BRINGING ‘PISAY’ CLOSER: Expanded PSHS Act Aims to Reach More Marginalized Learners

By Mariela Angella Oladive

With only the president’s signature needed for enactment, the Expanded Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act is poised to broaden access to quality STEM education for deserving students in marginalized communities.

Ratified by both the Senate and House of Representatives this week, the measure lifts the one-campus-per-region limit and allows up to two PSHS campuses per region, excluding Metro Manila but including the newly created Negros Island Region.

PSHS Executive Director Dr. Ronnalee Orteza, speaking during the Ugnayan 2025 press briefing at the Western Visayas Campus in Barangay Bito-on, Jaro, highlighted the importance of accessibility.

“Enhanced accessibility is one of the reasons we pushed for this expansion,” Orteza said.

“When we proposed the bill, we looked forward to more marginalized learners taking the National Competitive Examination, kasi malapit na siya,” she added.

“We hope that having more accessible campuses will help bridge that gap.”

Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2974, emphasized the need for expansion.

He cited a Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) report showing that from 2022 to 2025, 11,351 students out of 49,481 applicants qualified for PSHS, but only 5,544 were admitted due to limited slots.

Most PSHS campuses admit only 90 to 120 students annually, except the Main Campus in Metro Manila, which accepts up to 240.

Once enacted, the law will increase the number of campuses and consolidate all existing and future PSHS campuses under one governance framework to maintain excellence and consistency.

Dr. Orteza acknowledged the resource and planning challenges that come with expansion.

“Establishing a PSHS campus requires significant resources,” she said.

“We don’t want existing campuses to suffer because of the expansion, so we are hoping for proportional budget allocation.”

She estimated that building a fully equipped campus—complete with laboratories, classrooms, and infrastructure—could cost up to PHP1 billion.

She also emphasized the importance of strategic planning.

“We have to ensure we attract enough qualified students so no campus becomes a white elephant,” she said.

“Apart from sustainability and accessibility, we also have to focus on talent development in the region.”

The PSHS system currently serves about 10,600 students across 16 campuses nationwide.

With the expansion, it expects to accommodate around 2,000 more scholars, increasing opportunities for students in remote or underserved areas.

The ratified bill also mandates the identification of five preferred locations per region for future campuses, based on criteria such as the number of National Competitive Examination qualifiers a province can provide.