₱20K Cebu City scholarship for 400 graduating students

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Four hundred graduating college students from Cebu City will receive ₱20,000 each in financial assistance under the national government’s Bagong Pilipinas Scholarship Program for the school year 2026–2027.

The assistance is intended to help students in their final year of college stay in school and complete their degrees despite financial difficulties.

Five incoming fourth-year students from each of Cebu City’s 80 barangays will be selected for the scholarship, according to officials.

The program targets students from vulnerable households who face the risk of dropping out and whose families have no member who has completed tertiary education.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the scholarship is designed to assist students who are close to graduation but may struggle to finish because of limited finances.

“Pipili ng limang scholar na nasa last mile na, ‘yong magtatapos na pero baka hindi makatapos gawa nang kulang sa pera,” Recto said during his visit to Cebu on August 13, 2026.

(Five scholars who are already in the final stretch of their studies are selected—those who are about to graduate but may not be able to finish due to financial difficulties.)

Aid to cover school expenses

For Civil Engineering student Earl Lawrence Regidor, the ₱20,000 assistance could help ease the cost of completing his engineering courses and allow him to stay on track for graduation.

“Usa ni sa makahatag nimo og inspiration na makagraduate jud ka, especially kung galisod ka or imong family dili daghan og kwarta or resources,” Regidor said.

(This can serve as an inspiration for you to finish your studies, especially if you or your family are struggling financially or have limited resources.)

Psychology student Angela Olorbida said the scholarship would also help with miscellaneous expenses, which can add up during the final year of college.

“Big help ang scholarship ilabi na karon sa amoa nga fourth year. If fourth-year, daghan jud kaayo og bayronon,” Olorbida said.

(The scholarship is a big help, especially now that we’re in our fourth year. There are a lot of expenses to pay when you’re a fourth-year student.)

Meanwhile, Carlitos Ceniza, Kalunasan barangay captain and vice president of the Association of Barangay Councils in Cebu City, said their selection process included students from vulnerable sectors.

Among those considered were students from farming families, single-parent households, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Ceniza said he hopes the national government will eventually increase the number of beneficiaries, particularly in barangays with high poverty rates.

Part of ₱200K barangay allocation

The scholarship is one component of the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program, which provides funding for projects and assistance at the barangay level.

Each barangay receives ₱200,000 from the Socio-Civic Projects Fund of the Office of the President, with P100,000 specifically allocated for education assistance.

The remaining ₱100,000 can support priority projects and other immediate needs identified by barangay officials, subject to program guidelines.

For Cebu City, the program provides a total of P16 million for its 80 barangays.

Mandaue City received ₱5.4 million for its 27 barangays, while Lapu-Lapu City was allocated P6 million for 30 barangays.

Cebu Province received ₱213.2 million covering its 1,066 barangays.

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