Filipino students received welcome news on Monday. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. used his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 28, 2026, to launch the Presidential Scholars Program, a nationwide grant that will hand P100,000 each to five students in every barangay across the country.
The scholarship is funded directly by the Office of the President. Its goal is simple: help more young Filipinos reach graduation day without the weight of tuition holding them back.
A Direct Line to a College Diploma
President Marcos framed the program as a push to keep students in school until they finish.
“Para mahikayat ang kabataan na magtapos ng kolehiyo, ang Tanggapan ng Pangulo ay naglaan ng isandaang libong piso para sa limang estudyante sa bawat barangay sa buong bansa. Sila ngayon ang ating mga Presidential Scholars,” the President said during his address.
With more than 42,000 barangays nationwide, the initiative could reach a wide pool of young learners once fully rolled out.
Benefits
The benefits are straightforward:
- P100,000 in financial assistance per qualified student
- 5 slots available in each barangay across the Philippines
The aid is designed to ease the everyday costs that often stand between families and a college education.
More Wins for Education in SONA 2026
The Presidential Scholars Program was one of several education updates the President touched on. Others included:
- Over 1,500 Senior High School graduates hired on the spot during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fairs in March, with many now eligible to apply for entry-level government roles
- A jump in Philippine schools listed in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), from just 12 in 2022 to 140 in 2026, with more than half being state and local universities offering free tuition
- An 81% placement rate for TVET programs, plus the Tech-Pro track now folded into the Senior High School curriculum
- Around 1.8 million students, parents, and teachers trained in AI readiness under the government’s digitalization drive
How to Apply
For now, families will need to wait a little longer for the fine print. The Office of the President is expected to release the full application process and eligibility rules in the coming weeks.
If you or someone in your household hopes to qualify, keep an eye on official government channels for the announcement. This is one update worth watching closely, and we’ll be here to help you make sense of it when the details arrive.