Science HS to rise in South Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will establish a regional branch of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) in this South Cotabato capital city in school year 2013-2014.

Science and Technology  Secretary Mario Montejo announced this before the recent ground-breaking rites of the proposed P200-million PSHS campus which occupies a 4.5-hectare lot purchased for P7.3 million  and donated to the DOST by the provincial government, whose Sangguniang Panlalawigan also authorized Gov. Arthur Pingoy to allot P5 million to finance the initial construction of facilities in the campus located at Barangay Paraiso.

Montejo said the proposed PSHS site was earlier  inspected by a DOST team, headed by PSHS System executive director Josette Biyo, which later declared the area  “a perfect location” for DOST’s third regional campus in Mindanao after Davao City and Lanao del Norte.

At the same occasion, local YACAP party-list Rep. Carol Jane Lopez turned over to Pingoy a P5-million check as her contribution to the project, even as Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Pulmones pledged to chip in P2 million for the rehabilitation of the road leading to the campus.

Biyo said that on the Koronadal PSHS campus will rise academic buildings, research and laboratory facilities, dormitories, and other necessary amenities in keeping with the learning requirements of PSHS students, who are gifted in science and mathematics.

She noted that with the generous support of local officials,  “the DOST can  build a world-class campus here and later bring to Central Mindanao the best secondary education the PSHS can give.”

Biyo explained that PSHS, a DOST agency, operates a  specialized secondary school that focuses on high quality science-based education and training of students who  show exemplary aptitude in science and mathematics.