NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.
') j- npT r'\
3 
::i6
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE 
PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippine Science High Schooi (PSHS) System is an attached agency of 
the Department of Science and Technoiogy (DOST) that envisions itself as "the 
leading science high school in the Asia Pacific Region preparing schoiars to become 
globaily competitive Filipino scientists equipped with 21st century skiils and imbued 
with the core vaiues of Integrity, Excelience and Service to Nation".1
PSHS was created by virtue of Repubiic Act No. 3661 which was enacted into 
law on June 22, 1963 "to offer on a free scholarship basis a secondary course with 
special emphasis on subjects pertaining to the sciences with the end in view of 
preparing its students for a science career." In 1998, Republic Act No. 8496 
otherwise known as the "Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act of 1997" 
was passed into law as a response to the need to harmonize the operations of the 
existing four (4) campuses of PSHS nameiy, Diiiman, Eastern Visayas, Western 
Visayas, and Southern Mindanao. In 2001, RA 8496 was amended by Repubiic Act
1 The PSHS System — Philippine Science High School System
1


No. 9036 "to establish one PSHS campus in every region in the country that will 
provide a giobaliy-competitive education to a diverse population of Fiiipino youth."2
At present, there are sixteen (16) PSHS campuses around the country. The 
students have consistentiy exceiied in various prestigious international Olympiads 
and research competitions. Further, the PSHS System is one of the country's top 
performers in Inteilectuai Property (IP) registrations, with over 236 IPs registered 
under its name from 2017 to 2022, inciuding 3 patents, 63 utility models, 6 industrial 
designs, and 162 trademarks. Consistent with these, the DOST notes that over 97% 
of PSHS graduates pursues STEM courses in universities.
While the entire PSHS community's efforts cannot be underestimated and are 
well-appreciated, its existing system is not sufficient to achieve its full potential to 
contribute to the country's development. In particular, if further enhanced, 
capacitated and empowered, the PSHS can greatly help in addressing the country's 
shortage of R&D personnel wherein, according to the DOST, the Philippines, in 2018 
"had only 356 researchers per million population, significantly below the 380 R&.D 
personnel per million recommended by the UNESCO to drive growth through 
innovation."
The "Expanded Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act" seeks to 
expand the number of PSHS campuses in each region to reach out and cater to 
deserving Filipino students who excei in the fieid of science, technology, engineering 
and mathematics. The provision of scholarship to worid-class education will produce 
more professional scientists and research and deveiopment personnei. Ultimately, 
this will provide the country with competent and innovative professionals that will 
lead the country to sustainable economic growth.
This bill serves as the counterpart measure of House Bill No. 9726, as 
endorsed by the DOST.
2 The PSHS System — Philippine Science High School System
2


In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly 
recommended.
INGGOY E3ERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
24 GGT 28
SENATE
S. No. 2859
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE 
PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shali be known as the "Expanded Philippine
2 
Science High School (PSHS) System Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall give priority to research and
4 
development, invention, innovation, and their utiiization; and to science, technology,
5 
engineering and mathematics education, training and services. It shali support
6 
appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their
7 
application to the country's productive systems and national life. To achieve these,
8 
the State hereby establishes a Philippine Science High Schooi (PSHS) System that
9 
will assume a leadership role in secondary Science, Technology, Engineering and
10 
Mathematics (STEM) Education.
11 
The State shail support the admission process of the PSHS System by
12 
establishing test centers ali over the regions, to enhance equitable admissions and
13 
access for deserving students.
14 
The State shall also ensure that every region is given equal opportunity to
15 
benefit from the establishment of the PSHS System. Towards this end, not more
16 
than two (2) PSHS campuses inclusive of the existing PSHS Campuses shail be


1 
established in each of the administrative regions of the country outside NCR where
2 
PSHS-Main Campus is iocated: Provided, That ail establishment of PSHS Campuses
3 
shaii be in accordance with the criteria as set by the PSHS System Board of Trustees
4 
(BOT): Provided, further, That only one (1) PSHS Campus shall be established per
5 
province. After fifteen (15) years of impiementation of this iaw, the PSHS BOT may
6 
consider estabiishment of more than two (2) PSHS campuses per region.
7 
Sec. 3. Objectives. — In impiementing the foregoing policy, the State shaii
8 
pursue the foiiowing objectives:
9 
a) Estabiish a PSHS Campus that offers on a free schoiarship basis a secondary
10 
course with special emphasis on STEM to students with high aptitude or gifted
11 
in science and mathematics;
12 
b) Establish campuses that are strategicaiiy accessibie to the pubiic;
13 
c) Ensure uniformity in quality standards and systematic operations of schoois
14 
under the PSHS system;
15 
d) Operationalize the estabiishment of PSHS campuses as defined in this Act;
16 
e) Integrate existing and future campuses into one system of governance and
17 
management that may be established by this law;
18 
f) Ensure that students with high aptitude or are gifted in science and
19 
mathematics are given equai scholarship opportunities to enroli in the PSHS
20 
System;
21 
g) Increase the pooi of high schooi graduates who wili pursue undergraduate
22 
courses to conduct researches and prepare schoiars for career in Science and
23 
Technoiogy (S&T) to become leaders in the field of STEM;
24 
h) Establish international collaboration for hoiistic deveiopment of its student,
25 
staff and ieaders; and
26 
i) Support scholars' and teachers' participation in iocai and international
27 
competition, academic symposia, research projects, and simiiar other
28 
schoiariy activities necessary for the attainment of its objective, subject to
29 
avaiiability of funds and usuai government accounting and audit regulations.
30 
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. —
31 
a) Administrative Regions refer to the administrative regions where the
32 
Department of Science and Technoiogy (DOST) holds regional offices;


1 
b) Careers in S&T pertain to the enrollment of scholars in college or university
2 
courses in the fields of basic and applied sciences, mathematics, engineering,
3 
technology, science education and such other disciplines approved by the
4 
BOT;
5 
c) Deserving Students refer to those who qualify for admission through the
6 
PSHS National Competitive Examination, or similar other admission process
7 
approved by the BOT e.g. Lateral Admission Qualifying Examination (LAQE),
8 
Requirement for Admission, Criteria, and Evaluation (RACE);
9 
d) Philippine Science High School (PSHS) refers to a school under the
10 
supervision of the PSHS System offering secondary education on scholarship
11 
basis to students with high aptitude or are gifted in science and mathematics
12 
using a specially designed curriculum focusing on Science, 
Technology,
13 
Engineering and Mathematics;
14 
e) Philippine Science High School System (PSHS System) consists of the Office of
15 
the Executive Director and the PSHS campuses under its supervision;
16 
f) Term of Office refers to the period fixed by this Act within which a public
17 
official may hold office;
18 
g) Tenure of Office refers to the period within which a public official actually held
19 
office within a prescribed term.
20 
Sec. 5. Scope. — The PSHS System shall be composed of the existing PSHS
21 
campuses herein mentioned and future campuses which shall be established under
22 
this Act. The existing sixteen (16) campuses shali be known as follows:
23 
1) Philippine Science High School - Main Campus in Diliman, Quezon City
24 
2) Philippine Science High School - Davao Region Campus in Davao City,
25 
formerly PSHS - Southern Mindanao Campus
26 
3) Philippine Science High School - Western Visayas Campus in Iloilo City,
27 
formerly Philippine Science High School - Western Visayas Campus
28 
4) Philippine Science High School - Eastern Visayas Campus in Leyte, formerly
29 
Philippine Science High School - Eastern Visayas Campus
30 
5) Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus in Nueva Vizcaya,
31 
formerly PSHS - Cagayan Valley Campus
32 
6) Philippine Science High School - Northern Mindanao Campus in Lanao del


1 
Norte, formerly PSHS - Central Mindanao Campus
2 
7) Philippine Science High School - Bicol Region Campus in Camarines Sur,
3 
formerly Philippine Science High School - Bicol Region Campus
4 
8) Philippine Science High School - Ilocos Region Campus in Ilocos Sur, formerly
5 
Philippine Science High School - Ilocos Region Campus
6 
9) Philippine Science High School - Central Visayas Campus in Cebu, formerly,
7 
Philippine Science High School - Central Visayas Campus
8 
10)Philippine Science High School - Central Luzon Campus in Clark Freeport
9 
Zone, formerly Philippine Science High School - Central Luzon Campus
10 
ll)Philippine Science High School - Cordillera Administrative Region Campus in
11 
Baguio City, formerly Philippine Science High School - Cordillera
12 
Administrative Region Campus
13 
12)Philippine Science High School - SOCCSKARGEN Region Campus in Koronadal
14 
City, formerly Philippine Science High School - SOCCSKARGEN Region Campus
15 
13)Philippine Science High School - CARAGA Region Campus in Butuan City,
16 
formerly Philippine Science High School - CARAGA Region Campus
17 
14)Philippine Science High School - CALABARZON Region Campus in Batangas
18 
City, formerly Philippine Science High School - CALABARZON Region Campus
19 
15)Philippine Science High School - MIMAROPA Region Campus in Romblon,
20 
formerly Philippine Science High School - MIMAROPA Region Campus
21 
16)Philippine Science High School - Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus in
22 
Dipolog City, formerly Philippine Science High School - Zamboanga Peninsula
23 
Region Campus
24 
The establishment of future PSHS campuses, the PSHS BOT may consider the
25 
following locations: 1st district of Akian; Daraga, Albay; Ubay, Bohol; Laoag, Ilocos
26 
Norte: and Labangan, Zamboanga Del Sur; Third District, Cagayan and General
27 
Santos City, South Cotabato: Provided, That there shall be established PSHS
28 
campuses per region and one (1) campus per province according to the criteria as
29 
set by the PSHS BOT.
30 
Sec. 6. Restriction on the Conversion of High Schoois into a Phiiippine Science
31 
High Schooi System. — In addition to the criteria as set by the BOT in the


1 
establishment and operation of PSHS System, the conversion and inclusion of
2 
existing high schools into the PSHS system shali not be allowed.
3 
Sec. 7. Overall Coordinating Authority. — The PSHS System shall be under the
4 
administrative supervision of the DOST. The BOT shall be the Governing Board of all
5 
the PSHS campus. The PSHS BOT shall formulate the staffing pattern of the PSHS
6 
System in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and
7 
the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
8 
Sec. 8. PSHS Board of Trustees. — There shall be a Board of Trustees
9 
composed of the Secretary of the DOST as ex officio Chairperson, the Secretary of
10 
Department of Education as ex officio Vice Chairperson and the following members:
11 
the President of the University of the Philippines, The Executive Director of PSHS,
12 
the Director of Science Education Institute (SEI), the President of the PSHS National
13 
Alumni Association, and the Chairpersons of the Committees on Science and
14 
Technology of the Senate and the House of Representatives as ex officio members;
15 
and one (1) representative each from the private sector representing higher
16 
education, child development professionals or practitioners, agriculture and new
17 
emerging technologies. The private sector representatives shall be appointed by the
18 
Board of Trustees upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee.
19 
The private sector representatives shall serve a fixed term of four (4) years.
20 
The Board shall exercise the following powers:
21 
a) Ensure that the provisions of the laws pertaining to the creation and
22 
operation of the PSHS System are implemented;
23 
b) Approve policies and guidelines necessary in the establishment and operation
24 
of science high schools under the PSHS System in order to maintain the
25 
quality and uniform standard in all PSHS Campuses;
26 
c) Approve the curricula submitted by the Executive Director;
27 
d) Formulate policies for the expansion of enrollment in the campuses under the
28 
PSHS System;
29 
e) Approve the criteria for the selection and admission of students;
30 
f) Approve the grant and termination of PSHS scholarships including stipend and
31 
such allowances for students;
32 
g) Approve the graduation of successful candidates from the various PSHS


1 
campuses;
2 
h) Approve the appointment of Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director(s)
3 
and Campus Director(s);
4 
i) Approve appointment, promotion, retention, renewal, rewards and incentives
5 
for faculty and non-teaching positions, fix their compensation and other
6 
conditions of employment, and remove them for cause after proper
7 
investigation and hearing;
8 
j) Approve the extension of services of faculty members over the age of sixty-
9 
five (65) up to seventy (70) years of age and enjoy the rights and benefits
10 
under Republic Act No. 8439 as amended by Republic Act 11312 otherwise
11 
known as "Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other
12 
Science and Technoiogy Personnei in the Government'.
13 
k) Draw up a position classification and compensation plan for its faculty and
14 
staff, and, any law to the contrary notwithstanding, to create positions and fix
15 
and adjust salaries and benefits of the faculty members and other employees
16 
and to determine the minimum hours of service of faculty and such other
17 
terms and conditions of employment as it may deem proper;
18 
I) Receive grants whether cash, land, buildings and improvements thereof;
19 
donations, contributions, bequests, gifts, and to formulate policies for the
20 
administration thereof in accordance with applicable internal revenue laws;
21 
m) Approve the use of income generated by the PSHS System in the pursuit of its
22 
functions and donations received in trust by individual campuses, according to
23 
the purpose of the donor and intention of the donation. In cases where
24 
income/donation received is not intended for a particular campus, the Board
25 
shall likewise appropriate the same for the benefit of the System or any part
26 
thereof;
27 
n) Approve policies and rules of discipline for students, faculty and staff;
28 
o) Approve partnership of PSHS System with local and international institutions;
29 
p) Approve policies and guidelines to rationalize the establishment and operation
30 
of a campus under the System, for its assessment, evaluation and approval
31 
including the naming or renaming of existing or future PSHS Campuses;
32 
q) Approve criteria in the search for Executive Director (ED), Deputy Executive


1 
Directors (DED) and Campus Directors (CD), and the selection of teaching
2 
and non-teaching personnel;
3 
r) Shall have the discretion to create and reorganize the composition of the
4 
Executive Committee;
5 
s) Approve the organizational and governance structure of the PSHS System
6 
recommended by the ED.
7 
Sec. 9. Executive Director. — There shall be an ED for the PSHS System who
8 
shall be appointed by the BOT and shall have a rank of an Executive Director V, with
9 
Salary Grade of 30. The ED shall have a tenure of five (5) years renewable for
10 
another term, but with a maximum of three (3) terms.
11 
The ED shall exercise academic and administrative supervision within the
12 
PSHS and shall be the Chief Executive Officer and primary implementor of policies
13 
and guidelines set by the BOT.
14 
The ED shall perform the following roles and functions:
15 
a) Coordinate core curriculum planning activities and research-based
16 
development to be implemented by various campuses;
17 
b) Conduct a continuing evaluation of the implementation of the approved
18 
curriculum;
19 
c) Oversee research projects of PSHS campuses which shall include monitoring,
20 
coordinating and evaluating research programs of campuses;
21 
d) Manage the IP registration, prototype development and commercialization or
22 
adoption of research outputs of scholars and students;
23 
e) Provide legal and technical support to members of the PSHS System. Towards
24 
this end, the Office of the Executive Director shall be provided with legal and
25 
technical staff who shall provide legal, technical and administrative services to
26 
PSHS campuses;
27 
f) Establish strategic linkages and coordinate student and faculty exchange
28 
programs with foreign and local institutions to upgrade the level of expertise
29 
of both faculty and students;
30 
g) Facilitate networking among the campuses of the PSHS System with other
31 
institutions in terms of sharing resources, expertise and equipment;
32 
h) Oversee the development of a systemwide outreach program to upgrade the


1 
teaching of STEM and provide support within the capabilities and resources of
2 
various science high schooi campuses;
3 
i) Recommend for approvai of the BOT the organizationai and governance
4 
structure of the PSHS System;
5 
j) Coordinate the implementation of BOT approved admission process, criteria
6 
and standards; and
7 
k) Provide secretariat services to the BOT;
8 
The Executive Director shaii be provided with the necessary staff for the
9 
efficient and effective impiementation of the above functions.
10 
In view of the expansion of the PSHS System, the OED shall be provided with
11 
additionai plantilia positions to be determined by the Executive Director and
12 
approved by the BOT.
13 
Sec. 10. Deputy Executive Director. — There shall be three (3) Deputy
14 
Executive Directors with the rank of Deputy Executive Director IV and with Salary
15 
Grade (28) who shall be appointed by the BOT upon the recommendation of the
16 
BOT on the basis of a search process. They shaii serve for a tenure of five (5) years,
17 
renewable for another term but with a maximum of three (3) terms.
18 
Sec. 11. Campus Director. — There shaii be a CD for each PSHS campus in
19 
the region by the PSHS System BOT with the rank of Director III with Saiary Grade
20 
of 27. The CD shaii serve for a fixed term of five (5) years, renewable for another
21 
term but with a maximum of three (3) terms on the basis of a search process.
22 
The CD shaii be the administrative and academic head of a campus and wiil
23 
be responsible for its smooth operations. The CD may constitute a consultative body
24 
which may act as a citizen's arm to interpret the educational needs of the service
25 
area of the campus.
26 
Sec. 12. Executive Committees (Execom). - There shaii be an Executive
27 
Committee in the PSHS System composed of the ED as ex officio chairperson, DED
28 
as ex officio members and the CD representatives as members. The Execom is
29 
coilegiai in nature.
30 
Sec. 13. Curricuium. - There shaii be a PSHS System STEM Curriculum from
31 
Grades 7 to 10, and Grades 11 to 12 which shaii be recognized as Junior High
32 
School, and Senior High Schooi Leveis, respectiveiy.


1 
Sec. 14. Exemption from Tax. — All grants, bequests, endowments, gifts,
2 
donations and contributions made to and used actuaiiy, directiy and exciusiveiy for
3 
educationai purposes by the PSHS shaii be exempt from donor's tax and the same
4 
shaii be considered as ailowabie deductions from gross income for purposes of
5 
computing the taxabie income of the donee in accordance with the provisions of the
6 
National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
7 
The importation of scientific and research equipment for educational purposes
8 
made by the PSHS upon certification by the DOST shaii be exempt from customs
9 
duties in accordance with the provisions of Repubiic Act No. 10863, otherwise known
10 
as the " Customs Modernization and Tariff Act'.
11 
Sec. 15. Trust Fund. - Income generated from schooi fees coilected shaii be
12 
reported and deposited to an authorized government depository bank as a trust fund
13 
of the PSHS System to be used for priority programs and activities.
14 
Sec. 16. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of
15 
this act shaii be included in the annuai generai appropriations act.
16 
Sec. 17. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. — The BOT shaii formulate,
17 
within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Act, and issue the necessary
18 
implementing rules and regulations to carry out the implementation of this Act.
19 
Sec. 18. Separabiiity Cause. — If any provision or part of this Act is deciared
20 
invaiid or unconstitutional, the other provisions hereof which are not affected
21 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
22 
Sec. 19. Transitory Provision. - Upon approval of this law, the following
23 
incumbent key officiais of the PSHS System shall acquire new term of office, as
24 
foiiows:
25 
a) Non-ex-officio members of the Board of Trustees are eligibie to assume a
26 
term of four (4) years;
27 
b) Executive Director, and Deputy Executive Director, subject to meritorious
28 
performance and upon approvai of the BOT, are eiigible to assume a
29 
maximum of three (3) terms;
30 
c) Campus Directors, subject to meritorious performance and approval of the
31 
BOT, are eligible to assume a maximum of three (3) terms.


1 
Further, the PSHS System BOT thru the Executive Committee shail submit a
2 
reciassification or staffing modification and/ or position ciassification plan to fix the
3 
qualifications and upgrade the salary grades of its personnel particularly of its faculty
4 
that will recognize their specialized science teacher status subject to the existing
5 
policies of the DBM and the CSC rules and regulations.
6 
Sec. 20. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid
7 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
8 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
9 
Sec. 21. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act Nos. 3661, 8496 and 9036 are
10 
hereby repealed. All laws, proclamations, orders, rules and regulations or parts
11 
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended,
12 
repealed or modified accordingly.
13 
Sec. 22. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
14 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
10