DBM releases salaries for 2 new ‘Pisay’ campuses

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a total of P6 million to pay for the salaries of 27 teaching and non-teaching personnel of two new state-run science campuses in the country.

 “By giving enough budgetary support for their salaries, we’re able to look out for the welfare of our teaching and non-teaching staff in public schools, particularly in these two new PSHS campuses,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said. 

PSHS stands for Philippine Science High School, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology that operates as a government school whose mandate is to offer free scholarships to qualified students with special emphasis on science-based subjects.

The first PSHS campus is in Quezon City. Its graduates often refer to PSHS as “Pisay.” The school’s goal is to prepare students for careers in science and technology, engineering and mathematics. 

Of the P6 million, P4 million was allocated for PSHS-CARAGA while almost P2 million was allotted for PSHS-SOCCSKSARGEN. The personnel for these campuses were only hired last June and September.

“Since the positions were not yet filled while the 2014 budget was being prepared, majority of the release was charged against the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund under the 2014 budget,” Abad said. 

“In our bid to enhance the public school system, we’re not just putting up more schools and classrooms. We’re also making large investments in our teachers and school personnel,” he said in a statement.