Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program 2026 Application Process

The Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program is a local government initiative that provides financial assistance to deserving and financially disadvantaged residents of Cagayan de Oro City. Through the City Scholarships Office, the program helps qualified students pursue higher education at participating partner institutions.

This guide covers the Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program qualifications, requirements, benefits, scholarship types, priority courses, partner schools, application process, application deadline, and other important details.

Qualifications:

To qualify for the Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements set by the City Scholarships Office. 

These requirements cover citizenship, residency, educational background, financial need, and family qualifications.

I. Residency Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be a Filipino citizen.
• Be a permanent resident of Cagayan de Oro City.

II. Educational Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be a Senior High School graduate.
• Be an incoming first-year college student for School Year 2026–2027.
• Be enrolled in or planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate degree program.
• Have no previous college enrollment.

III. Financial Requirement

Applicants must:

• Have a gross annual family income of not more than ₱300,000.

IV. Family Requirement

Applicants must:

• Not have a sibling or immediate family member who is currently a City Scholar.

Note: Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee scholarship approval. All applicants must satisfy the eligibility requirements, and the City Scholarships Office may conduct further verification before selecting qualified scholars.

Requirements:

Applicants for the Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program must submit complete and updated documentary requirements for evaluation. 

These documents are used to verify the applicant’s identity, residency, academic qualifications, and financial eligibility.

I. Academic Documents

Prepare the following academic records:

• Grade 12 First Semester Report Card
• Senior High School Certificate of Completion (for ALS graduates only)

II. Personal Documents

Submit the following personal documents:

• PSA Birth Certificate
• Certificate of Residency indicating the applicant’s complete address and length of residency in Cagayan de Oro City
• Residence map with nearby landmarks
• Photo of the applicant’s residence for validation
• COMELEC Registration or Voter’s Certificate of the applicant or either parent

III. Proof of Family Income

Submit one of the following, depending on your parents’ employment status:

• For Indigent or Unemployed Parents
  • Barangay Certification stating the source of income of both parents and the total annual family income; or
  • BIR Certificate of Tax Exemption for unemployed parents
• For Employed or Self-Employed Parents
  • BIR Income Tax Return (ITR)

IV. Additional Documents (If Applicable)

Applicants may also submit the following supporting documents, if available:

• Summary of Senior High School awards and leadership activities signed by the School Principal
• PWD ID
• 4Ps ID
• Solo Parent ID
• Certification of Indigenous Peoples (IP) Membership

Notes: 

• The documentary requirements for the Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program may change for each application cycle.
• Applicants are encouraged to prepare complete, clear, and scanned PDF copies of all required documents before submitting their application.

Benefits:

The Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program provides financial assistance and holistic student development to help scholars complete their college education. The scholarship reduces educational expenses while also promoting leadership, personal growth, and community involvement.

Benefit Category	Coverage
Tuition and School Fees	Covers full tuition, matriculation, and other approved school fees.
Educational Stipend	Provides financial assistance for educational and daily school-related expenses.
Holistic Formation	Includes leadership development, values formation, and other personal development activities.

Notes:

• Scholarship benefits are provided only to officially accepted City Scholars.
• Benefits remain subject to the policies and guidelines of the City Scholarships Office.
• Scholarship coverage may be reviewed or updated in future scholarship cycles.

Priority Courses:

The Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program prioritizes degree programs that support the city’s educational, economic, and workforce development goals. 

While applicants may pursue different college programs depending on their scholarship category, priority is given to selected fields of study identified by the City Scholarships Office.

Agriculture

• Agribusiness
• Biosystems Engineering
• Crop Science

Business and Tourism

• Business-related programs
• Tourism-related programs

Education

• Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE)
• Filipino
• Special Education

Engineering

• Engineering programs offered by partner schools

Information and Communication Technologies

• Data Science
• Computer Science
• Information Technology

Medical-related Courses

• Nursing (subject to evaluation by the Scholarships Committee)

The City Scholarships Office also provides a downloadable PDF of the complete list of priority courses. 

Notes:

• Priority courses may change depending on the scholarship cycle.
• Course availability also depends on the programs offered by partner schools.
• Applicants should verify the latest list of eligible programs before enrollment.

Scholarship Types:

The Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program offers two scholarship categories based on the applicant’s ranking during the evaluation process conducted by the City Scholarships Committee.

Academic Scholarship

Accepted scholars may:

• Enroll in any partner school.
• Choose any approved degree program.
• Take board courses.
• Take medical-related programs, including Nursing, Medical Technology, Pharmacy, and similar courses.

Non-Academic Scholarship

Accepted scholars may:

• Enroll only in schools approved by the City Scholarships Committee.
• Take only non-board courses.
• Take only non-medical-related programs.

Note: The scholarship category awarded to each applicant is determined solely by the ranking established by the City Scholarships Committee.

Partner School:

The Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program partners with selected colleges and universities through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the City Government. These institutions serve as the official partner schools where City Scholars may pursue their college education.

Partner Schools

• PHINMA – Cagayan de Oro College
• Capitol University
• Lourdes College
• Pilgrim Christian College
• Southern de Oro College
• University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP)
• Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
• STI College
• Liceo de Cagayan University
• Vineyard International Polytechnic College*
• Golden Heritage Polytechnic College*

Notes:

• Vineyard International Polytechnic College and Golden Heritage Polytechnic College became partner institutions beginning in 2023.
• The list of partner schools may change depending on future agreements with the City Government.
• Applicants should verify the latest partner school list before enrollment.

Application Deadline:

The Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program follows a fixed application timeline that covers the online application, submission of documentary requirements, qualifying examination, and release of scholarship results.

THE APPLICATION PERIOD FOR THE 2026 CYCLE HAS ALREADY CLOSED. Applicants are encouraged to complete all requirements on or before the deadline to avoid disqualification.

Application Schedule

Activity	Schedule
Online Application	February 2 – March 15, 2026
Submission of Documentary Requirements	February 2 – March 15, 2026
Application Deadline	March 15, 2026
Qualifying Examination (City Proper)	April 20–24, 2026
Qualifying Examination (Upland Areas)	April 25, 2026
Release of Results and School Placement	May 15, 2026

Notes:

• Applications submitted after the March 15, 2026 deadline will not be accepted.
• Applicants are advised to regularly monitor the official CDO City Scholarships Office announcements for any updates or changes to the application schedule.

How to Apply:

Applying for the Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program involves completing the online application, submitting the required documents, taking the qualifying examination, and waiting for the official results. Follow the steps below to complete your application successfully.

Step 1: Complete the Online Application

Begin your application by filling out the official online application form during the application period from February 2 to March 15, 2026.

• Complete the online application form 
• You may also use the QR code provided by the City Scholarships Office.
• Ensure that all information entered is complete, accurate, and matches your supporting documents.
• Review your application carefully before proceeding to the next step.

Step 2: Prepare and Submit the Required Documents

After completing the online application, submit all documentary requirements online in PDF format within the application period.

• Prepare clear and complete scanned PDF copies of all required documents.
• Upload all required documentary requirements through the official online submission portal in PDF format.
• Review and follow the official online submission guidelines to ensure your documents are complete, clear, and correctly uploaded before the deadline.Submit all requirements on or before March 15, 2026. Incomplete or late submissions may result in disqualification.

Step 3: Take the Qualifying Examination

Applicants who successfully complete the application process will be scheduled for the face-to-face qualifying examination.

• April 20–24, 2026 – Qualifying Examination for applicants residing in City Proper.
• April 25, 2026 – Qualifying Examination for applicants residing in Upland Areas.
• Bring a valid ID and any other documents or materials required by the City Scholarships Office.
• Arrive at the examination venue early and follow all examination guidelines.

Step 4: Check the Scholarship Results and Placement

The official list of successful applicants and scholarship placement will be released after the evaluation process.

• Scholarship results will be announced on May 15, 2026.
• Check the official CDO City Scholarships Office Facebook Page for the list of qualified scholars and enrollment instructions.
• Carefully follow the instructions provided to confirm your scholarship and complete any remaining requirements.

Important Notes:

• Complete both the online application and document submission before the application deadline.
• Only applicants who successfully pass the documentary evaluation and qualifying examination will be considered for the scholarship.
• Regularly monitor the official CDO City Scholarships Office announcements for updates or changes to the application process.

About Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program:

The Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program, popularly known as Iskolar Sa Dakbayan (ISDA), is an educational assistance initiative of the City Government of Cagayan de Oro administered through the City Scholarships Office. 

The program is called ISDA, which stands for Iskolar Sa Dakbayan a Cebuano phrase that means “Scholar of the City.” The name reflects the city’s commitment to supporting deserving and financially disadvantaged residents in pursuing higher education.

Through the Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program, qualified incoming college students receive financial assistance for their educational expenses while participating in leadership, character development, and holistic formation activities. 

The program helps make higher education more accessible and aims to develop future professionals who will contribute to the growth and development of Cagayan de Oro.

Final Thought:

The Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program offers deserving and financially disadvantaged students the opportunity to pursue higher education with financial support and personal development opportunities. 

Beyond educational assistance, the program helps scholars build the knowledge, leadership skills, and values needed for future success.

If you are eligible for the Cagayan de Oro City Scholarship Program, prepare your requirements early, submit your application before the deadline, and regularly check the City Scholarships Office for updates. 

You can also explore our other scholarship programs to find government, local government, corporate, foundation, and institutional scholarship programs that match your qualifications and career goals.

Reference:

1. City Government of Cagayan de Oro. (n.d.). City Scholarships Office. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from https://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/index.php/news/the-city-hall/the-departments-and-offices/115-city-scholarships-office.html
2. City Scholarships Office – City Government of Cagayan de Oro. (2026). Facebook post. Facebook. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18xBEqHqi8/