It will be the first campus in the region.
Earlier this August, the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System, which is under the Department of Science and Technology, announced the section of Bacolod City as the site of the PSHS–Negros Island Region Campus (NIRC)
This, as a proposed property, a 9.23-hectare lot in Barangay Granada, was identified in a letter by DOST-PSHS System Executive Director Ronnalee Orteza to Mayor Greg Gasataya dated August 4, 2026, as well as the coordination meeting between PSHSS and City Government of Bacolod officials and representatives on August 5, 2026.
Once established, the PSHS–NIRC will become the first PSHSS campus for the region and will serve academically-gifted students in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and nearby areas.
The establishment of PSHS–NIRC follows the creation of the Negros Island Region in 2024 and advances the DOST-PSHS System mandate under Republic Act No. 9036, which noted that every region must have the equal opportunity to benefit from the System and expand access to quality STEM education nationwide.
In September 2025, a comprehensive, year-long site selection and technical evaluation process that assessed multiple locations across the newly created region.
The DOST noted that the evaluation was guided by the criteria prescribed under the PSHSS Site Selection and Evaluation Guidelines.
These standards include lot size, topography, accessibility, hazard exposure, mode of land acquisition, proximity to higher education and research institutions, availability of utilities, community services, development potential, natural resources, residential facilities, local government support, and the overall learning environment.
“Throughout the process, a committee also visited prospective sites, consulted with local government units and prospective donors, validated land ownership and donation commitments, and assessed each proposal against these established criteria,” the department also noted.
After that, it told that the committee also validated technical information from platforms, like HazardHunterPH, to assess potential geologic and hydrometeorological hazards affecting each proposed site.
Thus, the findings from the field inspections and technical assessments were consolidated into an Initial Comparative Assessment Report, which served as the primary reference for the committee’s comparative evaluation and final deliberations.
The committee in chage found that the property offered a strategic location, favorable land configuration, sufficient area for campus development, accessibility, and strong long-term development potential.
The City Government also committed to supporting the establishment of the campus, including the donation of the property, construction of a dedicated access road, provision of interim campus facilities, and assistance in facilitating project implementation, among others.
Once established, the PSHS-NIRC will also become the largest campus in the PSHS System in terms of land area, with the campus already preparing for the admission of the pioneer batch for Academic Year 2027–2028, subject to the completion of the necessary requirements.
According to Executive Director Orteza, the PSHS–NIRC is also envisioned to serve as the model campus for future PSHSS campuses to be established pursuant to Republic Act No. 12310 or the Expanded Philippine Science High School System Act.
Through the law, signed in 2025, the progressive expansion of PSHSS to at least two campuses in every region has been mandated, subject to the availability of funds and the System’s standards for campus establishment.
Aside from the additional PSHS campus in the Negros Island Region, it was also mandated by the new law that the PSHS System Board of Trustees will have the option of building in the following locations for its future expansion.
- Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
- Third Distrct of Cagayan
- Polangui, Albay
- First District of Aklan
- Uba, Bohol
- Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur
- Bukidnon
- South Cotabato
- General Santos City
PSHS currently has 16 campuses located in Quezon City, Baguio City, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Clark Freeport Zone, Batangas City, Romblon, Camarines Sur, Iloilo City, Cebu, Leyte, Dipolog City, Lanao del Norte, Davao City, Koronadal City, and Butuan City.
The Philippine Science High School System was originally established in June 1963, through RA 3661, with the aim of providing free scholarship-based secondary education focusing on science.
