The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is eyeing to open Philippine Science High School (PSHS) campus in Carmen, Cotabato Province, according to an official.
The PSHS, operating under one System of Governance and Management, provides scholarships to students with high aptitude in science and mathematics.
Cotabato Province Vice Governor Ella T. Taray told Edge Davao that the initiative of putting up a PSHS campus in the province is a vital step forward in expanding access to quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for Cotabateño youth.
Taray announced that the local Government unit (LGU) of Carmen has committed to donate 10-hectare of land for the PSHS campus.
“The presence of this campus will provide students with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in an increasingly modern and innovation-driven world. It will also ensure that graduates are ready to become contributors to national development and global competitiveness,” she said.
Taray said its location offers a unique strategic advantage as it lies at the center of Cotabato, providing an accessible hub for students not only from the province itself but also from its neighboring provinces in Region 12.
“Carmen’s centrality ensures that this campus will serve a wider and more diverse pool of talented youth, many of whom are currently constrained by financial, geographic, or logistical limitations in accessing specialized science high school education,” Taray said.
The PSHS System is mandated to provide secondary courses at no cost through a scholarship, focusing particularly on science-related subjects to prepare its students for careers in science.
Taray emphasized that the proposal to establish the said campus in Carmen is backed by sound educational planning and regional balancing.
“While Sarangani was considered, its distance from the Central Mindanao region presents challenges for student access and long-term sustainability. Likewise, establishing a campus in Sultan Kudarat would result in redundancy, given the proximity of Sultan Kudarat to the existing Philippine Science High School campus in Marbel,” she said.
Taray underscored that the Carmen proposal not only fills an educational gap but also aligns with the national goal of equitable regional distribution of quality public education.
She also mentioned that providing quality education is one of Governor Emmylou T. Mendoza’s programs under her “Serbisyong Totoo” campaign.
Taray added that officials of the Province of Cotabato are also very supportive of the project.
Write to Tats S. Dvl
