Marcos announces P100K scholarship for 5 students in every barangay

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday announced a new scholarship program that will provide P100,000 each to five students in every barangay nationwide, as he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the country’s education sector. In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos said education remains among his administration’s top priorities, stressing the importance of lifelong learning and continuous self-improvement. “Gayumpaman, edukasyon pa rin ang siyang pangunahing nagtataguyod ng kakayahan, kung kaya ito pa rin ang nangunguna sa listahan ng Administrasyon.” (Nevertheless, education remains the primary driver of people’s capabilities, which is why it continues to top the Administration’s priorities.) To encourage more young Filipinos to finish college, Marcos said the Office of the President would fund the new Presidential Scholars program. “Para mahikayat ang kabataan na magtapos ng kolehiyo, ang Tanggapan ng Pangulo ay naglaan ng isandaang libong piso para sa limang estudyante sa bawat barangay sa buong bansa. Sila ngayon ang ating mga Presidential Scholars.” (To encourage young Filipinos to finish college, the Office of the President has allocated P100,000 for five students in every barangay nationwide. They will now be our Presidential Scholars.) The President also highlighted efforts to strengthen the Senior High School curriculum, saying work immersion programs have been intensified to better prepare students for employment. He added that more than 1,500 Senior High School graduates were hired on the spot during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fairs held in March. “Mahigit isanlibo’t kalahating Senior High graduates ang ‘hired-on-the-spot.’ Maaari na rin sila ngayong mag-apply para sa mga bakanteng unang baitang na posisyon sa pamahalaan.” (More than 1,500 Senior High School graduates were hired on the spot. They may now also apply for entry-level positions in government.) Marcos likewise cited improvements in Philippine higher education, saying the number of local colleges and universities included in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) increased from 12 in 2022 to 140 this year. More than half of these institutions, he said, are state and local universities and colleges where tuition is free. The President also underscored the government’s push to expand technical-vocational education, saying TVET programs now have an 81% placement rate. He said the Tech-Pro program has been integrated into the Senior High School curriculum to provide students with pathways to employment and further education. Marcos also pointed to the government’s digitalization efforts, saying at least 1.8 million students, parents, and teachers have undergone AI readiness training as part of initiatives to improve digital literacy and prepare Filipinos for emerging technologies. Beyond academic reforms, Marcos called for stronger efforts to protect children from harmful online content, including fake news, pornography, violence, and toxic behavior on social media. “We must protect them from the harmful influences and forces that exploit their vulnerability: the corrosive influence of fake news; the unfettered exposure to pornography, even to minors; the constant depiction of casual violence; and the toxicity and hate culture pervasive in social media.” He said these harmful influences contribute to mental health concerns, teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS cases, and other harmful consequences. Marcos also paid tribute to students who recently died in incidents of school violence, extending his condolences to their families and urging communities to take greater responsibility in ensuring children’s safety.—LDF, GMA News