The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Science High School (DOST-PSHS) released the names of qualifiers for the 2025 National Competitive Examination (NCE) on March 30 at the Philippine Information Agency Building, announcing that 1,738 principal qualifiers will fill 1,920 available slots for School Year 2026-2027.
Out of 27,965 applicants nationwide, successful examinees scored above the national mean of 84.50 percent, which PSHS officials said is comparable to pre-pandemic examination levels.
Qualifiers and Slots
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. announced that PSHS will accommodate 1,920 slots total—120 new students for each of the 16 existing campuses. Principal qualifiers must confirm their slots by April 24 for main campuses and May 4 for regional campuses, after which alternate qualifiers will fill remaining slots.
“The National Competitive Examination is not simply an entrance test to Pisay. [It] is a deliberate investment in the future of our nation. We identify and nurture young individuals who will one day help solve some of the country’s most pressing challenges,” Solidum said.
Applicant Demographics and Performance
PSHS Executive Director Ronalee Orteza reported that among applicants, 78.06 percent came from public schools versus 21.94 percent from private schools. The applicant pool was 58.71 percent female and 41.29 percent male.
Among principal qualifiers, public school students remained the majority at 58.80 percent, while private school qualifiers comprised 41.20 percent, with a female-to-male ratio of approximately 4:6.
Holistic Admission Criteria
Ed Herpert D. Briones, chief administrative officer for the PSHS system, emphasized that qualifiers were ranked based on four sections: mathematics, science, verbal ability, and abstract reasoning.
“Kailangang pumasa ng bata doon sa cut-off na iyon. We do not want a kid [that is] only good in science, math, or abstract reasoning. We want someone who is [holistically knowledgeable] para kaya iyong curriculum namin,” Briones said.
Regional Performance
The National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the highest percentage of applicants scoring above the national mean at 43.47 percent, followed by Region IV-A CALABARZON (39.44%) and Region III (37.23%).
Scholar Benefits
Solidum emphasized that Pisay full-scholars receive quality education through an extensive curriculum covering integrated science, arts drafting, engineering, and technology subjects. Benefits include:
- Stipends up to P8,000 based on family income
- Free loan of textbooks and uniforms
- One-way transportation allowances
- P60-worth of dormitory accommodation
- Opportunities to join national and international competitions
- Immersive training during science immersion programs
Expansion Plans Under RA 12310
Under Republic Act 12310, or the Expanded PSHS System Act, an additional 10 campuses will be established nationwide, targeting at least two campuses per region.
“Depende na ‘yan kung saan pinakamaraming pumapasa at kulang ang slot. Titingnan natin ‘yung performance [ng applicants at qualifiers]. May mga pag-aaral na gagawin ang PSHS system [tungkol dito],” Solidum explained.
Budget Requirements
Based on the Negros Island PSHS campus set to open next year, a single campus infrastructure costs P300 million alone, with total estimates reaching P1 billion including teaching and non-teaching positions, operating expenses, and other allocations.
“Ngayon po ay gumagawa kami ng standards [upang] maka-aabot po sa mahigit na P1 billion ang isang campus sa pagpapatayo. Kaya kailangan pong tingnan natin kung gaano kalaki talaga yung i-invest ng gobyerno para ma-achieve din po natin ‘yung pangarap ng EDCOM II [to increase campuses and slots by 2035],” Orteza said.
Next Application Period
DOST announced that NCE 2026 applications for SY 2027-2028 will be accepted from April 6 to November 7, 2025, with the examination scheduled for January 30, 2027.
Closing Statement
“Maganda po ang hinaharap ng aming mga Pisay graduates. Ito ang pinakamagandang secondary science education sa ating bansa. Kaya po malaki po ang maaaring maibigay sa ating lahat ng mga estudyanteng makakapasok,” said Undersecretary Maridon O. Sahagun, a PSHS alumna.
The full list of NCE 2025 principal qualifiers is available at url.pshs.edu.ph/nce2026results.
