DBM releases P3.7 billion education assistance for college scholars

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P3.74 billion for an education scholarship program that will benefit nearly 250,000 Filipino learners.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the special allotment release order of the fund to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The funding is meant to finance the implementation of CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program – a component of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education that assures learners of free and subsidized tuition by providing financial assistance to qualified and deserving students pursuing a college degree.

The fund is expected to benefit 247,135 student-grantees enrolled in CHED-recognized public and private higher education institutions.

“Providing necessary funds for programs like this give (students) a fighting chance to complete their degrees and ultimately give them a better future,” Pangandaman said.

Under the program, scholars receive a grant of P7,500 to cover school expenses or tuition and other fees as well as allowances. Student grantees are recommended to renew their application each academic year in order to keep receiving financial benefits until their final year of education.

CHED priority courses – such as accounting, agriculture, education, engineering and health sciences – are in high demand and are important to the country’s development.

Signed during the first year of the Duterte administration in 2017, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education law exempts qualified college students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree, certificate degree or any comparable undergraduate degree from the burden of tuition and other school fees. The UAQTE formalized zero-cost education and waivers of additional charges in state universities and colleges as well as local universities and colleges.