Philippine Science High School System

History

First campus

Main article: Philippine Science High School Main Campus

The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) was established via Republic Act (RA) No. 3661 which was signed into law by President Diosdado Macapagal on June 22, 1963. It mandates the creation of a school which provides scholarship to students with an emphasis on mathematics and sciences to prepare them to take on scientific careers.

It is the implementation of a proposal of Leopoldo V. Torralba, a mathematics professor at the New York University who envisioned that type of school for Filipinos patterned after the Bronx High School of Science.

PSHS first opened on September 5, 1964 using rented buildings alongside the Elliptical Road in Quezon City.

In 1966, the PSHS requested the government a land of its own leading to the construction a campus from 1970 to 1972 in Diliman. The Diliman campus opened in 1973.

Expansion and establishment of the PSHS System

Three more campuses was built across the Philippines namely the Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, and Southern Mindanao (now Davao Region) campuses.

The Philippine Science High School System was formalized in February 12, 1998 via RA No. 8496 which became law during President Fidel Ramos's administration. This legislation placed the four existing campuses under a single system of governance and management.

RA 9036 passed on March 12, 2001 during President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's administration mandated the establishment of at least one PSHS campus per region.

The PSHS in the 2010s transitioned into the K-12 education system which added two years to its existing four-year curriculum.

On October 3, 2025, President Bongbong Marcos signed into law RA No. 12310 or the Expanded Philippine Science High School System Act, allowing for the creation of more than one PSHS campus in the same region albeit in a different province.

Campuses

By region

Luzon

Main (Metro Manila)

Main article: Philippine Science High School Main Campus

The Philippine Science High School Main Campus (PSHS–MC) is the flagship campus of the Philippine Science High School System located in Diliman, Quezon City. The campus situated within the Metro Manila (National Capital Region) was established in June 22, 1963.

Ilocos

Main article: Philippine Science High School Ilocos Region Campus

The Philippine Science High School Ilocos Region Campus is the PSHSS Ilocos Region campus situated in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur. The establishment of the school was initiated by House of Representatives member Salacnib Baterina. Republic Act 9036 explicitly states San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur as a site for consideration for a PSHS campus in Ilocos Region The PSHS Board of Trustees approved the creation of the Ilocos Region Campus on February 6, 2002 with the school opening on July 14, 2003.

The Expanded PSHS System Act or Republic Act No. 12310 proposed the establishment of a second Ilocos campus in Laoag.

Cagayan Valley

Main article: Philippine Science High School Cagayan Valley Campus

The Philippine Science High School Cagayan Valley Campus is the PSHSS Cagayan Valley campus situated in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

PSHS–CVC was established as the Nueva Vizcaya Science High School (NVSHS) from Republic Act 7622 in 1992, passed by then-Congressman Carlos Padilla. The school which opened in 1996 used to be situated in the same compound as the Nueva Vizcaya State University. In 1997, the control of the NVSHS was transferred to the Department of Science and Technology under Republic Act 8364.

In 2001, the NVSHS was made a PSHS campus. In 2002, under Governor Rodolfo Q. Agbayani, construction of a new compound for the PSHS–CVC started Barangay Masoc in Bayombong. In 2010, the PSHS–CVC had completed its relocation onto the new site.

The Expanded PSHS System Act or Republic Act No. 12310 proposed the establishment of a second Cagayan Valley campus somewhere within the third district of Cagayan.

Cordillera Administrative Region

The Philippine Science High School Cordillera Administrative Region Campus is the PSHSS Cordillera Administrative Region campus situated in Baguio. It was established on September 11, 2008 and formally opened the following year.

Central Luzon

Main article: Philippine Science High School Central Luzon Campus

The Philippine Science High School Central Luzon Campus in Clark Freeport Zone is the PSHSS campus for Central Luzon. First opened in 2009, it was initially housed within the Clark Polytechnic School compound.

Calabarzon

Main article: Philippine Science High School Calabarzon Region Campus

The Philippine Science High School - Calabarzon Region Campus is the PSHSS Calabarzon campus situated in Batangas City. Initiall the campus was located in Bahay Kaalaman at the Batangas National High School Compound from July 2015 until it transferred permanently to its current location in 2017.

Mimaropa

The Philippine Science High School MIMAROPA Region Campus is the PSHSS Mimaropa campus situated in Odiongan, Romblon.

Bicol

The Philippine Science High School Bicol Region Campus is the PSHSS Bicol Region campus situated in Goa, Camarines Sur.

The Expanded PSHS System Act or Republic Act No. 12310 proposed the establishment of a second Bicol campus somewhere within the Polangui, Albay.

Visayas

Western Visayas

Main article: Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus

The Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus is the PSHSS Western Visayas campus situated in Iloilo City.

The Expanded PSHS System Act or Republic Act No. 12310 proposed the establishment of a second Western Visayas campus somewhere within the first district of Aklan.

Negros Island Region

There is no PSHS campus in the Negros Island Region although by law there is mandate to establish two campuses.

Central Visayas

The Philippine Science High School Central Visayas Campus is the PSHSS Central Visayas campus situated in Argao, Cebu. The PSHS Board of Trustees approved the creation of the Central Visayas campus on September 30, 2005 The school itself opened in 2006

The Expanded PSHS System Act or Republic Act No. 12310 proposed the establishment of a second Central Visayas campus in Ubay, Bohol.

Eastern Visayas

The Philippine Science High School Eastern Visayas Region Campus is the PSHSS Eastern Visayas campus situated in Palo, Leyte.

Mindanao

Northern Mindanao

Main article: Philippine Science High School Northern Mindanao Campus

The Philippine Science High School Northern Mindanao Campus, formerly the Philippine Science High School Central Mindanao Campus, is the PSHSS campus for Northern Mindanao situated in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte.

The Expanded PSHS System Act or Republic Act No. 12310 proposed the establishment of a second Northern Mindanao campus somewhere in Bukidnon.

Davao

Main article: Philippine Science High School Davao Region Campus

The Philippine Science High School Davao Region Campus in Davao City, formerly the Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus, is the PSHSS campus for the Davao Region.

Soccsksargen

Main article: Philippine Science High School Soccsksargen Region Campus

The Philippine Science High School Soccsksargen Region Campus in Koronadal City is the PSHSS campus for Soccsksargen situated in South Cotabato. The school began operations on June 17, 2013.

The Expanded PSHS System Act or Republic Act No. 12310 proposed the establishment of a second campus in General Santos.

Caraga

Main article: Philippine Science High School Caraga Region Campus

The Philippine Science High School Caraga Region Campus is the PSHSS Caraga campus situated in Butuan. It was established in 2012.

Zamboanga Peninsula

Main article: Philippine Science High School Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus

The Philippine Science High School Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus is the PSHSS Zamboanga Peninsula campus situated in Dipolog. It opened in August 2016 at the Dipolog Sports Complex before moving to its permanent site in Barangay Cogon in October 2019.

The Expanded PSHS System Act or Republic Act No. 12310 proposed the establishment of a second campus in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Bangsamoro

There is no PSHS campus within the Bangsamoro autonomous region. However the autonomous regional government maintains the Bangsamoro Science High School established in 2023 via Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 40 which is patterned after the PSHS system. The BSHS campus will be built in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

Summary

Currently, each region in the Philippines except the Bangsamoro and the Negros Island Region has a campus.

Organization

The Board of Trustees (BOT) is the highest policy making body of the PSHS System. The executive committee (ExeCom), composed of the directors of different PSHS campuses, is a collegial body that recommends policies and guidelines for the consideration of the BOT. The executive committee is chaired by the executive director, who coordinates the implementation of these policies and guidelines. PSHS campuses are headed by directors who are members of the ExeCom.

Admissions

Admission into any campus of the system can be done through the national competitive exam, lateral admission, or intercampus transfer.

National Competitive Examination

Students who want to study in a campus within the Philippine Science High School System must take an entrance exam to get admitted called the National Competitive Examinations (NCE). A grade school student must belong to the top ten percent of their graduating class or have an aptitude in mathematics and science.

The NCE is reputed to be competitive with limited slots per academic year only available. As per the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) Year 2 report, 49,481 took the NCE in a bid to get admitted in the PSHSS' 16 campuses for the academic years 2022–23 and 2024–25. Only 5,544 of the 11,351 qualified applicants enrolled during that period.

Lateral admission – qualifying exam

Admission can also be done through lateral admission. A student who has finished Grade 7/Grade 8 (under the high school curriculum or the new K-12 curriculum) outside of the Philippine Science High School System may be allowed admission to the PSHS if specific requirements are met.

Intercampus transfer

Scholars of the system may travel to other campuses of the system. Intercampus transfer will only be allowed to incoming Grade 8, 9, or 10 students from a PSHSS campus and approval depends on the slots available in the desired campus to be transferred to. The transferring student must meet certain requirements in order to be considered eligible to transfer.

Notable alumni

• Vicky Tauli-Corpuz (Batch 1969): Indigenous People's rights advocate; Chair, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
• Cielito Habito (Batch 1970): former Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority
• Hermogenes Esperon (Batch 1970): General; Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Butch Dalisay (Batch 1971-A): writer, editor, columnist, Palanca awardee
• Joel Navarro (Batch 1971-B): conductor, singer-composer (Swerte-Swerte Lang), arranger, music professor, and stage actor; Gawad Lagablad Awardee, 1991
• Anna Bayle (Batch 1974): entrepreneur and Asia's first international supermodel
• Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (Batch 1977): peace negotiator and the former chair of the peace panel of the Government of the Philippines
• Jessica Zafra (Batch 1982): fiction writer, columnist, editor, publisher, former television and radio show host, Palanca awardee
• Joseph Emilio Abaya (Batch 1983): former Congressman, 1st district of Cavite, Secretary, Department of Transportation and Communication
• Auraeus Solito (aka Kanakan Balintagos) (Batch 1986): filmmaker, director of the internationally acclaimed Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, Tuli, Pisay, Busong: Palawan Fate, and Baybayin: The Palawan Script
• Barry Gutierrez (Batch 1990): former Congressman, spokesperson of former Vice President Leni Robredo
• Luis Katigbak (Batch 1991): writer and music critic
• Karlo Nograles (Batch 1993): Chairman of Civil Service Commission
• Jeffrey Hidalgo (Batch 1994): singer, songwriter, former band member of Smokey Mountain group
• Atom Araullo (Batch 2000): television host, reporter and newscaster now with GMA Network
• Hillary Diane Andales (Batch 2019): astrophysicist and science communicator

References

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