GSIS president and general manager ‘Wick’ Veloso.
As a fitting welcome for the Year of the Horse, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will provide grants to 1,000 college freshmen for Academic Year (AY) 2026–2027 through the GSIS Subsidy for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program (GSSP).
The initiative directly supports the government’s strategy to strengthen economic competitiveness through education, which is aligned with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM)’s developmental framework.
The president in previous statements has emphasized that advancing STEM is a vital component of his economic agenda, stating that “innovation and agility will be the key to survival in the coming years.”
In support, GSIS president and general manager Arnulfo ‘Wick’ Veloso enthused that “iur program is a direct response to the President’s call for a technologically proficient workforce.”
“By supporting the education of these young minds, we are building a pipeline of talent that will drive innovation and secure our nation’s economic future,” Veloso pointed out.
Based on STEM’s program, each scholarship grantee will receive an annual subsidy of ₱15,000 or equivalent to ₱15 million per batch per year to assist with educational expenses. The program will run over four academic years (AY 2026 to 2030), supporting a total of 4,000 students. The total budget allocation amounts to ₱240 million by the year 2034.
STEM will be open to children of active GSIS members and permanent total disability pensioners under 60 years old. To ensure inclusivity, 200 of the 1,000 annual slots will be reserved for children of persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and solo parents.
In this score, GSIS will prioritize applicants whose parents have the lowest salary grades (SG 15 and below) or pension amounts. Qualified nominees must be incoming first-year college students accepted into a STEM course at a Philippine college or university recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). They must also have a senior high school general weighted average (GWA) of at least 90 percent.
Since 1998, the GSIS has provided educational assistance to its active members’ dependents, benefiting nearly 28,000 grantees with a total budget expended at ₱836 million in scholarships and educational subsidies. This strategic shift to focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields aligns the subsidy program with the nation’s goal of fostering a robust workforce capable of driving innovation and economic growth.
The application period and submission for the GSSP will commence on June 30 the current year. For future updates, members may visit the GSIS website at www.gsis.gov.ph.