An Act Recognizing CCF Life Academy Foundation, Inc. as an Educational Institution of International Character, Granting Certain Prerogatives to Hasten Its Growth as Such, and for Other Purposes

December 10, 2021

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11638

AN ACT RECOGNIZING CCF LIFE ACADEMY FOUNDATION, INC. AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER, GRANTING CERTAIN PREROGATIVES TO HASTEN ITS GROWTH AS SUCH, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. CCF Life Academy Foundation, Inc., herein referred to as the School, is hereby declared an educational institution of international character authorized to operate educational programs that primarily and principally adhere to universally accepted and recognized educational policies.

SECTION 2. "CCF Life Academy International" shall be the registered name of the School, which was established by religious groups and mission boards, and shall be governed by a Board of Trustees elected at large from among the School's members of good standing.

SECTION 3. To enable the School to continue carrying out its educational program, improve its standard of instruction, and meet the special needs of the foreign temporary resident community for quality education, it shall:

(a) Be able to accept provisions and donations of every kind to carry out the purposes of the School and be entitled to use properties, real or personal, so donated and to construct and own buildings thereon exclusively for educational purposes;

(b) Whenever necessary to carry out its objectives, have the right to obtain leases on real properties, acquire personal properties, tangible or intangible, or any interests in such properties other than real, by purchase, lease, barter, donation, gift or otherwise, and dispose of, mortgage or encumber them for the benefit of the School concerned, subject to the limitations provided by law;

(c) Accept applicants for admission, regardless of nationality, in accordance with its own eligibility standards, and rules for admission and grade placement: Provided, That no single alien nationality shall consist more than thirty percent (30%) of the entire student population in a given school year, as stated in the records of the School, except in case of dependents of foreign diplomatic personnel or other foreign temporary residents, as may be provided by law;

(d) Be managed and administered by a President, Headmaster or Superintendent, who possesses the qualifications prescribed by the Board;

(e) Upon consultation with the Secretary of Education, determine its own curriculum and teach whatever language or languages it may deem proper and determine the amount of fees and assessments which may be reasonably imposed upon its pupils and students, to maintain or conform to the School's standard of education;

(f) Maintain the international standards of education compatible with those obtained in similar schools of generally recognized standing;

(g) Employ its own teaching and management personnel selected by the Board either locally or abroad, from the Philippines or other countries or nationalities, such foreign personnel being exempt from otherwise applicable laws and regulations attending their employment, except laws that have been or will be enacted for the protection of employees: Provided, That such exemption shall not extend to their liability for income taxes, unless otherwise provided by a bilateral agreement: Provided, further, That the School shall give priority in hiring locally qualified teaching and management personnel;

(h) Promote international friendship, goodwill and understanding among members of the foreign community and citizens of the Philippines; and

(i) Not to teach anything derogatory to the prestige and well-being of the Philippines and its people, nor those which will subvert its institutions and government.

SECTION 4. Notwithstanding the recognition and prerogatives under this Act, the School shall be under the supervision and regulation of the Department of Education and shall adhere to basic laws and the rules and regulations of the Department governing international or foreign schools.

SECTION 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the members of the Board of the School, shall issue the rules and regulations to implement its provisions.

SECTION 6. If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this Act is subsequently declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 7. Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the rules and regulations under Section 5 herein, this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved: December 10, 2021.