More than 20,000 Senior High School (SHS) graduates will benefit from the newly launched Bagong Pilipinas Scholarship Program, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced Monday.
Formally introduced as the Presidential Merit Scholarship, the initiative is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push to expand access to higher education. It will complement existing programs such as free tuition in state universities and colleges, the Tulong Dunong program, and the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the scholarship aims to support SHS graduates while requiring them to serve the nation afterward.
“Bagong Pilipinas scholars must be enrolled in priority programs that will address hard-to-fill occupations in the country through return service. Bagong Pilipinas scholars are para sa Serbisyo ng Bayan,” she said during the Higher Education Summit at the Manila Hotel.
Applicants must be among the Top 5 graduates of their SHS batch and come from low- to middle-income households. Priority fields include health sciences, digital technology, agriculture, fisheries, and education.
Scholars may also enroll in private schools if qualified for their chosen program. Around PHP600 million has been allocated under the 2026 National Expenditure Program to fund the first batch.
CHED will work with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to ensure fair and transparent implementation of the program.