AT the end of 2015, the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology (PFST) will move to its new home in Antipolo City.
Filemon Berba Jr., PFST president, said the transfer to a new site was made possible when the Antipolo City government offered a 10-hectare property being developed as an education center in Cabading, Barangay San Jose by the Antipolo City government. The center is the site of two major projects of the city government under Mayor Casimiro Ynares III to strengthen the science and technology education among the youth of Antipolo. At present, Antipolo has two technology schools: the Antipolo National Science and Technology (ANST) and the Antipolo Institute of Technology (AITech).
The ANST, located in a 2-hectare campus, opened in School Year (SY) 2014-2015.
Meanwhile, AITech, located in an 8-hectare campus, started operations in SY 2015-2016. It offers a bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering and technology.
To ensure quality learning will be achieved, the city government said both schools will select a group of highly qualified studiers both in the high school and college levels of no more than 120 students per level or a maximum enrollment of not more than 600 students for each school.
Berba said the PFST will have a total space of 4,000 square meters of floor area of usufruct basis. As part of the agreement between the two parties on the donation of the site, PFST will also help the city government on its science and technology program.
“However, we require PFST to work very closely with AITech for programs complementation so together, we can create a ‘critical mass’ of young people in the city of Antipolo who will find a career in science and engineering, both exciting and fulfilling.”
Established in 1984, the PFST is a nonstock, nonprofit private organization dedicated in producing a critical mass of young people interested in the value of science for their future.
PFST’s projects and undertakings are anchored on its flagship program, the Philippine Science Centrum which promotes the interactive learning approaches in creating science and technology consciousness and interest among the youth and the general populace.