Gov’t Rolls Out New Scholarship For Underserved Students

Students from low- to middle-income families can now enroll in priority degree and technical-vocational courses through a newly launched merit-based scholarship program, the government announced on Friday, Jan. 23.

Highlighting the administration’s goal of expanding access to quality higher education, President Marcos formally rolled out the Bagong Pilipinas Merit-Based Scholarship Program (BPMSP) as part of the administration’s PBBM-GABAY ng Bayan initiatives.

“We are reminded that education is a right that must reach every Filipino, no matter how far, how poor, how marginalized or how difficult,” Marcos said in a speech delivered by his son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City.

The President was initially scheduled to lead the program launch but disclosed on Thursday, Jan. 22, that he is suffering from diverticulitis, which he described as a common ailment among those who are highly stressed and growing old.

In his remarks, Marcos recalled his pledge during last year’s State of the Nation Address to establish a scholarship program for top-performing graduates of public and private senior high schools, as well as technical-vocational institutions.

“Today, we are fulfilling that promise,” he said.

The BPMSP is a joint project of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Education Secretary Sonny Angara, CHED chair Shirley Agrupis and TESDA director general Kiko Benitez signed a joint memorandum circular establishing a unified framework for the transparent and coordinated implementation of the BPMSP.

Under the BPMSP, the top five graduates of every senior high school nationwide are eligible to enroll in quality-assured public or private higher education institutions or in TESDA-identified priority diploma programs.

Priority sectors include health care, engineering, digital technology, agriculture, education, financial services, ICT and advanced manufacturing.

Agrupis said the program has a P634-million budget and will support 20,000 scholars nationwide.

Scholars enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Metro Manila may receive a P25,000 per-semester stipend plus a P4,000 book and connectivity allowance, while those in SUCs outside the National Capital Region will receive a lower stipend.

Students studying in private universities in Metro Manila may receive up to P75,000 in tuition subsidy, a P25,000 stipend and a P4,000 allowance, with total annual support reaching P208,000.

Annual support for scholars in private institutions outside NCR may reach P98,000. 

Alongside the BPMSP, the administration also launched Project Patuloy na Edukasyon, Patuloy na Pag-Ahon (Project PEPA), a nationwide information caravan aimed at bringing government-funded education opportunities directly to families under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). 

The government likewise unveiled CHED-TANAW, a national higher education data visualization platform that integrates information on institutions, enrollment, scholarships and graduate outcomes to promote transparency and guide students toward legitimate and recognized schools.

“Taken together, these initiatives reflect a coherent approach to higher education reform, expanding access, strengthening institutions and ensuring that every peso invested in education yields value for the Filipino people,” Marcos said.

Aside from the launch of these programs, Angara and Marcos also led the mass oath-taking of 789 newly promoted public school teachers yesterday under the DepEd’s Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system in the city.

DepEd said many of the promoted teachers had waited years, some decades, for advancement due to limited plantilla items and a promotion system previously tied to natural vacancies. 

“There’s no need to leave the classroom. Under the ECP, we recognize teaching excellence and provide a clear path for it,” Angara said. – With an additional report from Bella Cariaso