Barangays may choose five presidential scholars — Recto

CEBU, Philippines — Only five students per barangay may benefit from the Bagong Pilipinas Presidential Scholars program, with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto explaining that the cap was set to spread the limited educational assistance among communities nationwide.

Recto said the program was designed to help college students who are already nearing graduation but remain at risk of not finishing their studies because of financial constraints.

Under the program, each selected scholar receives P20,000 in educational assistance, while each barangay is allocated a total of P200,000 under the initiative.

Of the P200,000 allocation, P100,000 is intended for five presidential scholars, with each receiving P20,000. The remaining P100,000 may be used for development priorities identified by the barangay.

Recto said the program was also prompted by rising expenses, particularly amid the economic effects of the Middle East crisis.

“Dahil sa Middle East crisis, alam natin na ang gastusin ay tumaas kaya nagdadag sa lahat ng barangay ng P200,000,” Recto said.

He said there are roughly 42,000 barangays nationwide, but only about half had initially chosen five scholars, particularly students who are already in their final stretch of college and may need only additional financial support to graduate.

Recto noted the initiative could eventually become a regular government program if its implementation proves successful.

“Naisip ng pangulo na maging programa to and ito na ang ginagawa natin ngayon,” he said.

“Kung maganda ang programa, malamang ma institutionalized iyan sa national government budget natin,” Recto added.

He also disclosed that a proposal has been included in the National Expenditure Program for next year to continue providing funding for the initiative, with an amount roughly similar to the current allocation and possibly slightly higher under the Local Government Support Fund.

The beneficiaries are incoming fourth-year college students for School Year 2026-2027, with priority given to those from vulnerable households, students at risk of dropping out, and those from families where no member has completed tertiary education.

In Cebu City, Barangay Kalunasan was among the communities that selected five scholars. Barangay captain and Liga ng mga Barangay Cebu City representative Carlitos “Litoy” Ceniza said the selection was done through a sectoral process to identify students deemed most deserving.

He said those selected include children of farmers and a child of a single parent, among other beneficiaries.

“Sa amoa lang 35,000 mi ka population sa Kalunasan unya lima ray kuhaon so lisod jud og magpataka ta. Mao nang napilian nato ng lima, base sa komunidad. Dili lang na sa barangay, naa say sectoral nga nipili ana,” he said.

Ceniza said the P20,000 assistance may not be enough to cover all college expenses, but it can still help students with daily needs and other school-related costs.

“P20,000 is so small kay ang tuition ron mas dako paman ana. Pero at least sa mga bawn makasagang-sagang na sila,” he said.

He also expressed hope that more students would be accommodated in succeeding years, noting the financial difficulties faced by families in the barangay.

“Of course, kinahanglan jud. Sa barangay nato taas ang poverty level, daghang way tarong trabaho,” Ceniza said, adding that he was confident the beneficiaries would use the assistance properly and finish their studies.

For the students who received the aid, the P20,000 represents immediate relief from the financial burden of finishing college.

Civil engineering student Earl Lowrence Regidor of Barangay Buhisan said he plans to use the assistance for tuition.

“For me, burden man kaayo ang tuition samot na sa mga courses nga bug-at². Kaning madawat nga kwarta kay ako ning gamiton sa bayad sa tuition jud,” Regidor said.

Psychology student Angela Olorbida, also from Barangay Buhisan, said the assistance came at a crucial point in her college journey as a fourth-year student.

“Big help ni nga scholarship labi na sa akoa nga 4th year unya ingon nila kung graduating daghan kaayog bayronon, makaingon jud mi nga tubag jud siya sa above ba nga maka-provide jud si God,” Olorbida said.

She said the amount is already significant for a student, especially considering that only five scholars were selected in each barangay.

“Enough na siya kay dili baya basta-basta makit-an ang P20k unya ikaw pajud ang napilian so thankful jud nga napilian,” Olorbida said.

More than 200 of Cebu City’s around 400 presidential scholars initially attended the distribution in Cordova, as the government rolls out the educational assistance program in other LGUs across the country.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City government will distribute Certificates of Scholarship Grant to more than 750 qualified college scholars on August 14 at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The activity, which will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the badminton court area, is part of the city’s own scholarship program and will cover new grantees for Academic Year 2026–2027.

Mayor Nestor Archival said the distribution reflects the city’s continuing commitment to support students from different colleges who qualified under the local scholarship guidelines.

For those who were not able to secure slots under the Cebu City Scholarship Program this school year, Archival announced that another opportunity awaits through the national Tulong Dunong Scholarship Program.

Implemented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) via the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST), the program provides P7,500 per semester in financial aid to deserving and financially challenged students.

Cebu City has been allotted 240 slots for Academic Year 2026–2027, with three students per barangay to be accommodated.

Applicants to the Tulong Dunong Program must submit a CHED-UniFAST application form, certificate of registration, certificate of indigency, and a valid government or school ID. The deadline for submission is August 18.

Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Pia Cayetano, who are partnering with the city government, emphasized that the program is designed to reach students who were unable to benefit from the city’s scholarship but remain in need of assistance to continue their education.

“If you are a deserving student from a state university, college, or other higher education institution, this may be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for,” Archival said. — /MRM (FREEMAN)