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Bill seeking to build more Pisay campuses nationwide advances in Senate

Published Feb 04, 2025 9:44 pm

More Philippine Science High School (PSHS) campuses could be coming soon. A Senate bill proposes up to two Pisay campuses per region, expanding enrollment opportunities.

The Department of Science and Technology reported that 5,807 qualified students have missed admission since 2022 due to a shortage of available slots. To address this, the government aims to build more PSHS campuses nationwide that are "strategically accessible and with special emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses" under Senate Bill No. 2974 or the Expanded Philippine Science High School System Act.

The bill also seeks to increase the pool of high school graduates who will pursue undergraduate courses under STEM, consolidate existing and future campuses under a unified system of governance and management, and support the development of students and staff by encouraging collaborative activities.

The PSHS system will include up to two campuses per administrative region, excluding the NCR, which already houses the main campus.

There will be no more than two campuses located in the same province. However, the PSHS Board of Trustees may authorize additional campuses after 15 years based on need and demand, following a comprehensive review.

Currently, there are 16 PSHS campuses, located in the NCR, Baguio City, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Clark Freeport Zone, Batangas City, Romblon, Camarines Sur, Iloilo City, Cebu, Leyte, Dipolog City, Lanao del Norte, Davao City, Koronadal City, and Butuan City.

The bill, which is authored by Senators Lito Lapid, Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Tolentino, Bong Revilla Jr., Win Gatchalian, and Migz Zubiri, proposes that future campuses may be built in Ilocos Norte, Cagayan Province, Akian, Albay, Bohol, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, and South Cotabato.

In a statement, the PSHS highlighted how the bill "represents an important investment in the country’s future" in building a "generation of globally competitive scientists, engineers, and innovators."

"The DOST family, along with other stakeholders, remains optimistic that more Senators will join this initiative by filing their versions of the bill. The strong support for this legislation reflects a shared understanding of the critical role of science and technology education in national development," they stated.

Founded in 1964, the PSHS is regarded as the top science high school in the Philippines and is known to actively participate in national and international science, technology, and mathematics competitions.