retained by the Pampanga State University: Provided, That in no case shall the said income be used for the payment of allowances and other benefits not authorized by law: Provided, further, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purpose for which they were collected. 

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Board may authorize, for such reasonable and legal purposes for which it deems necessary and urgent for the attainment of the objectives of the Pampanga State University, the use of: (1) any unexpended balance whose fiduciary character has been ipso facto removed pursuant to the grant of subsidy under Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act"; and/or (2) any appropriation for any project under the duly approved program of expenditures of the Pampanga State University, for reasons beyond its control, would not be able to pursue: Provided, That funds collected from students for specific purposes shall not be realigned or reprogrammed to other expenditures; 

(f) Adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees for greater access of poor but deserving students in accordance with Republic Act No. 10931;

(g) Establish professional chairs in the Pampanga State University and provide fellowships for qualified faculty members, and academic and athletic scholarships to deserving students; 

(h) Receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided by law for the support of the Pampanga State University, and all other sums in the manner it may, in its discretion, determine to carry out the purposes and functions of the Pampanga State University; 

(i) Set the policies on admission and graduation of students; 

(j) Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding contributions in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and technology, sports and human kinetics or any field of specialization within the academic competency of the Pampanga State University, and authorize the awarding of certificates of completion of nondegree and nontraditional courses;

(k) Establish research and extension centers to promote the development of the Pampanga State University;

(l) Develop academic arrangements for institutional capability building with appropriate institutions and agencies, whether public, private, local or foreign, and appoint experts or specialists as consultants, part-time, visiting or exchange professors, scholars or researchers, as the case may be.

(m) Adopt modern and innovative modes of transferring knowledge to allow greater access to education such as the use of information technology, the dual training system, open distance learning, and community laboratory; 

(n) Collaborate with the governing bodies of other state universities and colleges within the Province of Pampanga and Central Luzon Region, under the supervision of the CHED and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in restructuring the Pampanga State University to make it more efficient, relevant, productive and competitive; 

(o) Absorb non-chartered tertiary education institutions within the Province of Pampanga and Central Luzon Region as branches, extension campuses, and external centers, in coordination with the CHEd and in consultation with the DBM, and offer therein programs or courses to carry out the constitutional mandate of providing equal access to educational opportunities; 

(p) Authorize an external management audit of the Pampanga State University, to be financed by the CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission of Audit, and institute reforms including academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results and recommendations;

(q) Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local government units as well as public, private, local or foreign institutions and agencies for the furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the Pampanga State University;

(r) Import books or publications, instruments, equipment, and apparatuses for economic, technical-vocational, scientific, medical, philosophical, historical, legal, or cultural purposes; 

(s) Enter into joint ventures with business and industry, after consultation with the NEDA for the profitable development and management of economic assets, the proceeds of which shall be used for the development and strengthening of the Pampanga State University; 

(t) Receive, in trust, all legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds and administer and dispose of the same, when necessary, for the benefit of the Pampanga State University and subject to the limitations, directions, and instructions of the donor, if any;

(u) Extend the term of the President of the Pampanga State University beyond the age of retirement, but not beyond the age of seventy (70), based on the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board: Provided, That such extension shall be subject to the term limits provided in Section 9 of this Act: Provided, further, That the President's performance has been rated by the Board as outstanding and a unanimous recommendation for such extension has been decided upon the Search Committee;

(v) Delegate any of its powers and duties provided to the President and other officials of the Pampanga State University, as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the Pampanga State University; 

(w) Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative and transparent decision-making within the Pampanga State University; 

(x) Where most advantageous to the Pampanga State University, outsource the management of nonacademic services such as health, food, building or grounds or property maintenance, and such other similar activities;

(y) Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment, and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, including the necessary supplies, materials, and equipment; and 

(z) Promulgate rules and regulations, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the Pampanga State University. 

SEC. 8. Meetings of the Board. - The Board shall regularly convene once every three (3) months. The Chairperson of the Board may, however, call a special meeting ehenver necessary: Provided, however, That members are notified in writing at least three (3) days prior to the conduct of said meeting. 

A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of all its members holding office at the time of the meeting: Provided, however, That the Chairperson of the Board or the President of the Pampanga State University is among those present in the meeting. 

In case the Chairperson of the CHD cannot attend a meeting of the Board, a CHED Commissioner, duly designated by the Chairperson of the CHED as representative to the meeting, shall have all the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, That during the meeting, the President of the Pampanga State University, as Vice Chairperson, shall be the presiding officer: Provided, further, That this provision notwithstanding, the Chairperson of the CHED may designate a CHED Commissioner as the regular Chairperson of the Board, in which case, the said CHED Commissioner shall act as the presiding officer.

In case the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Higher Technical and Vocational Education and the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education cannot attend the Board meeting, they may designate their respective representatives, who shall have the same rights and responsibilities as regular members of the Board. 

The members of the Board shall be without compensation other than reimbursements for actual and necessary expense incurred, either for their attendance to the meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business authorized by resolutions of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations.

SEC. 9. The President of the Pampanga State University. - The Pampanga State University shall be headed by a President who shall be appointed by the Board, subject to its guidelines, qualifications, and standards, and based on the recommendation of a Search Committee duly constituted for the purpose of selecting the President.

The President of the Pampanga State University shall render full-time service for a term of four (4) years and may be reappointed to another term. 

Within six (6) months before the expiration of the term of office of the President of the Pampanga State University, the Board shall constitute the Search Committee for the Presidency, and shall ensure the appointment or reappointment of a president on or before the expiration of the term.

The powers and duties of the President of the Pampanga State University, in addition to those specifically provided for in this Act, shall include those usually pertaining to the Office of the President of similar state universities and colleges and those delegated by the Board. 

The salary of the President of the Pampanga State University shall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 11466 and such other laws amendatory thereto, which may hereinafter be enacted, and on the joint circular for state universities and colleges' leveling instruments, and guidelines of the CHED and the DBM. 

In case of a vacancy in the Office of the President by reason of death, compulsory retirement, resignation, removal for cause, or incapacity of the President to perform the functions of the office, the Board shall designate an Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Pampanga State University, pending the appointment of a new President. 

The President of the Pampanga State University shall be assisted by the following officials: Executive Vice President; Vice President for Academic Affairs; Vice President for Administration, and Finance; Vice President for Research, Innovation, Training, and Extension; and the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services who shall all be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the President of the Pampanga State University. 

SEC. 10. The Secretary of the Pampanga State University. - The Board shall appoint a Secretary who shall serve as such for both the Board and the Pampanga State University and shall keep all records and proceedings of meetings of the Board in addition to other duties and responsibilities. The Secretary of the Pampanga State University shall serve upon each member of the Board the appropriate notice of Board meetings.

SEC. 11. The Treasurer of the Pampanga State University. - The Treasurer of the Philippine shall be the ex officio Treasurer of the Pampanga State University. 

SEC. 12. The Administrative Council. - There shall be an Administrative Council consisting of the President of the Pampanga State University as Chairperson, and the vice presidents, deans, directors, and other officials of equal rank, as members, whose duty is to review and recommend to the Board the policies that shall govern the administration, management, and development planning of the Pampanga State University. 

SEC. 13. The Academic Council. - There shall be an Academic Council consisting of the President of the Pampanga State University, who shall act as Chairperson, and all academic staff with the rank of at least an assistant professor, as members.

The Academic Council shall review and recommend the curricular offerings, fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as for their graduation and conferment of degrees, exercise. disciplinary power over the students, and formulate rules and regulations on student discipline, subject to the review and approval of the Board through the President of the Pampanga State University.

SEC.14. Heads of Pampanga State University Campuses. - The campuses of the Pampanga State University shall each be headed by a Campus Director who shall serve as head or administrator of each of the campuses and shall render full-time service for a term of two (2) years and may be reappointed to another term.

The Campus Director shall be appointed or designated by the Board, upon the recommendation of the Search Committee and the Pampanga State University President, subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board: Provided, That upon the effectivity of this Act, the incumbent Campus Directors of the existing campuses of the Pampanga State University shall continue to serve as such.

SEC. 15. The Faculty. - No political belief, sex, gender, cultural or community affiliation, ethnic origin, or religious opinion or affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the Pampanga State University: Provided, That said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board: Provided, further, That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against any particular religious denomination. 

SEC. 16. Academic Freedom. - The Pampanga State University shall enjoy academic freedom pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution. 

SEC. 17. Scholarship Programs and Admission. - The Pampanga State University shall provide scholarship programs and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to the Pampanga State University.

No student shall be denied admission to the Pampanga State University by reason of sex, gender, religion, cultural or community affiliation, physical disability, ethnic origin, or any other forms of discrimination.

SEC. 18. Loan or Transfer of Supplies, Apparatuses, or Equipment, and Detail of Personnel to the Pampanga State University. - Heads of national government agencies and instrumentalities may, upon the request of the Board through the President of the Pampanga State University, loan or transfer of supplies, apparatuses, or equipment, and detail personnel to the Pampanga State University: Provided, That such loan, transfer, or detail shall not be detrimental to public service. 

The personnel to be detailed to the Pampanga State University shall perform such duties as may be deemed required by the President of the Pampanga State University and the time spent for such duties shall be counted as part of the regular service of the detailed personnel. 

SEC. 19. Management of Personnel, Assets, and Records of the University. - All assets, both real and personal, personnel and records of the DHVSU, as well as liabilities or obligations, shall be named or titled after the Pampanga State University: Provided, That the positions, rights, and security of tenure of faculty, members and personnel therein employed under existing laws shall be respected: Provided, further, That the incumbents occupying the positions shall remain in the same status until otherwise provided for by the Board: Provided, finally, That the Pampanga State University shall also accordingly upgrade or increase its human resource component as may be deemed appropriate by the Board. 

All parcels of land belonging to the government that are occupied by he DHVSU and all its campuses are declared as property of the Pampanga State University and shall be titled under its name: Provided, That should the Pampanga State University cease to exist or be abolished or should such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the Pampanga State University, the same shall revert to the local government units concerned or to the Republic of the Philippines, as the case may be: Provided, further, That such reversion shall not impair obligation of contracts.

SEC. 20. Duty and Tax Exemptions. - The importation of books or publications, instruments, equipment, and apparatuses which are for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, medical , philosophical, historical, legal, or cultural purposes made by the Pampanga State University, upon certification by the CHED, shall be exempt from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)".

All grants, bequests, endowment, donations, and contributions made to and used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes by the Pampanga State University, shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. 

SEC. 21. Development Plan, Management Audit, and Organizational, Administrative, and Academic Structure. - Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the Pampanga State University shall accomplish the following:

(a) Submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its program budget to the CHED for recommendation to the DBM;

(b) Submit the revised Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) in accordance with Republic Act No. 11396, otherwise known as the "SUCs Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) Act"; 

(c) Set up its organizational, administrative, and academic structure, including the appointment of key officials of the Pampanga State University; and

(d) Undergo a management audit in coordination with the CHED. 

SEC. 22. Filing of Report. - On or before the fifteenth (15^th) day of the second (2^nd) month after the opening of regular classes each year, the Board shall file a detailed report on the progress, condition, and needs of the Pampanga State University with the Office of the President of the Philippines and both Houses of Congress, through the Chairperson of the CHED. 

SEC. 23. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997", shall form part of this Act. 

SEC. 24. Transitory Provision. - Upon the effectivity of this Act, all employees of the Pampanga State University shall be retained in their present positions and no one shall be adversely affected by the approval of the amendments to the original charter.  

In order to effect a smooth transition to a state university, the incumbent President of the DHVSU shall serve as the first President of the Pampanga State University who shall not be eligible for reappointment. 

SEC. 25. Parity Clause. - All other powers, functions, privileges, responsibilities, and limitations under existing laws shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the Pampanga State University and its officials, whenever appropriate. 

SEC. 26. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the DHVSU. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 

SEC. 27. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED, formulate rules and regulations to implement its provisions.

SEC. 28. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected are in full force and effect.  

SEC. 29. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 9832, entitled "An Act Converting the Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades in the Municipality of Bacolor, Province of Pampanga into a State University to be known as the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) and Appropriating Funds Therefor", Republic Act No. 11169, entitled "An Act Renaming the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) in the Municipality of Bacolor, Province of Pampanga as the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU), and Expanding its Curricular Offerings, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 9832, entitled An Act Converting the Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades in the Municipality of Bacolor, Province of Pampanga into a State University to be known as the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) and Appropriating Funds Therefor", Republic Act No. 11781, entitled "An Act Converting the Extension Campuses of the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Located in the Municipalities of Sto. Tomas, Porac, Lubao, Candaba, Apalit, Mexico, Sta. Rita, Floridablanca, Guagua, and Sasmuan, all in the Province of Pampanga, into a Regular Campuses of the DHVSU, and Appropriating Funds Therefor", and other laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.  

SEC. 30. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.