NEW CLARK CITY, Tarlac — A major push to strengthen the Philippines’ science and technology pipeline is taking shape in New Clark City as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) join forces to develop a dedicated training center for the Philippine Science High School (PSHS).
The partnership, formalized in August 2026, is designed to create an environment where Filipino students, researchers, educators and future scientists can deepen their skills in science, research, technology and innovation.
According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang and DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. led the signing of the agreement covering the development of the PSHS Training Center in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. The facility is expected to become partially operational by 2027.
More Than a Training Facility
The project is part of a broader effort to position New Clark City as a hub for talent development, research and innovation.
BCDA said the training center will form part of the city’s Research and Development District, where institutions can collaborate to help build the country’s knowledge economy. Under the agreement, BCDA will undertake the facility’s fit-out works and provide essential campus infrastructure and utilities.
The development also builds on an earlier BCDA-PSHS partnership for the 4.6-hectare Infinitum campus in New Clark City.
The Infinitum project was originally envisioned as a major learning and resource center for the PSHS System, with facilities including academic spaces, research laboratories, a technology hub, innovation center and training center. GMA News previously reported that the campus was designed to serve senior high school students while also supporting teachers and professionals.
BCDA’s 2024 annual report subsequently stated that civil works for the Infinitum campus were 100 percent complete as of the end of 2024, with the 4.6-hectare development planned to deliver high school STEM education in Central Luzon.
Why New Clark City Matters
The latest agreement comes as New Clark City continues to develop into an education, research and innovation center.
The city already hosts or is attracting institutions such as the National Academy of Sports, University of the Philippines and Philippine Science High School, strengthening its emerging role as an academic and innovation hub.
The strategy is significant because science and technology development is not simply about constructing laboratories or classrooms. It also depends on developing people who can conduct research, create new technologies and turn scientific discoveries into practical solutions.
That broader objective is consistent with other DOST initiatives this year.
In March, DOST emphasized stronger collaboration with higher education institutions to connect science, technology and innovation with national development priorities. The agency has also been pushing technology transfer and commercialization so that research outputs can move beyond laboratories and into actual products and services.
Building the Next Generation of Innovators
The need for stronger science and technology training is particularly important as the Philippines seeks to expand industries that depend on highly skilled workers, researchers and innovators.
DOST-CAR, for example, has intensified programs focused on technology commercialization, intellectual property protection, patent development and technology licensing. Its 2026 Cordinnovation activities likewise highlighted artificial intelligence, technology transfer and startup development as drivers of regional growth.
The New Clark City training center can therefore be viewed as part of a much wider national effort: developing Filipino talent while building the infrastructure needed to turn that talent into innovation.
For PSHS students and educators, the facility could provide an important platform for advanced training and collaboration. For New Clark City, it further strengthens the area’s transformation into a location where education, research, technology and industry can converge.
A Long-Term Investment in Filipino Talent
The BCDA-DOST agreement reflects a shift toward investing not only in physical infrastructure but also in the country’s human capital.
Earlier plans for the PSHS Infinitum development already envisioned research, technology and innovation facilities alongside classrooms and student accommodations. The project’s stated goal was to support the development of future scientists, technicians and specialists who can contribute to Central and Northern Luzon’s growing economy.
Now, with the latest BCDA-DOST agreement targeting partial operation of the training facility by 2027, attention turns to how the center will translate its infrastructure into actual opportunities for students, teachers and the wider science and technology community.
And that may ultimately be the most important measure of the project—not simply how impressive the facility looks, but how many Filipino discoveries, technologies and future scientists emerge from it.
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