23 JANUARY 2026

LAOAG CITY — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., represented by House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1^st District Representative Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ A. Marcos, officially launched the PBBM-Gabay ng Bayan Programs (Programa para sa Buti ng Bayan at Mamamayan: Galing, Akses, Batid, at Angat tungo sa Yaman ng Bayan) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The event also marked the signing of a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) among the three agencies, setting the unified guidelines for the implementation of the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program.

Anchored on the administration’s Bagong Pilipinas vision, the BPMSP promotes academic excellence while supporting students from poor- to middle-income families who wish to enroll in academic programs that are critically needed for national development such as healthcare, agriculture and fisheries, engineering, education, financial services, creative industries, and digital technology.

There are 20,000 scholarship slots available for top ranked senior highschool graduates and distinguished Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.

CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis described the BPMSP as a cornerstone of the administration’s education agenda.

“The directive was not abstract. It was practical and urgent—expand access, but do not leave excellence to chance. Hindi sapat ang tulong kung walang malinaw na direksyon,” Dr. Agrupis said. “That instruction led to the development of the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program, designed by CHED in close collaboration with the DepEd and TESDA.”

For its initial rollout, the BPMSP has been allocated ₱634.889 million in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). CHED is coordinating closely with DepEd and TESDA to ensure equitable regional distribution of scholarship slots, guided by enrollment data and student performance.

Following the JMC signing, the program featured a demonstration of the BPMSP online application portal, highlighting a streamlined and transparent process for verifying identity, academic merit, and financial need. Applications for incoming first-year college students for Academic Year 2026-2027 will be accepted through the portal.

The BPMSP complements existing CHED and UNIFAST student financial assistance programs, including free higher education in state and local universities and colleges under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, as well as the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP).

The program supports CHED’s ACHIEVE Agenda, which advances inclusive, innovative, and data-driven reform in Philippine higher education.