Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRES S
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILLNo.  8592
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KEITH T. FLORES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The  State  acknowledges  the  importance  of science  and  technology  education  in  the
Philippines. Such value to quality science and technology education is enshrined in Article XIV
of the Constitution and passage of landmark laws such as Republic Act 3661  which established
the Philippine  Science High School (PSHS) in  1963  and Republic Act  8496 or the Philippine
Science High School (PSHS) System Act of 1997.
The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System has long existed as a research-oriented
and specialized educational institution. Notably, PSHS has produced numerous alumni who have
become industry leaders and contributors in various fields. To this day, it continues to play an
essential role in molding promising young Filipino scientists and researchers.
RA  8496  was passed  for the purpose  of harmonizing the operations  of existing PSHS
campuses  and  rationalizing  the  establishment  of science  high  schools.  However,  since  the
establishment of PSHS six decades ago, the student population has drastically increased as well
as the demand for quality science education. Educational needs have evolved, but access to quality
public education remains lacking.
Thus,  this  bill  seeks  to  strengthen  the  governance  and  management  of the  Philippine
Science  High  School   System  by  amending  the  scope  of  RA  8498  to  institutionalize  the
establishment of PSHS campuses throughout the country, including the Province of Bukidnon,
particularly in Malaybalay City.  Setting up as many PSHS campuses as necessary will increase
the accessibility of free quality science education to as many deserving students. By encouraging
the youth  to pursue  fields  in  science  and  technology,  they  are  also  given the  opportunity  to
discover new indigenous,  appropriate,  and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities.
This renewed sense of innovation will ultimately pave way for the application of skills towards
the development of the country' s productive systems and national life.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
JONAT
KEITH
istrict, Buki
. FLORES
non


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRES S
First Regular Session
HoUSEBILLNo.8592
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE JONATIIAN KEITH T. FLORES
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 0F THE
PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Represehiatives Of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SHCTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Expcz77c7ec7 Pfez.JzZzpz.J7e
Science High School (PSHS) System Act."
SEIC.  2.  Declaration  of Policy.  -  The  State  shall  give  priority  to  Research  and
Development, invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to Science and Technology
education, training and services. It shall support appropriate, and self- reliant scientific and
technological capabilities, and their application to the country's productive systems and
national life. To achieve these, the State hereby establishes a PSHS System that will assume
a  leadership  role  in  secondary  Science,  Technology,  Engineering  and  Mathematics
(STEM) Education.
The State shall support the admission process of the PSHS System by establishing
test centers all over the regions, to enhance equitable admissions and access for deserving
pupils.
The State shall also ensure that every region is given equal opportunity to benefit
from the establishment of the PSHS System. Towards this end, not more than two (2) PSHS
campuses  inclusive of the existing PSHS  Campuses  shall be established in each of the
administrative regions of the country outside NCR where PSHS Main Campus is located.
Provz.dec7  ffeczf,  all  establishment  of PSHS  Campuses  shall  be  in  accordance  with  the
guidelines/criteriasetbythePSHSSystemBoardof Trustees.Afterfifteen(15)yearsupon
implementation of this  law, the PSHS  System Board of Trustees  (BOT) may consider
establishment of more than two (2) PSHS campuses per region.
SHC. 3. Objectives. - In implementing the foregoing policy, the State shall pursue
the following objectives:


a)     Establish  a  science  high  school  that  offers  on  a  free  scholarship  basis  a
secondary course with special emphasis on subjects pertaining to each student
for a Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics;
b)     Establish campuses that are geographically-accessible to the public;
c)     Ensure uniformity in quality standards  and systematic operations of schools
under the PSHS system;
d)     Rationalize the establishment of science high schools as defined in this Act;
e)     Integrate the existing and future campuses into one system of governance and
management;
I)      Ensure that students with high aptitude in science and mathematics are given
equal scholarship opportunities to enroll in the Philippine Science High School
System; and
g)     Increase  the  pool  of high  school  graduates  who  will  pursue  undergraduate
courses to conduct researches and to become leaders in the field of science,
technology, engineering and mathematics.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. -
a)     Philippine  Science  High  School  System  (PSHS)  -  are  secondary  schools
offering scholarships to deserving students who shall be admitted and trained
under a curriculum specially designed to prepare them for careers in Science
and Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
b)     Philippine Science High School (PSHS System) -comprise the Office of the
Executive Director, and the PSHS campuses under its supervision.
c)     Term - refers to the "term of office" with a duration of five (5) years in each
term.
SHC. 5. Scope. - The Philippine Science High School System shall be composed of
the  existing  PSHS  campuses  herein  mentioned  and  future  campuses  which  shall  be
established under this Act. The existing sixteen (16) campuses shall be known as follows:
1)     Philippine science High school -Main campus in Diliman, Quezon city
2)     Philippine  Science  High  School  -  Davao  Region  Campus  in  Davao  City,
formerly PSHS - Southern Mindanao Campus
3)     Philippine  Science  High  School  -  Western  Visayas  Campus  in  Iloilo  City,
formerly Philippine Science High School - Western Visayas Campus


4)     Philippine Science High School- Eastern Visayas Campus in Leyte, formerly
Philippine Science High School - Eastern Visayas Campus
5)     Philippine science High school -Cagayan valley campus in Nueva vizcaya,
formerly PSHS - Cagayan Valley Campus
6)     PSHS-Northern Mindanao Campus  in Lanao del Norte,  formerly Philippine
Science High School - Central Mindanao Campus
7)     Philippine  Science  High  School  -  Bicol  Region  Campus  in  Camarines  Sur,
formerly Philippine Science High School - Bicol Region Campus
8)     Philippine science High school -Ilocos Region campus in Ilocos sur, formerly
Philippine Science High School - Ilocos Region Campus
9)     Philippine Science High School- Central Visayas Campus in Cebu, formerly,
Philippine Science High School - Central Visayas Campus
10)   Philippine  Science  High  School  -  Central  Luzon Campus  in  Clank Freeport
Zone, formerly Philippine Science High School - Central Luzon Campus
11 )   Philippine Science High School -Cordillera Administrative Region Campus in
Baguio    City,    formerly   Philippine    Science    High    School    -    Cordillera
Administrative Region Campus
12)   Philippine  Science  High  School  -  SOCCSKSARGEN  Region  Campus  in
Koronadal City, formerly Philippine Science High School - SOCCSKSARGEN
Region Campus
13)   Philippine Science High School -CARAGA Region Campus in Butuan City,
formerly Philippine Science High School - CARAGA Region Campus
14)   Philippine   Science   High   School   -   CALABARZON   Region   Campus   in
Batangas  City,  formerly Philippine  Science High  School  -  CALABARZON
Region Campus
15)   Philippine Science High School -MIMAROPA Region Campus in Romblon,
formerly Philippine Science High School - MIMAROPA Region Campus
16)   Philippine  Science  High  School  -Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus  in
Dipolog City, formerly Philippine Science High School - Zanboanga Peninsula
Region Campus
ln the establishment of future PSHS campuses, the Board of Trustees shall set up in
Malaybalay  City,  Bukidnon provz.ded ffeczf,  there  shall  only  be  one  (1)  campus  to  be
established in a province and shall pass the guidelines/criteria set by the Board of Trustees.
New  campuses  established  under this  act  shall  be  integrated  in their  respective
regions as provided under this Act.


SEC. 6. Restriction on the Conversion of High Schools into a Philippine Science
High School System. - In addition to the guidelines/criteria that may be established by the
PSHS Board of Trustees in the establishment and operation of Philippine Science High
School  Systems,  the  conversion  and  inclusion  of existing  high  schools  into  the  PSHS
system shall not be allowed in order to maintain the quality and uniform standard inherent
of a bona fide PSHS.
SEC. 7. Overall Coordinating Authority. - The PSHS System shall be under the
administrative supervision of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).  The
Board  of Trustees  shall  be  the  Governing Board  of all  the  PSHS  campuses  wherever
situated.
SEC. 8. PSHS Board of Trustees. - There shall be a Board of Trustees composed
of the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology as ex oj7}cz.o Chairperson,
the Secretary of Department of Education as ex o/Jcz.o Vice Chairperson and the following
members:  the President of the University of the Philippines, the Executive Director of
PSHS, the Director of Science Education Institute  (SEI), the President from the PSHS
National Alumni Association,  and the Chairpersons of the Committees  on Science and
Technology of the Senate and the House of Representatives as ex o;#Zcz.o members, and one
(1)  representative  each  from  the  private  sector  representing  higher  education,  child
development  professionals  or  practitioners,  industry,  agriculture  and  new  emerging
technologies. The private sector representatives shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees
upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee. As much as practicable, the
private sector representatives shall come from various geographic regions. For the first set
of appointments, three (3) of them shall serve for four (4) years, while the other two (2) for
two (2) years, thereafter, succeeding appointments shall have a fixed term of four (4) years.
The Board shall exercise the following powers:
a)     Ensure that the provisions of the Laws pertaining to the creation and operation
of the PSHS System are enforced/implemented;
b)     Approve policies and guidelines necessary in the establishment and operation
of science high schools under the PSHS System in order to maintain the quality
and uniform standard in all PSHS Campuses;
c)     Approve the curricula submitted by the Executive Director;
d)     Approve policies for the expansion of enrollment in the campuses under the
PSHS System;
e)     Approve the criteria for the selection and admission of students;
I)      Approve the grant and termination ofpsHS scholarships including stipend and
such allowances for students;
g)     Approve  the  graduation  of  successful  candidates  from  the  various  PSHS
campuses;


h)     Recommend to the DOST Secretary the appointment of Executive Director,
Deputy Executive Director(s) and Campus Director(s);
i)      Approve appointment, promotion, retention, renewal, rewards and incentives
for faculty,  fix their compensation and other conditions of employment, and
remove them for cause after proper investigation and hearing;
j)      Appoint professorial lecturers up to 70 years of age;
k)     Draw up a position classification and compensation plan for its  faculty and
staff, and, any law to the contrary notwithstanding, to create positions and fix
and adjust salaries and benefits of the faculty members and other employees
and to determine the minimum hours of service of faculty and such other terms
and conditions of employment as it may deem proper;
1)      Receive  grants  whether  cash,  land,  buildings  and  improvements  thereof;
donations,  contributions,  bequests,  gifts,  and  to  formulate  policies  for  the
administration thereof in accordance with applicable internal revenue laws;
in)    Approve the use of income generated by the PSHS System in the pursuit of its
functions and donations received in trust by individual campuses, according to
the  puxpose  of the  donor  and  intention  of the  donation.  In  cases  where
income/donation received is not intended for a particular campus, the Board
shall likewise appropriate the same for the benefit of the System or any part
thereof;
n)     Approve policies and rules of discipline for students, faculty and staff;
o)     Approve partnership of PSHS system with intemational institutions; and
p)     Approve policies and criteria to rationalize the establishment and operation of
science  high  schools  under  the  System,  for  its  assessment,  evaluation  and
approval  including  the  naming  or  renaming  of  existing  or  future  PSHS
Campuses.
SEC. 9. Hxecutive Director (HD). - There shall be an Executive Director for the
PSHS System who shall be appointed by the DOST Secretary upon the recommendation
of the Board of Trustees and shall have the rank of an Executive Director V, with a Salary
Grade of 30 and with a fixed term of five (5) years, renewable for another term but with a
maximum of three (3) terms at the option of the PSHS System Board of Trustees.
The ED shall exercise academic and administrative supervision within the Philippine
Science  High  School  System  and  shall  be  the  Chief Executive  Officer  and  primary
implementor of policies and guidelines set by the Board of Trustees. As a member of the
Board of Trustees, they shall articulate to the Board the concerns of the PSHS System.
The ED shall act as the head of the procuring entity in the Office of the Executive
Director.


In view of the expansion of the PSHS System, the ED office shall be provided with
additional plantilla positions to be determined by the Executive Director and approved by
the BOT.
SEC.  10.  Deputy Hxecutive Director (DED).  -  There  shall be three  (3) Deputy
Executive Directors with the rank of Deputy Executive Director IV and with Salary Grade
(28) who shall be appointed by the DOST Secretary upon the recommendation of the Board
of Trustees on the basis of a search process. They shall serve for a fixed term of five (5)
years, renewable for another term but with a maximum of three (3) terns at the discretion
of the Board. The DED shall perform duties assigned by the Executive Director.
SEC.11.  Campus Director (CD).  -There  shall be a Campus Director for each
PSHS campus in the region who shall be appointed by the PSHS System BOT with the
rank of Director IV with a Salary Grade 28 on the basis of a search process. The CD shall
serve for a fixed term of five (5) years, renewable for another term but with a maximum of
three (3) terms.
The Campus Director shall be given the option to apply as a Special Science Teacher
VI with the Salary Grade of 26 upon the end of histher term. The CD shall implement the
academic programs, plans and activities of the PSHS Campus. The CD shall act as the
Head of the Procuring Entity in the campus.
SEC.  12. Executive Committee. - There shall be an Executive Committee in the
PSHS  System  composed  of the  Executive  Director  as  ex  o#cz.o  chairperson  and  the
Campus Directors as members.
SEC.  13. Extension of Tenure. - PSHS  faculty members shall be considered as
scientists under the provisions of RA 8439 as amended by RA. No.11312 otherwise known
as "Magma Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other Science and Technology
Personnel in the Goverrment".
SEC.14. Exemption from Tax. -Gifts and donations of real and personal properties
of all  kinds  shall be  exempt  from the  donor's tax and the  same  shall  be  considered  as
allowable deductions from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with applicable
internal revenue laws.
SEC.15. Teacher's Qualification. -Appointment to Special Science Teacher I shall
be exempt from CSC Eligibility and can stay in the said rank for a maximum of three (3)
years. Appointments to Special Science Teacher 11 and above shall require CSC eligibility
or professional license recognized by the Philippine Regulatory Commission.
Said   professors,   instructors,   and   faculty   members,   as   well   as   the   school's
administrative staff, shall be exempt from the provisions of laws, rules and regulations on
wage and position classification.
SEC.  16.  Patriot  Formation  Program.  -  To  foster nationalism  and patriotism,
accelerate  social  progress  and promote total human liberation and development,  PSHS
personnel and scholars shall undergo patriot formation program to instill the core values of


professional excellence, social responsibility, and servant leadership to recognize their vital
role in nation building and contribute to inclusive development.
SEC.   17.  Appropriations.   -   The  amount  necessary  to   carry  out  the   initial
implementation of this Act shall be provided for in the General Appropriations Act with a
minimum  allocation  of 200  million  pesos  per  additional  campus,  to  be  adjusted  for
inflation,  for one  academic  building and one dormitory building.  Thereafter,  sufficient
appropriation as may be needed for the continuous operation of the Philippine  Science
High School System shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act for the
continuous offering of secondary STEM education on scholarship basis.
SEC. 18. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The BOT shall formulate, within
ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Act, and issue the necessary Implementing Rules
and Regulations to carry out the implementation of this Act.
SEC.  19.  Separability clause.  - If any provision or part of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 20. Repealing clause. -Republic Act Nos. 3661, 8436 and 9036 are hereby
repealed. All laws, proclamations, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with the provisions  of this Act are hereby  amended, repealed or modified
accordingly.
SEC.  21.  Effectivity.  -  This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,