WHEREAS, it is a policy of the state to periodically reorient the educational system to serve as an effective vehicle for an accelerated economic growth and the social well being of the Filipino people;
WHEREAS, Western Mindanao is endowed with extensive fishing grounds teeming with marine life, vast mangrove areas and swamplands suitable for aquaculture development and fertile lands with unlimited potentials for agriculture and agribusiness concerns that if rationally exploited, utilized and developed would bring progress and prosperity to the region and its people;
WHEREAS, Western Mindanao suffers from low agricultural and industrial productivity and have limited productive employment opportunities attributed to poor and inefficient resource utilization and inadequate skilled manpower and infrastructure support;
WHEREAS, notwithstanding its natural bounties, Western
Mindanao remains underdeveloped on account of a dearth
of competent leaders
trained in the rudiments of science and technology;
WHEREAS, the present Mindanao Regional School of Fisheries which was included as one of the seven project institutes under the Sixth Education Project of the Philippine Government (GOP/IBRD No. 1786 PH) had significantly improved its institutional capabilities to offer programs in science and technology;
WHEREAS, the present College with its upgraded facilities can produce the manpower needed to rationally exploit, utilize and develop the natural resources of Western Mindanao, thereby accelerating- economic growth and the improvement of the quality of life of its people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree;
SECTION 1. Conversion and Etablishment. The present Mindanao Regional School of Fisheries, located in Zamboanga City is hereby converted into a Regional State College to be known as Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, hereinafter referred to in this Act as the State College.
SEC. 2. Composition of the State College. The State College shall be composed of the present Regional Institute of Fisheries, Institute of Marine Transportation, and administrative units of the Mindanao Regional School of Fesheries. The State College will have administrative supervision over all fishery schools in the region under a Regional Fisheries System. An Institute of Marine Sciences, a School of Development Management, a Graduate School and other new departments, centers or units may later be organized to become part of the State College.
SEC. 3. Purpose. The State College shall provide the necessary leadership in professional and technical instruction in Fisheries, maritime technology, marine sciences and development management in line with the manpower requirement and other development needs of Western Mindanao and neighboring regions. The State College shall offer undergraduate and graduate courses in fisheries, maritime technology, marine sciences, computer technology and development management, as well as short-term technical/ vocational courses relevant to the needs of fisheries, maritime and other marine resources based industries. It shall promote research in fisheries and marine sciences and in related agribusiness concerns.
SEC. 4. Governing Board. The policy making power of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology is hereby vested in the Board of Trustees. The Board will be composed of five members, namely: the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, the Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority, the President of the State College, the Regional Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and the President of the Alumni Association of the College.
The members of the Board shall serve without compensation other than actual and necessary expenses incurred in attendance upon meetings of the Board or upon other official business related to his position as a Trustee authorized by a resolution of the Board.
SEC. 5. Powers and Duties of the Governing Board. The Board of Trustees shall have the following powers and duties in addition to its general powers of administration, and the exercise or all powers of a corporation provided in Section Thirteen of the Corporation Law.
SEC. 6. Quorum. 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 Secretary thereof.
SEC. 7. The Administration. The head of the State College shall be known as the President of Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology. He shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees for a term of six years. He may be reappointed for another terra by the President of the Philippines also upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees. He shall be assisted by a Vice President and an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the President of the College. The powers and duties of the President of the State College, in addition to those provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the President of a State College.
SEC. 8. Powers of the President. The powers and duties of the President of the State College, in addition to those usually pertaining to the Office of the President of a State College which are not inconsistent with the provisions of law, are as follows:
SEC. 9. The Secretary of the State College. The Board of Trustees shall appoint a secretary who shall serve in a concurrent capacity the Board and the State College, and shall keep such records of the State College as may be designated by the Board and the President of the State College.
SEC. 10. The College Council. There shall be a College Council, consisting of the President, Vice President, Executive Director, Directors of the Institutes/Schools, Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors. The President or his duly authorized representative, why is a member of the Council, shall be the Chairman of the Council. Subject to the existing laws and approval by the Board and upon the recommendation of the President, the College Council shall:
SEC. 11. The Faculty of the State College. The instructors and professors of the State College shall constitute its faculty to be prescribed by a Director who shall be selected from among the members of such faculty and appointed by the Board for a term fixed by the College Council, upon recommendation of the President of the State College.
SEC. 12. In the appointment of instructors and professors, and other personnel of the State College, religious opinions or affiliations shall not be made a matter of inquiry or examination. Provided, however, that no professor, instructor or any other personnel of the State College shall inculcate sectarian tenets in any of the teachings nor attempt, directly or indirectly, under penalty of dismissal by the Board of Trustees, to influence students at attendance at the State College for or against any particular church or religious sect. The State College shall enjoy full academic freedom.
SEC. 13. Civil Service Requirement—Professors or instructors of the State College shall be exempted from any civil service examination or regulation as a prerequisite to appointment shall be entitled to the privileges and rights of security of tenure, promotion in position and salaries for meritorious service, sabbatical leave, leaves and retirement benefits as now provided and will be later provided by law. .
SEC. 14. A student shall not be denied admission to the State College by reason of sex, ethnic consideration and religious belief or affiliation.
SEC. 15. Appropriation. The appropriation of the Mindanao Regional School of Fisheries-Regional Institute of Fisheries Technology at the time of its conversion shall be transferred to the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology. Thereafter, funds for the operation and maintenance of the College shall be included in the Appropriation Act, the total sum of which shall be recommended by the Board of Trustees of the State College as approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture and office of the President.
SEC. 16. Property of the State College. The assets, fixed or movable, and records of the Mindanao Regional School of Fisheries-Regional Institute of Fisheries Technology are hereby transferred to the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology.
SEC. 17. General Provisions. The Minister of Education, Culture and Sports is hereby directed to take such steps as are necessary for the immediate implementation of this Decree.
SEC. 18. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-six.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President: (Sgd.) JOAQUIN T. VENUS, JR. Deputy Presidential Executive Assistant