[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7373, April 10, 1992 ]

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE EASTERN VISAYAS SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. There is hereby established a science high school to be known as the Eastern Visayas Science High School.

Section 2. The purpose of the said high school shall be to offer, free on a scholarship basis, a secondary course with special emphasis on the sciences and mathematics to prepare its students for science and technology careers.

Section 3. The head of this high school shall be known as the Director of the Eastern Visayas Science High School. He or she shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, subject to the approval of the Board. His compensation shall be fixed by the same Board. He shall not be removed from office except for cause. His functions, powers and duties in addition to those specifically provided for in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the office of the principal of a public high school.

Section 4. The Eastern Visayas Science High School shall have the general powers set out in Section Thirty-six of Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, otherwise known as the Corporation Code of the Philippines, approved on May 1, 1980, and the exercise of its corporate powers is hereby vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees and in the Director of the high school insofar as authorized by said Board.

The Board of Trustees shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, who shall be ex officio Chairman of the Board; the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports, who shall be ex officio Vice-Chairman; and the following members: the President of the University of the Philippines, the Director of the Philippine Science High School, the Director of the Eastern Visayas Science High School, the President of the Faculty Association, the President of the Parent's Association, and the President of the Student Council of the Eastern Visayas Science High School, all as ex officio members.

At such time that there shall have been organized an Eastern Visayas Science High School Alumni Association, the President of the Alumni Association shall also be an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees.

The Undersecretary or Assistant Secretary of Science and Technology and the Undersecretary or Assistant Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports, designated by their respective department secretaries shall, in the absence of the heads of their respective departments, act as ex officio chairman and ex officio vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees, respectively. The other ex officio members in their absence shall designate representatives to sit on the Board of Trustees in their behalf.

Section 5. The Board of Trustees shall exercise for the Eastern Visayas Science High School all the powers and prerogatives of the board of directors of a private corporation.

It shall also have the following powers and duties:

a. To fix the site of the Eastern Visayas Science High School in Tacloban City or in Palo, Leyte;

b. To receive and appropriate to the ends specified by law such sums as may be provided by law for the support of the high school;

c. To approve appointments made and contracts entered into by the Director in connection with the employment of professors, instructors, lecturers, and other employees of the high school, subject to the provisions of Section Eleven of this Act; to fix their compensation and other conditions of employment; and to remove them for cause after an investigation and hearing shall have been had;

d. To approve the curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline drawn up by the Executive Council as hereinafter provided;

e. To provide fellowships for faculty members and approve the grant of scholarships, stipends and such other allowances to deserving students;

f. To approve the issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful candidates for graduation;

g. To provide its own rules of procedures and to prescribe for the administration of the high school such general rules and regulations, not contrary to law, as are consistent with the purpose of the high school as defined in Section Two of this Act;

h. To receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal property of all kinds and to administer the same in accordance with the directions and instructions of the donor and, in default thereof, in such manner as the Board of Trustees may in its discretion determine for the benefit of the high school or for aid to any of its students; and

i. To establish the criteria for the selection and admission of students which shall include, among other criteria, competitive examinations among graduates of elementary schools in Region VIII-Eastern Visayas only.

Section 6. A quorum of the Board of Trustees shall consist of a majority of all the members holding office at the time the meeting of the Board is called. All processes against the Board of Trustees shall be served on the director or secretary thereof.

Section 7. On or before the fifteenth day of July of each year, the Board of Trustees shall submit to the Office of the President of the Philippines, through the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports, and to both Houses of Congress, an annual report setting forth the progress, condition and needs of the high school.

Section 8. There shall be an Executive Council consisting of the Director, the heads of departments, and such other ranking faculty members or officials of the high school as may be determined by the Director.

The Council shall have the power to screen and select the students to be admitted to the high school; to select students who shall be recipients of scholarships, stipends and other allowances; and to develop the curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline, all subject to the approval of the Board. The Council shall have the exclusive power to recommend students eligible for graduation. Through the Director, it shall have the disciplinary power over the students.

The Council shall implement and execute the policies laid down by the Board of Trustees and exercise such other functions, powers and duties as the Board may prescribe.

Section 9. There shall be a Registrar of the Eastern Visayas Science High School, who shall also act as Secretary of the Board, to be appointed by the Director with the approval of the Board of Trustees. He shall keep such records as may be prescribed by the Board.1âшphi1

Section 10. There shall be a Treasurer of the Eastern Visayas Science High School who shall be appointed by the Director with the approval of the Board of Trustees. All accounts and expenses shall be audited by the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representatives.

Section 11. Faculty members of the high school shall be exempt as such from any civil service examination or regulation as a requisite to appointment. They shall be selected in accordance with such criteria as may be established by the Board of Trustees which shall include, if necessary and practicable, screening and competitive examination.

Said faculty members, as well as the school's administrative staff, shall be exempt from the provisions of laws, rules and regulations on wage and position classification.

Section 12. All legacies, gifts and donations for the benefit of the high school or for its support and maintenance or for aid to any of its students shall be tax-exempt and shall be an allowable deduction from the gross income of the donors. The high school shall be exempt from the payment of all kinds of taxes, fees, assessments and other charges of the national government, its branches, subdivisions and agencies.

Section 13. All incomes and donations to the science high school created under this Act shall constitute a special fund to be known as the Science High School Fund. This fund shall be expended by the Board of Trustees exclusively for the purpose of this Act.

Section 14. The heads of bureaus or offices of the national government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon request of the Director of the high school, such apparatus, supplies and other properties as may be needed by the high school, and to detail employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of the bureau or office, they can be spared without serious detriment to the public service.

The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as are required under such detail, and the time employed shall be counted as part of their regular official hours, all laws, rules and regulations limiting the detail of government employees notwithstanding.

Any officer or employee of the government engaged as lecturer in the high school may receive a compensation in addition to his salary at the rate to be fixed by the Board: Provided, That his duties as such lecturer are performed outside of his regular office hours.

Section 15. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

Section 16. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,

(Sgd.) NEPTALI A. GONZALES
President of the Senate
(Sgd.) RAMON V. MITRA
Speaker of the House of Representatives
This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on December 9, 1991 and December 3, 1991, respectively.
(Sgd.) ANACLETO D. BADOY, JR.
Secretary of the Senate
(Sgd.) CAMILO L. SABIO
Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: April 10, 1992

(Sgd.) CORAZON C. AQUINO
President of the Philippines


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