Dr. Zenaida Haidji Raof-Laidan, DOST-12 regional director announced the groundbreaking ceremonies of PSHS-Soccsksargen is slated on Thursday, June 21.
"Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo will lead the groundbreaking ceremony which will come right after South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. will formally turn over to the department the nearly five-hectare lot it donated for the establishment of the PSHS campus," Laidan said.
Montejo and Pingoy along with Dr. Laidan and PSHS System Executive Director Dr. Josette Biyo will break the ground that will signal the start of the construction the school’s facilities, including the school building, laboratories, sports facilities, canteen, dormitory and other amenities.
PSHS-Soccsksargen will rise in Barangay Paraiso in Koronadal City, which is the administrative seat of Soccsksargen Region or Region 12. The provincial government acquired the 4.5 ha lot for P7.3 million.
It is located in an area where the state-of-the-art Philippine National Halal Laboratory and Science Center of DOST-12 shall also rise.
Once completed the PSHS campus in Koronadal City will be the country’s ninth PSHS school and the third in Mindanao; the first two are located in Tubod, Lanao del Norte (Region 10) and Tugbok, Davao City (Region 11).
Its main campus is in Diliman, Quezon City. It also has campuses in San Ildefonso in Ilocos Sur, Bayombong in Nueva Viscaya, Goa in Camarines Sur, Palo in Leyte, Iloilo City, Argao in Cebu, and Clark Freeport in Pampanga.
All students in the PSHS system are either partially or fully subsidized by the national government.
Dr. Laidan hopes the new campus could begin operation next school year (SY 2013-2014), adding that the PSHS scholarship is now open to interested applicants. Deadline for submission of application is on July 6, 2012.
Scholarship forms are available at DOST 12 regional office in Cotabato City and the nearest DOST Provincial Science and Technology Center or downloaded from the DOST-PSHS website, www.pshs.edu.ph.
“The PSHS campus will not only boost the quality of education in Region 12 but also throughout neighboring regions,” she said.
Soccsksargen Region consists of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato.
In February this year, Gov. Pingoy announced that in addition to the fund for the purchase of lot, at least P5 million has been allotted by the provincial government of South Cotabato to augment the fund that will be allocated by DOST for the purpose.
“We decided to help put up the initial buildings so the project can start early, just like what we did before with UP (School of Health Science in Koronadal City),” the governor said.
Youth Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP) party-list Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez has also pledged to allot additional P5 million for the project. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)
