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Around P300 million is needed to set up a new Philippine Science High School campus
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) asked Congress for additional funds to build 10 more campuses of the Philippine Science High School (PSHSS) during the Senate deliberations on the agency’s proposed 2025 budget on Wednesday, September 11.
Science Secretary Renato Solidum said that while there are 16 PSHSS campuses across the country —one per region — more campuses are needed because of the rising population.
“There is a move at the lower house and, hopefully, this can also be supported here in the Senate to add 10 additional campuses under the Philippine Science High School System because of our increased population and the need to have more scientists and engineers in the future,” said Solidum on Wednesday.
The system is made up of campuses colloquially known as “Pisay,” considered the incubator of science professionals in the country. The main campus is located along Agham Road in Diliman, Quezon City.
Scholars are fully subsidized and receive a P500-monthly stipend. They are legally obliged to take up science and engineering undergraduate degrees after they graduate.
If Congress supports the proposal through a bill and by giving more funds, deciding on the location of these new campuses would entail checking hazards, risks, availability of land, and population density.
Solidum said that ideally, the campuses should be located in cities. But this is not the case for all existing campuses.
“Ang nangyari, senator, noong unang panahon hindi nag-o-offer ‘yung ibang mga city ng lupa,” Solidum said, addressing Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.
(What happened long before, senator, was that some cities did not offer land.)
“So ang mangyayari, kung sino ang mag-o-offer doon sa region, ‘yun na lang ang aming pinipili.” (So that would happen was, we would choose whoever offered in the region.)
Setting up a new campus in a five-hectare lot would cost P300 million, according to PSHSS executive director Ronnalee Orteza.
Orteza said the P300-million budget would include the academic buildings, basic laboratories, administrative buildings, dormitories, and items for teachers and non-teaching personnel.
Dormitories are a must in the campuses, according to Orteza, as 80% to 90% of students stay in the dormitories. Staying in dormitories also help establish study habits among the scholars.
Early this year, the House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 9726 or the Expanded Philippine Science High School Act. Solidum said they are still looking for sponsors in the upper chamber for the Senate version of the bill.
– Rappler.com
