President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday rallied thousands of college students in Manila to persevere in their studies and earn their degrees as he spearheaded the rollout of ₱88.52 million in educational grants through the administration’s Presidential Scholars program.
A group of ,426 student beneficiaries from Manila’s six congressional districts each was granted ₱20,000 in financial assistance, a subsidy designed to alleviate schooling costs and boost graduation rates.
Speaking before the grantees at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Marcos motivated the youth to remain dedicated to their academics, guaranteeing that the government would back them every step of the way.
”Pagsipagan niyo ito at magkikita ulit tayo kapag may hawak na kayong diploma,” the President said.
Marcos underscored the urgency of keeping youth enrolled, pointing to data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) which revealed that almost 29% of college students abandoned their studies in 2025.
To combat this trend, the President affirmed his administration’s resolve to lower dropout rates by reinforcing financial aid programs that empower students to finish school and successfully transition into the labor market.
The student recipients represented Manila’s 896 barangays, with five graduating seniors chosen from each neighborhood.
During a subsequent press briefing, Marcos explained that this subsidy is a component of a larger national strategy dubbed “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang,” which delivers direct social protection to communities across the country.
”This is our continuing program sa Bawat Bayan Makikinabang. We will continue to do this hanggang mabuo natin ang buong Pilipinas,” he said.
The Chief Executive shared that close to 20,000 barangays nationwide have already received support from the project, with expectations for wider implementation in the upcoming academic year. He added that the administration is open to boosting funding for local government units if the program yields sustained, positive results.
The ₱88.52-million disbursement is funded by the administration’s Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) Financial Assistance Program, which earmarks ₱200,000 per barangay.
Alongside educational cash aid, the initiative also distributes 10 kilograms of rice to selected low-income and vulnerable families for added relief.