THOUSANDS of college students from low-income families are expected to benefit from the national government’s Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) this year following the allocation of ₱2.7 billion for the initiative under the 2026 General Appropriations Law.

House Assistant Minority Leader and Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales said on Sunday that the funding represents a ₱700-million increase from the program’s ₱2-billion budget in 2025, highlighting Congress’ renewed push to help financially challenged students pursue higher education.

“The increased funding reflects Congress’ firm resolve to ease the cost of higher education, especially for students from economically disadvantaged families,” Gonzales said.

He added that lawmakers are counting on the cash assistance to help reduce the number of students forced to drop out of college due to financial constraints.

Despite the government’s free tuition policy in state universities and colleges as well as local universities and colleges, four out of every 10 Filipino college students still fail to complete their degrees, according to data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

Studies by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies identified financial difficulties and the need to seek employment as the primary reasons many students leave college before graduating.

“The Tulong Dunong Program provides direct assistance to students who might otherwise be compelled to abandon their studies,” Gonzales said. “While the support may not cover all academic expenses, it can make the critical difference between staying in school and dropping out.”

Under the program, eligible grantees receive ₱7,500 per regular semester, or ₱15,000 per school year, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

To qualify, beneficiaries must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in CHED-recognized private higher education institutions, state universities and colleges (SUCs), or local universities and colleges (LUCs), and must not be recipients of other national government student financial assistance programs.

The Tulong Dunong Program is anchored on the State’s constitutional duty to make education accessible to all Filipinos, particularly those from marginalized and economically disadvantaged sectors.