File photo of the Philippine Science High School main campus in Quezon City. —Grig C. Montegrande
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) was among the attached agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that suffered huge budget cuts for next year, prompting a lawmaker to call for confidential funds to be instead allocated to the premier science high school.
During the deliberations on the DOST’s proposed P25.9-billion budget for next year, Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela party list was surprised to discover the funding reduction to some of the DOST’s bureaus.
Among these were the 14.17 percent budget cut for the Advanced Science and Technology Institute, the 18.04 percent cut for the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, the 83.7 percent cut for the National Research Council of the Philippines, and the 11 percent cut for PSHS.
In contrast, there was a huge 125.5 percent increase in the allocation for the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. Lilia Habacon, executive director of PSHS, said they need P430 million in additional capital outlay for all the 16 campuses of the PSHS and her office.
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