Senate pushes 'Pisay' expansion

In a bid to address limited access to science-focused education and promote continuous learning for Filipinos, the Senate on Monday approved two education-related measures on third and final reading.

The first bill, Senate Bill No. 2974 or the Expanded Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act, seeks to increase the number of PSHS campuses nationwide, allowing up to two campuses per region — excluding Metro Manila but including the newly established Negros Island Region.

Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who sponsored the measure, said the move aims to accommodate thousands of qualified students turned away each year due to lack of space in existing campuses.

“Since 2022, the Philippine Science High School system has turned away 5,807 qualified students,” Zubiri said, citing a report from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II). "They met all the qualifications and they passed the notoriously difficult Pisay (PSHS) admission tests but were turned away because they have no room left."

Under the current law, only one PSHS campus is allowed per administrative region. There are 16 campuses across the country serving around 10,600 students, according to Zubiri. The proposed measure will permit the expansion of campuses to other provinces within the same region to improve geographic accessibility and opportunities for aspiring scholars.

The bill also aims to unify existing and future campuses under a single governance structure to maintain consistent quality standards and support the academic and personal development of both students and faculty. One of its goals is to strengthen the pool of graduates pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), as well as research and development.

Also approved was Senate Bill No. 2960, or the Lifelong Learning Development Framework (LLDF) Act, authored by Sen. Joel Villanueva. The bill calls for a national masterplan to foster a culture of continuous learning among Filipinos of all ages.

"This bill mandates the formulation of a master plan that shall develop the guidelines for the designation of Learning Cities and Municipalities," Villanueva said.

"We are amending the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) Law and expanding the mandate of the PQF National Coordinating Council and even its membership by including the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)."

Villanueva said the measure will support micro-credential initiatives, recognize alternative learning certifications, and promote the development of transferable skills through a unified credit transfer and qualification registration system.