House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ G. Dy III welcomed the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the bill proposing the creation of the Presidential Merit College Scholarship Programs (PMSPs), which seeks to give deserving students sustained educational support for college and technical education, including expenses beyond tuition.
‘Many youth have intelligence, industriousness, and a clear vision, but their families are short of money to spend on education. They should be given the opportunity to finish and use their abilities for their own families and for the country,’ Dy said in Filipino in a statement.
The reconciled measure, a priority of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), establishes two specific programs under the PMSPs:
the Presidential Merit College Scholarship Program under the Commission on Higher Education
the Presidential Merit Technical Scholarship Program under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
The measure, which reconciled House Bill No. 8477 and Senate Bill No. 2410, addresses both the financial difficulties faced by outstanding students and the shortage of workers in critical fields.
It includes a provision to support exceptional senior high school graduates from low- to middle-income households and to develop skills for hard-to-fill occupations.
To qualify for the scholarships, the bill generally sets an annual family income ceiling of P2 million, based on the combined annual gross income of the applicant’s parents or legal guardians, subject to periodic review and adjustments, considering education costs, inflation, and the number of household dependents.
College applicants must, among other requirements, comply with the following:
completed senior high school
ranked within the top 1 percent of their school’s grade 11 students
have a Grade 11 general weighted average of at least 95 percent or its equivalent
have no failing grade in the first two terms of grade 12
For the technical scholarship, applicants must comply with the following requirements:
complete senior high school with a general weighted average of at least 90 percent or its equivalent
secure admission or enrollment in a TESDA-recognized diploma program in a priority sector, subject to other qualifications
College scholarship slots would be equitably distributed among regions, while equally qualified applicants from underrepresented areas and socioeconomically disadvantaged households would receive preference in selection.
Under the bill, the financial assistance would cover tuition subsidies and other school fees, living expenses, relocation, room and board, transportation, books, connectivity, and laboratory costs. It may also cover internships, licensure or board examinations, thesis preparation and research assistance, where applicable, subject to available funds and implementing guidelines.
‘We know that, even if the tuition is free, fare, food, lodging, and other materials need to be paid for. So the assistance must address the students’ actual expenses so that they can continue until they finish,’ Dy said.
The bill identifies priority fields, including science, engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, fisheries, health, and specialized teacher education.
CHEd and TESDA will coordinate with relevant agencies and update the list at least once every three years to reflect national and regional needs.
The measure requires a timetable for processing and releasing scholarship benefits. Benefits already granted could not be reduced while a scholar remains qualified, and existing Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program beneficiaries would retain their previously granted benefits during the transition.
The ‘Galing Para Sa Bayan’ component of the bill requires scholars to render service in the Philippines equivalent to the years of scholarship assistance received, generally beginning within one year after graduation. They may fulfill this through gainful employment, professional practice, research, teaching, community engagement, or public service in sectors aligned with their studies and contributing to national development.