University of the Philippines Offers Financial Lifeline to Low-Income Students

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The University of the Philippines (UP) has launched the second year of its "Lingap-Iskolar" program, designed to support students from low-income families with financial aid worth P165,000 annually. This initiative aims to cover essential expenses such as housing, meals, transportation, and other academic needs for UPCAT qualifiers.

To be eligible, applicants must come from families with a gross annual income of less than P135,000 and must not be receiving other scholarships. With a budget of P50 million, the program plans to support 300 students this year.

"Although UP tuition is free, the burden of ancillary costs can be prohibitive," UP President Angelo Jimenez remarked, highlighting the need for comprehensive support to prevent financial barriers from hindering educational opportunities.

Tristan Ramos, director of UP's student development services, emphasized that the P165,000 package will sufficiently cover basic student expenses, including monthly allowances of P3,000 for housing, P9,000 for meals, P500 for communication, and P1,000 for school supplies. Additional benefits include a P5,000 book allowance per semester and a one-time P10,000 transportation grant for relocating students.

The program offers flexibility, allowing students to reallocate saved funds to address specific needs, such as increased supply costs for certain degree programs.

The financial aid is guaranteed annually, aligning with the standard duration of the degree program, though leaves of absence are excluded from duration calculations.

Qualified UPCAT applicants can apply for the Lingap-Iskolar program through email to the system-wide UP Office of Student Development Services or their respective campuses' Office of Student Affairs. Last year, 194 students benefited from the program across UP's various campuses.

Furthermore, Shari Oliquino, assistant vice president for student affairs, announced that Lingap-Iskolar recipients could work as student assistants, benefiting from recent wage increases: P81 per hour for students, P145 for master’s level graduate assistants, and P211 for PhD assistants.

This wage adjustment, the first in a decade, underscores UP's commitment to providing sustainable educational pathways.

The announcement coincides with the release of the UPCAT 2025 results, where admission was granted to at least 13% of test-takers, further cementing UP's dedication to fostering accessible and equitable educational opportunities.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from PhilStar 2025-04-24