ANGELES CITY – Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. filed House Bill No. 8878 on April 16 seeking the establishment of a science high school in Mabalacat City.
To be known as the Mabalacat City Science High School, the school shall be under the supervision of the Department of Education, which shall also program the operationalization of the school and include its funding in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“Investing in STEM-focused education is one of the ways for us to keep our graduates competitive globally,” Lazatin said.
RA 10533 (Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013), promotes curriculum responsiveness and flexibility, which enables schools to strengthen specialized programs, such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
While there are existing science high schools in Pampanga, including the Angeles City Science High School in the First District, Mabalacat City does not have its stand-alone science high school under DepEd supervision.
“Establishing a science high school in Mabalacat will expand access to quality and advanced learning to more students in the First District, giving them access to more advanced facilities, equipment, teaching resources, and technological tools,” Lazatin said.
Lazatin has always prioritized improving students’ access to advanced learning tools. In August last year, Lazatin requested P200 million pesos to fund the construction of computer labs in 19 public high schools in the First District in 2026.
In January this year, Lazatin announced Mabalacat City had been allotted P40 million and Magalang Municipality with P30 million funding from the Department of Public Works and Highways for the construction of computer laboratories in public high schools. Team Lazatin Media