To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

1. From its inventory and inspection, the Department of Education (DepEd) is in ownership of a real property commonly known as the University Center, which was identified, delineated and reserved under Presidential Proclamation No. 684, which was issued on April 20, 1970. This is entitled Excluding from the Operation of Proclamation No. 461 dated September 29, 1965, over a certain piece of land situated in Fort Bonifacio, Municipality of Makati, Province of Rizal, Island of Luzon, a certain portion of the land embraced therein and reserving the same for the University Center purposes under the DepEd.
2. Pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 9155 or the Basic Education Act of 2001 and DECS Order No. 57, s. 1995, as well as applicable rules and issuances, the DepEd shall firmly establish ownership of school sites occupied by public elementary and secondary schools nationwide, contribute to the further development and improvement of the public school system, protect the rights and interests of the DepEd from legal and administrative issues affecting school sites, and ensure that the funds allocated for the titling and acquisition of DepEd properties will be utilized.
3. In the spirit of Presidential Proclamation No. 684, the DepEd heretofore expresses its unequivocal desire to resolve, develop and utilize the University Center for its educational projects, programs and plans, and exercise its propriety and ownership rights under existing laws and regulations.
4. In line with this, the DepEd University Center Task Force (DUCTF) is hereby created to formulate policies and programs associated with this understanding, among others.
5. The Chairman and Members of the DepEd University Center Task Force are as follows:Chairman:           Undersecretary for Finance and Administration
   Members:            Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs
   Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff
   Director, Administrative Service
   Chief, Accounting Division
   Chief, Property Division
   Chief, Physical Facilities Schools Engineering Division (PFSED)
   DepEd Legal Consultant
   DepEd Technical Consultant
6. The Task Force will be assisted by a Secretariat initially composed of DepEd Central Office (CO) personnel, as designated by the Task Force.
7. To effectively implement the mandate of the DUCTF will undertake the following activities:
   1. Policy Determination and Formulation;
   2. Identification and Profiling of Occupants;
   3. Technical Review and Creation of Development Plans
   4. Inter-agency and Inter-office Coordination Works; and
   5. Legal Research and Assistance
8. Expenses incurred by the DUCTF shall be charged to the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and Office of the Secretary (OSEC) Funds subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
9. All previous and existing Orders/Memoranda inconsistent with this Order are hereby amended accordingly.
10. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.

Reference:
DECS Order: (No. 57, s. 1995)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
COMMITTEE
OFFICIALS
SCHOOLS
SITES

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