Over 20,000 Senior High School (SHS) graduates are set to benefit from the Bagong Pilipinas Scholarship Program, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced Monday.

The program, formally launched as the Presidential Merit Scholarship, is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push to widen access to higher education.

It will complement existing initiatives such as free tuition in state universities and colleges, the Tulong Dunong program, and the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).

In a speech, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the Bagong Pilipinas scholarship will allow eligible SHS graduates to pursue their chosen programs while opening opportunities to serve the country 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 on Monday.

Eligible applicants include Filipino SHS graduates who ranked among the Top 5 of their batch and come from low- to middle-income households.

The program targets health sciences, digital technology, agriculture, fisheries, and education, among other fields.

Agrupis added that scholars may enroll even in private schools, provided they qualify for their chosen degree program.

Around PHP600 million has been earmarked under the 2026 National Expenditure Program to fund the first batch of 20,000 scholars.

CHED will also collaborate with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to ensure the fair and transparent implementation of the program. (PNA)