NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
■ .1. 
L. _
iri'H
SENATE
S. No. 2974
(In substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 2836, 2859, 2866, 2874, 2901, and 2902, 
taking into consideration House Bill No. 9726)
Prepared and submitted jointly by the Committee on Science and Technology (upon 
the recommendation of its Sub-Committee on Expanded Philippine Science High 
School System); Committees on Ways and Means; and Finance with Senators Lapid, 
Estrada, Tolentino, Revilla Jr., Gatchalian, and Zubiri as authors thereof
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM, 
STRENGTHENING GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT, 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 shall be known as the "Expanded
2 
Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act".
3 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State
4 
to promote science and technology (S&T) research and development, invention,
5 
innovation, and their utilization. The State also recognizes the need to enhance
6 
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, training and
7 
services, and support appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological
8 
capabilities and their application to increase productivity and enhance the quality of
9 
life for everyone. Towards this end, the State hereby establishes a PSHS System that
10 
will assume a leadership role in secondary STEM education.
11 
SEC. 3. Objectives. — This Act aims to achieve the following objectives:
12 
a) Establish strategically accessible PSHS campuses that provide, on scholarship
13 
basis, secondary education programs with special emphasis on STEM for
1


1 
students with exceptional aptitude or who are gifted in science and
2 
mathematics;
3 
b) Increase the pool of high school graduates who will pursue undergraduate
4 
courses in the field of STEM, undertake research and development, or pursue
5 
careers in S&T;
6 
c) Consolidate existing and future campuses under a unified system of governance
7 
and management to ensure consistent quality standards and efficient
8 
operations; and
9 
d) Support the holistic development of scholars, faculty and staff by facilitating
10 
and encouraging participation in international collaborations, local and
11 
international competitions, academic symposia, research projects, and other
12 
similar activities.
13 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:
14 
a) Administrative Regions refer to the administrative regions where the
15 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) holds regional offices.
16 
b) Qualified Students refer to those who qualify for admission through the PSHS
17 
National Competitive Examination or similar other admission process approved
18 
by the Board, such as, but not limited to, the Lateral Admission Qualifying
19 
Examination (LAQE), and Requirement for Admission, Criteria, and Evaluation
20 
(RACE).
21 
SEC. 5. Expansion of the Phiiippine 
Science High Schooi 
(PSHS)
22 
System. — There shall be established a PSHS System under the administrative
23 
supervision of the DOST to be composed of a maximum of two (2) PSHS campuses in
24 
each administrative region of the country except in the National Capital Region where
25 
the PSHS-Main Campus is located: Provided, That no two (2) PSHS campuses in each
26 
region shall be located in the same province: Provided, further. That fifteen years after
27 
the effectivity of this Act, the PSHS Board of Trustees may establish additional
28 
campuses, subject to a comprehensive review based on need or demand, and in
29 
accordance with other criteria to be determined by the Board.
30 
The PSHS System shall offer, on scholarship basis, secondary education to
31 
qualified students.


1 
SEC. 6. PSHSSystem Campuses. - The PSHS System shall be composed of
2 
the existing PSHS campuses herein mentioned and future campuses which shall be
3 
established under this Act. The existing sixteen (16) campuses shall be known as
4 
follows:
5 
1. Philippine Science High School - Main Campus in Diliman, Quezon City;
6 
2. Philippine Science High School - Cordillera Administrative Region Campus in
7 
Baguio City, formerly Philippine Science High School - Cordillera
8 
Administrative Region Campus;
9 
3. Philippine Science High School - Ilocos Region Campus in Ilocos Sur, formerly
10 
Philippine Science High School - Ilocos Region Campus;
11 
4. Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus in Nueva Vizcaya,
12 
formerly Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus;
13 
5. Philippine Science High School - Central Luzon Campus in Clark Freeport
14 
Zone, formerly Philippine Science High School - Central Luzon Campus;
15 
6. Philippine Science High School - CALABARZON Region Campus in Batangas
16 
City, formerly Philippine Science High School - CALABARZON Region Campus;
17 
7. Philippine Science High School - MIMAROPA Region Campus in Romblon,
18 
formerly Philippine Science High School - MIMAROPA Region Campus;
19 
8. Philippine Science High School - Bicol Region Campus in Camarines Sur,
20 
formerly Philippine Science High School - Bicol Region Campus;
21 
9. Philippine Science High School - Western Visayas Campus in Iloilo City,
22 
formerly Philippine Science High School - Western Visayas Campus;
23 
10. Philippine Science High School - Central Visayas Campus in Cebu, formerly,
24 
Philippine Science High School - Central Visayas Campus;
25 
11. Philippine Science High School - Eastern Visayas Campus in Leyte, formerly
26 
Philippine Science High School - Eastern Visayas Campus;
27 
12. Philippine Science High School - Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus in
28 
Dipolog City, formerly Philippine Science High School - Zamboanga Peninsula
29 
Region Campus;
30 
13. Philippine Science High School - Northern Mindanao Campus in Lanao del
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Norte, formerly Philippine Science High School - Central Mindanao Campus;


1 
14. Philippine Science High School - Davao Region Campus in Davao City,
2 
formeriy Phiiippine Science High School - Southern Mindanao Campus;
3 
15. Phiiippine Science High Schooi - SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus in
4 
Koronadai City, formeriy Phiiippine Science High School - SOCCSKSARGEN
5 
Region Campus; and
6 
16. Philippine Science High School - CARAGA Region Campus in Butuan City,
7 
formeriy Phiiippine Science High Schooi - CARAGA Region Campus.
8 
A new Phiiippine Science High School campus in the Negros Isiand Region
9 
shali aiso be estabiished.
10 
The following iocations may be considered by the Board in the establishment
11 
of additionai and future PSHS campuses: Ilocos Norte, Cagayan Province, Akian,
12 
Albay, Bohol, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, and South Cotabato.
13 
SEC. 7. PSHS Board of Trustees. — There is hereby created a PSHS System
14 
Board of Trustees, herein referred to as the Board, which shail serve as the governing
15 
body of aii PSHS campuses.
16 
The Board shali be composed of the foilowing:
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a) Secretary of the DOST as Chairperson;
18 
b) Secretary of the Department of Education as Vice Chairperson;
19 
c) President of the University of the Philippines;
20 
d) Executive Director of the PSHS System;
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e) Director of Science Education Institute;
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f) President of the PSHS National Alumni Association;
23 
g) One representative each from the private sector representing higher education,
24 
child development professionals or practitioners, and agricuiture or new
25 
emerging technologies;
26 
h) Chairperson of the Committee on Science and Technology of the Senate of the
27 
Philippines; and
28 
i) Chairperson of the Committee on Science and Technoiogy of the House of
29 
Representatives.


1 
The private sector representatives shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees
2 
upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee, and shall serve for a
3 
fixed term of four (4) years.
4 
SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the PSHS Board of Trustees. — The
5 
Board shall exercise the following powers and functions:
6 
a) Formulate policies, guidelines, and criteria in the establishment, administration,
7 
operation, and monitoring evaluation of PSHS campuses to ensure consistent
8 
quality standards;
9 
b) Identify additional PSHS campuses as provided under Section 5 of this Act,
10 
including the naming or renaming of existing or future campuses;
11 
c) Formulate policies for the expansion of enrollment in the PSHS System;
12 
d) Approve the curriculum drawn up by the Executive Committee under Section
13 
17 of this Act;
14 
e) Approve the criteria for the selection and admission of students;
15 
f) Approve the grant and termination of scholarships including stipend and
16 
allowances of students;
17 
g) Approve the graduation of successful candidates from the various PSHS
18 
campuses;
19 
h) Approve policies and rules of discipline for students, faculty members and staff;
20 
i) Approve the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the PSHS System
21 
as prepared by the Executive Director in accordance with the revised
22 
compensation and position classification system, civil service laws, rules and
23 
regulations, and other relevant laws;
24 
j) Formulate policies on appointment, promotion, retention or renewal of
25 
contracts, compensation, removal for just cause, rewards, incentives, and other
26 
conditions of employment;
27 
k) Appoint the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors, and Campus
28 
Directors;
29 
I) Reorganize the composition of the Executive Committee;
30 
m) Approve the extension of services of faculty members over the age of 65 up to
31 
the age of 70 in accordance with Republic Act No. 8439, or "Magna Carta for


1 
Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other Science and Technology Personnel
2 
in the Government", as amended;
3 
n) Receive and appropriate for purposes herein specified such sums as may be
4 
provided by law for the support of the PSHS System;
5 
o) Receive grants, bequests, endowments, gifts, donations, and contributions of
6 
cash, real and personal properties of all kinds and to administer the same for
7 
the benefit of the PSHS System or for aid to any of its students;
8 
p) Authorize the utilization of income generated by the PSHS System to support
9 
its functions, and donations received in trust by individual campuses, in
10 
accordance with the donor's specified purpose and the intended use of the
11 
donation: Provided, That for income or donations not designated for a particular
12 
campus, the Board shall allocate such income or donation for the benefit of the
13 
System or any of its campuses, as it may deem appropriate;
14 
q) Approve partnerships and collaborations entered into by the PSHS System and
15 
its campuses with local and international institutions; and
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r) Perform such other functions as may be required under this Act.
17 
SEC. 9. Executive Director. — The PSHS System shall be headed by an
18 
Executive Director who shall exercise academic and administrative supervision over all
19 
campuses and coordinate the implementation of policies and guidelines set by the
20 
Board.
21 
The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board for a term of six (6)
22 
years and may be reappointed for another term of six (6) years in accordance with
23 
the guidelines and qualifications set forth in the implementing rules and regulations
24 
of this Act, preferably with a PhD or doctoral degree in the field of STEM, and
25 
substantial experience in managing an educational institution. In case a vacancy
26 
occurs before the expiration of the term of office, the appointment to such vacancy
27 
shall only be for the unexpired term, without prejudice to being reappointed for
28 
another term of six (6) years.
29 
SEC. 10. Roles and Functions of the Executive Director. - The Executive
30 
Director shall perform the following roles and functions:


1 
a) Coordinate the implementation of Board-approved admission processes, criteria
2 
and standards;
3 
b) Facilitate and coordinate curriculum planning, review and evaluation activities
4 
and research-based development in the PSHS System;
5 
c) Monitor, coordinate, and evaluate research projects and initiatives in all PSHS
6 
campuses;
7 
d) Manage the registration of intellectual property, prototype development, and
8 
the commercialization or adoption of research outputs of students;
9 
e) Provide legal and technical assistance to students, faculty members, and staff
10 
of the PSHS System in line with their studies and official functions;
11 
f) Establish strategic linkages, and coordinate exchange and training programs
12 
with local and international partners to enhance the expertise and
13 
competencies of students, faculty members, and staff;
14 
g) Facilitate networking and sharing of resources, expertise, equipment, and
15 
technology across PSHS campuses with partner institutions to ensure access to
16 
advanced tools and facilities that support academic and research excellence;
17 
h) Supervise the development of a systemwide outreach program to upgrade
18 
STEM education and extend support to PSHS campuses within the capabilities
19 
and resources of various science high 
school campuses;
20 
i) Serve as secretariat to the Board; and
21 
j) Perform such other functions as may be required under this Act.
22 
SEC. 11. Deputy Executive Directors. — There shall be three (3) Deputy
23 
Executive Directors who shall assist the Executive Director. The Deputy Executive
24 
Directors shall be appointed by the Board for a term of six (6) years and may be
25 
reappointed for another term of six (6) years in accordance with the guidelines and
26 
qualifications set forth in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, preferably
27 
with a Master's degree in the field of STEM, and substantial experience in managing
28 
an educational institution. In case a vacancy occurs before the expiration of the term
29 
of office, the appointment to such vacancy shall only be for the unexpired term,
30 
without prejudice to being reappointed for another term of six (6) years.


1 
SEC. 12. Campus Director of the PSHS System Campuses. — There shall
2 
be a Campus Director for each PSHS campus who shall serve as the administrative
3 
and academic head and be responsible for its day-to-day operations. The Campus
4 
Director may constitute a consultative body that may act as a citizen's arm to assess
5 
and determine the educational needs of a campus service area.
6 
The Campus Director shall be appointed by the Board, upon recommendation
7 
of the Executive Director, for a term of six (6) years and may be reappointed for
8 
another term of six (6) years in accordance with the guidelines and qualifications set
9 
forth in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, preferably with a Master's
10 
degree in the field of STEM, and substantial experience in managing an educational
11 
institution.
12 
SEC. 13. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. - The Executive
13 
Director shall prepare the organizational structure and staffing pattern required for
14 
the expanded PSHS System, including additional plantilla positions, reclassification or
15 
staffing modification, and qualifications of the PSHS System personnel in accordance
16 
with the revised compensation and position classification system, civil service laws,
17 
rules and regulations, and other relevant laws, taking into consideration the
18 
specialized science teacher status of faculty members.
19 
Following the approval of the Board, the organizational structure and staffing
20 
pattern shall be submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for
21 
review and approval. Pending approval by the DBM, the PSHS System shall retain its
22 
existing organizational structure and staffing pattern.
23 
SEC. 14. Executive Committee. - There shall be an Executive Committee
24 
composed of the Executive Director as ex-officio chairperson. Deputy Executive
25 
Directors as ex-officio members, the Campus Directors as members, and such other
26 
ranking faculty members or officials of the PSHS System as the Board may deem
27 
necessary.
28 
The Executive Committee shall develop and conduct periodic review of the
29 
PSHS System curriculum, and other training programs implemented by the PSHS
30 
System, and exercise such other functions, powers and duties as the Board may
31 
prescribe.


1 
SEC. 15. Restriction on the Conversion of High Schools into a PSHS
2 
Campus. — The conversion and inclusion of existing high schools into the PSHS
3 
System shaii not be ailowed.
4 
Sec. 16. Faculty Members Qualification. — Faculty members of the PSHS
5 
System shall be exempt from any civil service examination or regulations as a requisite
6 
to appointment. The same shaii be seiected in accordance with such criteria as may
7 
be formulated and approved by the Board, such as, but not limited to, screening and
8 
conduct of competitive examinations.
9 
SEC. 17. Curriculum. - There shaii be a PSHS System STEM Curriculum from
10 
Grades 7 to 10, and Grades 11 to 12 which shaii be recognized as Junior High School,
11 
and Senior High Schooi Leveis, respectively.
12 
SEC. 18. Exemption from Tax. — All grants, bequests, endowments, gifts,
13 
donations and contributions made to and used actuaiiy, directly, and exclusively for
14 
educational purposes by the PSHS System shall be exempt from donor's tax and the
15 
same shall be considered as aliowabie deductions from gross income for purposes of
16 
computing the taxabie income of the donee, in accordance with the provisions of
17 
Repubiic Act No. 8424, or the "Nationai Internai Revenue Code of 1997", as amended.
18 
Ail duties and taxes arising from the importation of scientific and research
19 
equipment for educationai purposes made by the PSHS System shaii be chargeable
20 
against the tax expenditure fund under the Generai Appropriations Act.
21 
SEC. 19. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the initial
22 
implementation of this Act shaii be charged against the current year's appropriations
23 
of the PSHS System. Thereafter, such sums as may be needed for its continued
24 
operation of the shaii be included in the annuai General Appropriations Act.
25 
SEC. 20. Transitory Provision. - Upon the effectivity of this Act, the
26 
foilowing incumbent key officiais of the PSHS System shaii acquire new terms of office:
27 
a) Non-ex-officio members of the Board under Section 7 of this Act shaii assume
28 
a term of four (4) years;
29 
b) The Executive Director, and Deputy Executive Directors, subject to meritorious
30 
performance and upon approvai of the Board, shaii assume a term of six (6)
31 
years, and may be renewed for another term of six (6) years; and


1 
c) Campus Directors, subject to meritorious performance and approval of the
2 
Board, shall assume a term of six (6) years, and may be renewed for another
3 
term of six (6) years.
4 
SEC. 21. Fallback Position. — At the end of their term, the Executive
5 
Director, Deputy Executive Director, or Campus Director may opt to remain with the
6 
PSHS System and occupy their former faculty rank.
7 
SEC. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Board shall
8 
formulate and issue, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
9 
necessary Implementing Rules and Regulations to carry out the implementation of this
10 
Act.
11 
SEC. 23. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is
12 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions hereof which are not affected
13 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
14 
SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 3661 or "An Act to Establish
15 
the Philippine Science High School", and Republic Act No. 8496 as amended by
16 
Republic Act No. 9036, or the "Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act of
17 
1997" are hereby repealed. All laws, proclamations, orders, rules and regulations or
18 
parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
19 
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.
20 
SEC. 25. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
21 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
10