June 30, 2009

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9647

AN ACT DESIGNATING THE PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY AS THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL CENTER FOR TEACHER EDUCATION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Normal University Modernization Act of 2009". ACcaET

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to give priority to the continuing professional training and development of all Filipino teachers and optimize the potentials of the country's teaching force to increase access to, promote equity in, and improve the quality of basic and higher education. The State shall likewise give priority to studies in education with emphasis on innovations and alternative systems and their utilization and application to teacher training and development.

SECTION 3. National Center for Teacher Education. — This Act designates the Philippine Normal University (PNU) as the National Center for Teacher Education. As such, the PNU, in addition to the powers and functions provided for in its charter, shall perform the following:

(a) Provide technical support to the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in their programs and projects that chart policies and recommendations on teacher training, teacher education, continuing professional education of teachers and academic supervisors, and teacher education curricula;

(b) Build and develop a database of education policies to serve as a resource to the country's policy-makers;

(c) Conduct researches, case studies, and other appropriate methodologies to enhance curriculum and training designs for teacher training, teacher education, and continuing professional education of teachers and academic supervisors; and

(d) As may be directed by Congress, provide assistance to legislators in the design and analysis of legislative proposals concerning teacher training, teacher education, continuing professional education of teachers and academic supervisors, teacher education curricula, and other issues affecting teacher education. DHITSc

SECTION 4. Teacher Education Standards Development. — As the National Center for Teacher Education, the PNU shall make an annual presentation to the DepEd, CHED, the House and Senate Committees on Education, and other education institutions on its proposed standards for teacher training, teacher education, continuing professional education of teachers and academic supervisors, and teacher education curricula. Such presentation shall be made available to the general public especially to teachers and academic supervisors. The presentation shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(a) Necessary competencies of teachers and academic supervisors in their various fields of specialization;

(b) Innovative strategies and alternative modalities of teaching and learning; and

(c) Information and communication technology breakthroughs to assist the process of teaching and learning. HDIaST

SECTION 5. Education Policy Research and Development. — As the National Center for Teacher Education, the PNU shall establish an Education Policy Research and Development Office which shall:

(a) Establish and maintain a database of education policies and significant issues facing the country's education system as well as the education systems of other countries especially in the Asia Pacific region;

(b) Create and test different models of teacher education, address key factors in successful teacher education programs and determine which model would best achieve the country's education goals;

(c) Provide a systematic dissemination of research output on teacher education to make them readily available to end users such as teachers and academic supervisors;

(d) Share research expertise and competence in education research with other Teacher Education Institutions throughout the country: Provided, That the research funding of other state universities and colleges shall in no way be affected by the provisions of this Act;

(e) Advise the country's policy-makers and decision-makers in planning, implementing and evaluating reforms in teacher education including the licensing of professional teachers;

(f) Assist in the assessment of government programs on education. As such, PNU may be required by any government agency to comment and/or make recommendations regarding the different policies and programs on education; and

(g) Conduct periodic studies in aid of crafting responsive policies and programs on education.

SECTION 6. Philippine Normal University Modernization Program. — The PNU shall prepare a modernization plan to fulfill its mandate as the National Center for Teacher Education, and to upgrade its capability to provide pre-service and in-service formation for our country's teachers.

The modernization plan shall enhance curricular programs to make them relevant and responsive to the needs of society and address the educational needs of communities. The plan shall also include a program for staff development as well as for the upgrading of services, facilities and equipment in the University. aTcHIC

The proposed modernization plan shall be submitted to the University's Board of Regents for their approval.

SECTION 7. Tax Exemptions. — The provisions of any general or special law to the contrary notwithstanding:

(a) All revenues and assets of the PNU used actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes or in support thereof shall be exempt from all taxes and duties; DACIHc

(b) Gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from the donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended: Provided, That the allowable deductions shall be equivalent to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the value of such donation. Valuation of assistance other than money shall be based on the acquisition cost of the property. Such valuation shall take into consideration the depreciated value of property in case said property has been used;

(c) Importation of economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical and cultural books, supplies and materials duly certified by the Board, including scientific and educational computer and software equipment, shall be exempt from customs duties;

(d) The University shall only pay zero percent (0%) value-added tax for all transactions subject to this tax; and

(e) All academic monetary awards shall be exempt from taxes.

SECTION 8. Appropriations. — The amount of Two hundred fifty million pesos (P250,000,000.00) necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act is hereby appropriated entirely for capital outlay in addition to the current year's appropriations for the PNU.

For the succeeding five (5) years, the amount of One hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00) shall be appropriated per year in addition to the annual appropriations for capital outlay of the PNU.

Thereafter, the amount necessary to sustain the program shall be included in the annual appropriations of the PNU.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any part, section or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. aSACED

Approved: June 30, 2009

Published in The Philippine Star on July 13, 2009.