UC is 1st private university joining DBP program
Forty deserving students of the University of Cebu (UC) are now assured of completing their college education, free from the burden of tuition and sustained by a monthly allowance.
This became possible after the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) formally rolled out its Integrated Scholastic Program for Inclusive and Responsive Education (INSPIRE) at the university on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.
While INSPIRE covers two baccalaureate tracks — Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Real Estate programs, the UC launch opened discussions for BS in Computer Science (CS), major in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
UC and DBP awarded the scholarships and briefed the first batch of the beneficiaries when executives of both parties launched INSPIRE with a contract signing at the AVR of Alicia Gotianuy Bldg. in the UC main campus in Cebu City.
UC chair Atty. Augusto W. Go signed the contract in his office, while executive vice chancellor Manuel Elijah “Jack” Sarausad, and scholarship head Dr. Leonilo Oliva also did alongside DBP senior officials before the scholars and their parents.
The partnership marks the first time DBP has collaborated with a private university for the INSPIRE program. The grant is retroactive to the first semester of Academic Year (AY) 2025-2026.
Another set of 40 scholars will be admitted next academic year, and every year thereafter, forming part of five batches until 2029, according to DBP first vice president Zandro Carlos P. Sison.
DBP allocated some P8 million for the first batch alone at UC, drawn from DBP’s nationwide INSPIRE fund of about P510 million. UC is one of 10 partner schools across the country, he added.
Transforming Lives
The 40 scholars, selected by UC through a rigorous screening and evaluation process, come from low-income families with an annual net income of ₱150,000 or below, shared Dr. Oliva.
Many attended the orientation and contract signing with their parents, visibly relieved and hopeful about the future.
The scholars are required only to maintain passing grades to continue enjoying the benefits, noted DBP SVP Helbert Antoine A. Achay, DBP branch banking group head for Central and Eastern Visayas.
To qualify, applicants must be first- or second-year students, Filipino citizens of good moral character, with a general weighted average of at least 85 percent (2.0) and no grade lower than 80 percent (2.5).
They must not be recipients of any other scholarship and must meet UC admission requirements, disclosed Oliva.
The INSPIRE program covers full tuition for selected four-year baccalaureate courses, provides a monthly allowance, and extends support even through board examinations for programs that require licensure.
“For private school scholars, DBP covers both tuition and monthly allowance,” Sison, who is also corporate affairs department head of DBP, told the press in a media interaction preceding the AVR launch.
“What sets INSPIRE apart is that we continue to support scholars until they take their board examinations, if their course requires one. Each batch is supported for four to five years, depending on the degree program,” he said.
Sison emphasized that while DBP encourages scholars to finish their degrees, there is no obligation to repay the bank after graduation. “There is no payback requirement,” he clarified.
“Our goal is to expand access to quality education,” Sison said.
“If, in the future, some of them choose to serve in DBP through internships or employment, that would be welcome, but it is not mandatory. We are investing in people, not binding them,” he pointed out.
Scholars may also be given opportunities for on-the-job training with DBP and could be considered for employment after graduation, subject to agency needs.
Call for AI Innovation
Atty. Manuel Elijah “Jack” Sarausad
Nationally, INSPIRE prioritizes courses in engineering, sciences, information technology,
accountancy, and maritime studies.
During DBP’s courtesy call on Atty. Go, the UC chair proposed expanding the coverage to
include BS in Computer Science, major in Artificial Intelligence, specifically focusing on
programming applications using AI technology.
“As we build engineers and real estate professionals, we must also build digital innovators,” Go emphatically said.
He noted that AI is shaping industries worldwide and hoped DBP will consider supporting CS majors who specialize in developing AI-driven applications, not merely using applied AI, but the programming and systems behind it.
“This is where the future is headed,” he pointed out.
The UC chairman stressed that investing in AI education will prepare Filipino students to compete globally and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Life-changing
Dr. Oliva, a former Department of Education regional, underscored the life changing impact of the program, noting that the 40 students represent families whose dreams often hinge on financial capacity.
“DBP INSPIRE removes that barrier. We only ask our scholars is to persevere and pass their subjects. With determination and discipline, they can complete their degrees and uplift not only themselves but their families as well,” he said.
One scholar from Guadalupe, Cebu City, who enrolled in Engineering, shared that the selection process included examinations and careful evaluation to ensure only qualified and deserving students were admitted.
For most of the 40 scholars, the signing ceremony was more than a formal event. It was a turning point. With 40 more set to be admitted next academic year, and annually thereafter, the DBP-UC partnership is a long-term investment in human capital.
For the pioneering batch of 40, however, the impact is already deeply personal: a brighter future secured, a burden lifted from their families, and a dream now within reach.
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Photos from UC Lankandiwa