MORE than 20,000 senior high school graduates are set to gain from the newly launched Bagong Pilipinas Scholarship Program, the Commission on Higher Education lannounced Monday (15 Sept 2025).

Formally introduced as the Presidential Merit Scholarship, the initiative is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s broader effort to expand access to higher education across the country.

The scholarship program will complement existing measures, including free tuition in state universities and colleges, the Tulong Dunong Program, and the Tertiary Education Subsidy.

During the Higher Education Summit at the Manila Hotel, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis emphasized that the scholarship aims to help graduates pursue their chosen courses while fostering opportunities to serve the nation.

“Bagong Pilipinas scholars must enroll in priority programs that address critical workforce gaps in the country and commit to return service. Bagong Pilipinas scholars are para sa Serbisyo ng Bayan,” Agrupis said.

Eligible applicants are Filipino SHS graduates who rank in the Top 5 of their batch and belong to low- to middle-income households. The program focuses on fields such as health sciences, digital technology, agriculture, fisheries, and education, among others.

Agrupis also noted that scholars can pursue their degrees in private institutions, as long as they meet the program’s qualifications.

Funding for the first batch of 20,000 scholars has been allocated at approximately PHP 600 million under the 2026 National Expenditure Program.

CHED will coordinate with the Department of Education and the Department of Labor and Employment  to ensure the scholarship’s implementation is fair and transparent.