Marcos inks law expanding Philippine Science HS System to boost STEM access

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure expanding the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System to improve access to science and technology education and strengthen the country’s STEM pipeline.

RA 12310, or the Expanded Philippine Science High School System Act, signed on October 3, mandates the creation of strategically located PSHS campuses across all regions to serve students with exceptional aptitude in science and mathematics.

The measure comes amid growing demand for slots in the elite “Pisay” network, where annual admissions remain highly competitive due to limited capacity.

Under the law, the PSHS System will establish at least two campuses in every administrative region to bring scholarship-based STEM education closer to underserved communities.

A new campus in the Negros Island Region (NIR) will also be formed to address regional gaps and expand opportunities for students in the Visayas.

The system will operate under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and be governed by a Board of Trustees, chaired by the DOST Secretary and vice-chaired by the Education Secretary.

All existing and future campuses will be placed under a unified system of governance to standardize quality, streamline management, and ensure consistent academic standards across the country.

The law also allows an executive director to oversee the entire system for a renewable six-year term, signaling an effort to centralize administrative oversight while maintaining academic autonomy.

“The State recognizes the need to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, training, and services, and support appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities and their application to increase productivity and enhance the quality of life for everyone,” the law stated.