CAVITE 1st District Rep. Francis Gerald Aguinaldo Abaya has filed a bill that seeks to amend the 19-year-old Higher Education Modernization Act.

House Bill 970 limits the term of office of presidents of universities or colleges to four years. If a new president is not appointed on time, an officer in charge, other than the outgoing president, shall be appointed.

Abaya said that there were instances that presidents and private sector representatives of the governing boards have held their position for more than the prescribed term of office because the incoming president or representatives were not appointed in time.

“The overstaying incumbents then were still allowed to vote on important SUC decisions and thus perpetuated the bad practice of late appointments. Such opens the doors of unbridled discretion, abuse of power and even corruption,” the lawmaker said.

House Bill 970 mandates that the funding for the budgetary requirements of upgrading new faculty positions will be initially sourced from the income of SUCs.

The bill also provides that any resolution promulgated by any SUC governing board shall be declared null and void if it is inconsistent with existing laws and executive issuances.