Started college in 2025? Apply for Capitol scholarship till June 30, 2026
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Provincial School Board focal person Christopher Baricuatro said around 1,000 scholarship slots remain available for first-year college students enrolled during School Year 2025-2026.
Applications for these remaining slots sponsored by the Cebu Provincial Capitol will only be accepted until June 30.
These slots are reserved for students who are already first-year college students for School Year 2025-2026.
READ: Capitol opens scholarships to 5,900 college students in aid program
Beginning July 1, the Provincial School Board will start accepting applications for Batch 7 for School Year 2026-2027.
Baricuatro noted that any unused slots for School Year 2025-2026 could not be carried over to the next academic year.
5,900 slots for 2026-2027
Incoming first-year college students in Cebu who plan to enroll in public higher education institutions may apply for the Cebu Province-Grants Intended for Tertiary Students (CP-GIFTS), the scholarship program of the Cebu Provincial Government that offers financial assistance to qualified beneficiaries.
The Provincial Government has allotted 5,900 scholarship slots for School Year 2026-2027 under the offices of the Governor, Vice Governor, and members of the Provincial Board.
Aside from the new batch of scholars, around 1,000 remaining slots are still available for first-year students who enrolled during School Year 2025-2026.
READ: Private school graduate? A city college scholarship could help you
Christopher Baricuatro, focal person of the Provincial School Board, urged eligible students throughout Cebu province to take advantage of the program.
Here are the things applicants need to know:
Who may qualify?
Before submitting an application, applicants must first meet the requirements set under the program guidelines.
To qualify, applicants must be incoming first-year college students with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 85 percent or its equivalent.
Applicants must also have passed the entrance examination and admission requirements of their chosen schools.
They should be residents of Cebu province for at least one year before applying, while either they or their parents must be registered voters of the province.
The program is open to students whose parents or guardians have a combined annual income of not more than ₱200,000.
Applicants should also not be receiving any other scholarship or subsidy providing living allowance from the government, private institutions, or individuals.
Enroll in a public college or university
The scholarship is intended for students enrolled in public higher education institutions, including state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs).
Graduate courses, including law and medicine, are excluded from the program.
Priority is given to students taking Agriculture, Fisheries, Accountancy, Real Estate Management, Engineering, pre-medical courses, Social Work, Psychology, Criminology, Mechatronics or Robotics, Information Technology, and other computer-related courses.
Under the program guidelines, students enrolled in public schools are entitled to monthly financial assistance amounting to ₱2,000, which may be released in cash or through checks upon submission of grades and other documentary requirements.
Prepare the required documents
Applicants are required to secure and complete several documents before submitting their applications.
These include:
- Certified true copy of the Senior High School report card for the first and second semesters with at least an 85 percent GWA;
- Certificate of Good Moral Character signed by the principal and endorsed by the district supervisor;
- Barangay certification proving residency;
- Voter’s ID or voter’s certification issued by the Commission on Elections;
- Income Tax Return or tax exemption certificate issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for parents or guardians;
- Study load or proof of enrollment;
- Signed Terms and Conditions form;
- Letter of Attestation certifying that the applicant is not receiving another scholarship; and
- Accomplished Student Information Form.
Digital copies of the forms are also available through the CP-GIFTS Scholarship Program Facebook page.
Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Provincial Government warned that any falsification or misrepresentation may lead to disqualification from the program.
Submit online or through Capitol offices
Baricuatro said students might coordinate with their district board members, who had scholarship slots allocated for their constituents.
Applicants may also apply online, a setup that he said was especially helpful for students coming from island municipalities such as Bantayan and Camotes.
“Pwede sila muduol sa LGU but I suggest, mudirekta na lang sila sa mga Board Members through sa online application,” he said.
(They may approach their LGUs, but I suggest that they directly coordinate with their Board Members through the online application.)
Completed applications may also be submitted to the Receiving Office at the Capitol Executive Building.
Sponsoring offices
For School Year 2026-2027, the Office of the Governor has been allotted 2,500 slots, while the Office of the Vice Governor has 1,500 slots.
Meanwhile, members of the Provincial Board have been allocated 100 slots each. The allocation also includes ex-officio members representing the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, and the Philippine Councilors League (PCL).
Students from any part of Cebu may qualify for slots under the offices of the Governor and Vice Governor.
Maintain grades, avoid failing subjects
The scholarship remains valid for the duration of the student’s course, provided that program requirements are met.
Scholars are required to maintain an average grade of at least 85 percent and must not incur any failing grade in any subject.
Students who shift courses, change majors, transfer schools, stop studying, or become beneficiaries of another living allowance subsidy automatically forfeit their scholarship benefits.
Render community service
Aside from maintaining academic standing, scholars are also required to render a total of 160 hours of community work or return service during the duration of the program.
These activities may include tree planting, medical missions, clean-up drives, and other school- or government-sponsored programs. Certification from local officials or scholarship coordinators is required.
As the Provincial Government opens another round of applications, officials are encouraging eligible freshmen across Cebu to take advantage of the program, which has continued to support thousands of students pursuing higher education in public institutions.
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