Cebu City, Philippines – For thousands of young Filipinos, the road to a college diploma has always been a toll road they simply couldn’t afford. The future, once a vibrant possibility, often stalls at the high school finish line, a victim of relentless poverty.
Now, a monumental initiative spearheaded by the University of Cebu (UC) is turning that narrative on its head. In a powerful collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), UC has launched a fully funded scholarship program, throwing open the gates to 2,645 high school graduates who previously thought higher education was an impossible luxury.
A Lifeline, Not a Handout
Launched on December 4, 2025, the program focuses on three-year diploma courses in Hospitality Management and Tourism Management—sectors specifically prioritized by TESDA for their high demand, both locally and globally. This isn’t just about jobs; it’s about providing young Cebuanos and those from neighboring areas the fundamental fairness that poverty so often denies: a genuine fighting chance.
UC Chairman Atty. Augusto W. Go, a tireless advocate for accessible education, made the announcement with a fervor born of personal mission. “There are so many who cannot afford to go to college. Let’s help them,” he appealed. “This is money well-spent.”
Go was emphatic that education must never be treated as a privilege reserved only for the wealthy. Speaking at a press conference on December 5, he declared: “Education is life’s greatest equalizer.” His commitment, he noted, is to extend UC’s reach directly to the poorest sectors—to students who struggle to pay even the smallest fees, purchase books, or afford the daily commute.
“If you’re qualified, come over here,” he urged potential scholars. “The government is going to spend for it. Everything is free, not even a peso needed.”
The Full Package: ₱270,000 in Value
This isn’t just a tuition waiver. The scholarship package, implemented under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA), is comprehensive, providing an approximate subsidy of ₱100,000 per student per year, totaling about ₱270,000 over the three-year duration.
TESDA’s financial commitment covers:
- Tuition Fee
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- National competency assessments (NC II to NC IV)
- School and workshop uniforms
- Accident insurance
- A P9,000 cash allowance per semester
Go stressed that this funding is state-mandated and secure. To ensure financial integrity, he guaranteed that scholars will receive an individual Landbank ATM card where TESDA will deposit the funds directly, preventing any risk of misuse.
An Urgent Appeal: Fill the Slots
While classes are set to officially begin on December 15, 2025, the University is racing against the clock. The deadline for applications is the end of December, and the stakes are high.
“This program is time-bound. If the slots are not filled, the funds will be returned to the National Government,” Go cautioned.
Despite the program’s vital importance, only 296 students had enrolled as of the day after the launch—a tiny fraction of the 2,645 available slots.
“Please take advantage of it,” Go implored the public. “Help us spread the word.”
Doors Open Wide
The scholarship is open to all qualified applicants, regardless of age, residency, or previous college experience. While the Cebu City Government is helping disseminate information, slots are available to all Cebuanos and residents from outside the province.
“If you have the will to study, UC will help you graduate,” Go assured.
Applicants only need to submit basic documentation:
- Form 137 or 138
- PSA Birth Certificate
- Certificate of Good Moral Character
- Honorable Dismissal (if previously enrolled in college)
Alternative Learning System (ALS) passers and pre-K-12 high school graduates are equally welcome, confirmed Dr. Dennis A. Samar, UC director for technical education.
To ensure easy access for all scholars, Atty. Go has ordered the program’s expansion beyond the initial location at the UC Maritime Education and Training Center (METC) to include campuses at Jones (Osmeña Blvd.), Banilad, and Lapu-Lapu Mandaue (UCLM). “We will open all our campuses. We will take care of them,” he promised.
The Best Christmas Gift
Looking ahead, UC and TESDA are already planning to explore future offerings in high-demand fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), with potential global training opportunities in Taiwan.
But for now, the focus is on the students whose lives are about to change. At a time when economic hardship forces families to tighten budgets and students to abandon their dreams, the timing of this program is a blessing.
“Imagine earning a diploma after three years, all for free,” Go concluded. “This is the best Christmas gift we can give to our youth.”
The once-dismissed dream of a college education is now a reality waiting at the enrollment offices of UC METC, UC Jones, UC Banilad SHS, and UCLM. For 2,645 determined young Filipinos, the words of Atty. Go are not just an aspiration: “If they have the determination, UC will give them a chance. We will guide them. We will help them succeed.”
This is more than a press release; it is the announcement of a future restored.
For Enrollment Inquiries: (0926) 081-9752 or (032) 410-8811, local 5143 / 5147 / 5151 registrar.metc@uc.edu.ph or ucmetc.tetac@gmail.com