Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 40

BILL NO. 37

BANGSAMORO TRANSITION AUTHORITY PARLIAMENT Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City Republic of the Philippines

BANGSAMORO TRANSITION AUTHORITY

(SECOND REGULAR SESSION)

BANGSAMORO AUTONOMY ACT NO. 40

Begun and held in Cotabato City, on Thursday, the 15th day of September 2022.

ESTABLISHING THE BANGSAMORO SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM ANACT

PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in Parliament assembled:

ARTICLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. -- This Act shall be known as the "Bangsamoro Science High School (BSHS) System Act of 2023.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -- It is the declared policy of the Bangsamoro Government to establish,maintain,and support a complete and integrated system of quality education, which shall be a subsystem of the national education system and shall conform to the standards set by the National Government. For this purpose, the Bangsamoro Government shall develop an educational framework relevant and responsive to the needs, ideals, and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.

Moreover, the Bangsamoro Government recognizes science and technology to be essential to national and regional progress. Thus, the Bangsamoro Government shall give priority to science, research and development, inventions, innovation, and technological advancement and development. Thus,it shall maintain and support a comprehensive, adequate, and integrated high school science education system tailored to the needs of learners in the Bangsamoro.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITION OF TERMS, CREATION, AND OBJECTIVES OF THE BSHS SYSTEM

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. --For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby defined as follows:

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a)"Bangsamoro Science High School" - a secondary school that offers to deserving

Bangsamoro learners who shall be admitted and trained under a curriculum especially designed to make them globally competitive and prepared for careers in science and technology.

b)"Science " refers to the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical

and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained.

c)"Technology" refers to the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes,

especially in industries.

d)"Values Education" refers to one of the subjects of the learners in the BSHS that aims to strengthen the foundations of faith among them as they are being trained in science and technology.

SEC. 4. Creation of the BSHS System. -- There is hereby created the BSHS System, which shall be on par with the standards of the Philippine Science High School. The BSHS System shall integrate Values Education as a way of strengthening the foundation of science education and faith among learners in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. The BSHS System shall offer free education to qualified Bangsamoro learners with the end in view of preparing them for careers in science and technology.

SEC. 5. Objectives. -- The creation of the BSHS System aims to achieve the following objectives:

a) To provide space, open opportunities, and bring science and technology education

closer to the Bangsamoro learners;

b) To adopt the Philippine Science High School's quality standards and integrate values

education in the BSHS System curriculum; and

c) To regulate the establishment and expansion of Science High Schools in the

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

ARTICLE III

STRUCTURE OF THE BANGSAMORO SCIENCE AND HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM

SEC. 6. Structure of the BSHS System. - The BSHS System shall be under the administrative control and supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). It is composed of the Board of Trustees or the "Board", the Executive Director, and the Campus Directors. The Chairperson of the Board shall appoint all officials and personnel of the BSHS System, subject to Civil Service Commission rules and regulations.

SEC. 7. The Board of Trustees. -- The Board of Trustees of the BSHS shall be composed of:

a)The Minister of the MOST as ex officio Chairperson

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b)The Minister of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education as ex officio

Vice-Chairperson;

c)The President of the Mindanao State University System;

d)The Campus Director of the BSHS System, or should the Executive Committee already

have an Executive Director, such Executive Director;

e)The President of the BSHS Alumni Association;

f)The Chairperson of the Committee on Science and Technology of the Bangsamoro

Parliament;

g) Two (2) representatives from the private sector coming from the fields of education for

industries of significance to the regional economy. The private sector representative shall be appointed by the Chairperson subject to the confirmation of the Board of the gifted, new and emerging technologies, agriculture and fisheries, and other

Trustees; and

h)The Mufti of the Bangsamoro Darul Ifia.

SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Board of Trustees. -- The Board of Trustees shall exercise the powers and privileges of a Board of Trustees as provided in Republic Act No. 11232, otherwise known as the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. In addition, it shall also exercise the following powers:

a) Formulate policies and guidelines for the administration and operation of the BSHS

System;

b) Formulate policies on the appointment, promotion, retention, removal, renewal.

rewards, and incentives for administrators, faculty, and staff;

c) Approve the curricula submitted by the Executive Committee:

d) Approve the criteria for the selection and admission of students;

e) Approve the grant of scholarship, stipend, and such allowances for students;

f)Approve the graduation of successful candidates from the various BSHS campuses;

g) Formulate policies and rules of discipline for students, faculty, and staff;

h) Endorse the annual budget proposal of the BSHS System to the MOST for inclusion in

its budget and for consideration of the Parliament;

i)Propagate its own rules of procedure, and prescribe, for the administration of the BSHS

System, such general rules and regulations, not contrary to law, as are consistent with the purpose of the BSHS System, as defined in Section 5 of this Act;

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j)Receive in trust, legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal property, for the

benefit of the BSHS System, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations;

k)Develop policies for the enrolment quota in the campuses under the BSHS System;

1)Set policies and criteria to rationalize the establishment and expansion of science high

schools under the System, for its evaluation and approval;

m) Approve strategic plans submitted by the Campus Directors, which aims to enhance the capability of the BSHS System in developing human resources with focus on youth

with special talents in science and mathematics; and

n) Perform such other functions as may be essential or necessary to the furtherance of the

purposes of this Act.

SEC. 9. Meeting Quorum. -- The Board of Trustees meeting quorum shall be a simple majority of all members holding office at the time the Board is called

SEC.10. The Executive Committee. - The BSHS System shall have an Executive Committee

such other functions, powers, and duties as the Board may prescribe, including: which shall implement and execute the policies established by the Board of Trustees. It shall exercise

a)Screening and selection of the students for admission to the BSHS:

b) Selection of the recipients of the scholarship, stipends and other allowances; and

c) Development of the curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline subject to the

approval of the Board of Trustees.

The Executive Committee shall be composed of all the Campus Directors of the System and headed by an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees.

Provided, That while the System only has one campus, the Campus Director, the heads of departments in each campus, and other ranking faculty members or officials of the campus, as identified by the Campus Director, shall compose the Executive Committee. In such a case, the Campus Director shall head the Executive Committee.

SEC. 11. The Campus Director. -- The school shall be headed by a Campus Director. He/she shall have a fixed term of four (4) years, renewable at the option of the Board. The Campus Director shall not be removed from the office except for just cause.

The Campus Director shall be the administrative and academic head of the campus and is responsible for the campus' smooth operations. The Campus Director may constitute a consultative body that may act as a citizen's arm to interpret the educational needs of the service area of the campus.

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ARTICLE IV

ADMINISTRATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS

SEC. 12. Location. -- Campuses that shall form part of the BSHS System shall be established in different locations within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Accessibility, safety, and conduciveness for learning shall be the utmost considerations in the selection of sites for the BSHS campuses.

the BSHS System, or for its support and maintenance, or for aid to any of its students, shall be exempt SEC. 13. Legacies, Gifts and Conditions. -- All legacies, gifts, and conditions for the benefit of

from payment of taxes levied and collected by the Bangsamoro Government. Exemptions and allowable deductions under existing laws shall also apply.

to the BSHS System shall accrue entirely to the BSHS System and shall be for the exclusive use thereof for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act. SEC. 14. Incomes and Donations. -- All revenues and donations of real and/or personal property

All monies earned or received by the BSHS shall go to a special fund to be known as the BSHS Fund. The funds shall be dispensed in accordance with the activities programmed by the Board of Trustees for a specific campus or for the entire system consistent, when applicable, with the terms of the donation

SEC. 15. Gender Equity and Inclusivity. -- The BSHS System shall promote gender equity and

inclusive learning environment, providing equal opportunities and support for all faculty members and inclusivity in all aspects of its operations. It shall implement policies and programs that foster an students regardless of gender. It shall establish a non-discriminatory policy to address disparities and ensure that faculty members and students from both gender backgrounds can thrive and succeed in science and technology education.

SEC. 16. Appropriations. -- The amount of Fifty-Five Million Pesos (P55,000,000.00) shall be appropriated to support the initial implementation of the BSHS System upon the effectivity of this Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be needed for the continued operation of the BSHS shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act of the Bangsamoro (GAAB).

SEC. 17. Transparency and Accountability Mechanisms. -- The BSHS System shall adhere to the usual government transparency and accountability measures.

It shall likewise implement feedback and grievance mechanisms that would allow students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders to raise concerns, report misconduct, and seek resolution of issues in a fair and confidential manner.

ARTICLE V

FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 18. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The MOST shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within six (6) months from the passage of this Act.

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SEC. 19. Separability Clause. -- If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid, the remainder of this Act or application of such provision of other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 20. Repealing Clause. -- All other regional acts, decrees, instructions, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 21. Effectivity. -- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of regional circulation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

ATTY. PANGALIAN M. BALIMDONG

Speaker

This Act was passed by the Bangsamoro Parliament on Muharram 27, 1445/August 14, 2023.

PROH RA Sdcre ABB.ANKAL XaYy}Gon(al

APPROVED:

TA AHOD BALAWAG EBRAHIM

Date: L SF P 2023 Chief Minister

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