executive director, who coordinates the implementation of these policies and guidelines. PSHS campuses are headed by directors who are members of the ExeCom. History Establishment and early years The Philippine Science High School was established through Republic Act 3661, authored by Congressman Virgilio Afable, and signed into law in 1963 by President Diosdado Macapagal. This charter mandates the PSHS “to offer on a free scholarship basis a secondary course with emphasis on subjects pertaining to service with the end in view of preparing its students for a science career”. The school started operations in 1964. National scientist Dr. Gregorio Velasquez led the PSHS through its first three years. The campus started in a small rented GSIS-owned property along the Quezon Memorial Circle. In 1970 PSHS started building on a 75,000 square metre lot along Agham Road in Diliman, Quezon City. Expansion and establishment of the PSHS System By the end of the 1980s, PSHS started to spread across the nation. The first regional campuses were built, starting with the Mindanao Campus (now Southern Mindanao Campus), in Davao City, in 1988. The PSHS System Law (R.A. 8496) was signed by President Fidel V. Ramos in 1997 that established the PSHS System and unified all the existing campuses into a single system of governance and management. Thus, the PSHS continues fulfilling its mandate “to offer, on a free scholarship basis, a secondary course with special emphasis on subjects pertaining to the sciences, with the end view of preparing its students for a science career”. Admissions Admission into any campus of the system can be done through the national competitive exam, lateral admission, or intercampus transfer. National Competitive Examination (NCE) Sixth graders can be admitted into any campus of PSHSS through the Philippine Science High School’s National Competitive Examination (NCE) which is held only once every year. A grade 6 elementary pupil from a duly recognized school by the Department of Education is eligible to apply for the Philippine Science High School’s National Competitive Examination (NCE) if he/she meets the specific criteria. Lateral Admission – Qualifying Exam Admission can also be done through lateral admission. A student who has finished Grade 7/Grade 8 (under the high school curriculum or the new K-12 curriculum) outside of the Philippine Science High School System may be allowed admission into PSHS-BRC if specific requirements are met. Intercampus Transfer Scholars of the system may travel to other campuses