Your first year in higher education can bring new expenses, including tuition, school supplies, transportation, and other daily needs. A scholarship or educational assistance program may help reduce some of these costs.

If you are completing Senior High School and planning your next academic step, Community-Based Scholarships for Incoming College Freshmen may provide support based on where you live, your academic performance, financial situation, or community background.

These programs may be offered by local government units, cities, municipalities, regional institutions, churches, and other community organizations.

This guide lists community-based scholarships and educational assistance programs that incoming first-year students in the Philippines may consider in 2026.

Who Is This Guide For?

This guide is mainly for Senior High School students or graduates who plan to pursue their first year of higher education.

You may also see terms such as:

• Incoming college freshman
• Incoming first-year college student
• Grade 12 graduate
• Senior High School graduate
• ALS graduate or passer
• First-time college freshman

Community-based programs often have location requirements. You may need to be a resident of a particular city, municipality, province, or region before you can qualify.

What Is a Community-Based Scholarship?

A community-based scholarship is educational support offered to students who belong to or live within a particular community.

Programs may be provided by local governments, regional institutions, churches, or other organizations serving specific communities.

You may qualify based on your:

• City, municipality, province, or regional residence
• Academic performance
• Family income
• School background
• Membership in a particular community or sector
• Financial need
• Other requirements set by the scholarship provider

Important Application Reminder

Community-based scholarships have different application schedules, residency requirements, and selection processes.

Some scholarship programs may only accept residents who have lived in the area for a certain number of years. Others may require applicants to study at particular schools or take selected courses.

Before applying, check the latest information for:

• Current application period and deadline
• Residency requirements
• Updated academic requirements
• Family income limits
• Eligible schools and courses
• Required documents
• Scholarship benefits
• Application and screening process

Some details in this guide may be based on a specific school-year application cycle. Always verify the latest official announcement before applying.

Community-Based Scholarship Programs

Municipality of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur

1. Sta. Lucia Scholarship Program

The Sta. Lucia Scholarship Program provides educational support to qualified students who are residents of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur.

You may qualify as an incoming first-year student if you are a bona fide resident of Sta. Lucia, will take a four-year degree program, and have at least a 90% GWA. You must also not be receiving another scholarship.

Who should check this: Incoming college freshmen from Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur with a GWA of at least 90%

Sagay City, Negros Occidental

2. Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. Scholarship Program

The Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. Scholarship Program provides educational support to qualified students from Sagay City.

You may qualify if you are a Grade 12 graduate with honors, an eligible ALS passer, or a member of an Indigenous Peoples community. You must be a Sagay City resident studying in a school within Sagay City and must not be receiving another government or private scholarship or financial subsidy.

Who should check this: Qualified Sagay City students, including Grade 12 honor graduates, ALS passers, and Indigenous Peoples

Redemptorist Church – Baclaran

3. Baclaran Church Redemptorist Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

The Redemptorist Educational Assistance Program provides educational support to qualified students from Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

You may qualify if you are 17 to 23 years old, live in Metro Manila or an adjacent province, and are an incoming Senior High School or first-year student. You must also be enrolled in or graduating from a public school.

Who should check this: Incoming college freshmen from Metro Manila or nearby provinces who attended a public school

Makati City

4. Makati City Revitalized Scholarship Program (MCRSP)

The Makati City Revitalized Scholarship Program provides educational support to qualified Makatizens pursuing higher education.

You may qualify if you are a fresh Grade 12 graduate, belong to the top 10% of your graduating class, and have been a bona fide Makati City resident for at least five years. You must also enroll in an eligible school or course and be willing to serve Makati for at least two years.

Who should check this: Incoming college freshmen from Makati City with strong academic performance who meet the residency and course requirements

BARMM – Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE)

5. Access to Higher and Modern Education Scholarship Program (AHME-SP)

The AHME-SP provides educational support to qualified students from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao who will pursue priority programs.

You may qualify if you are a BARMM resident, a Senior High School or ALS graduate, and will enroll in a BARMM priority program. You must not be receiving another scholarship and should belong to an eligible underprivileged, disadvantaged, marginalized, poor, or low-income group.

The program also includes special eligibility categories for combatants and qualified family members of combatants.

Who should check this: Incoming college freshmen from BARMM who meet the priority program, financial, or special eligibility requirements

City of Iligan

6. Iligan City Mayor’s Scholarship

The Iligan City Mayor’s Scholarship supports qualified first-time freshmen who are long-time residents of Iligan City.

You may qualify if you are a Filipino citizen, have lived in Iligan City for at least 10 years, and graduated from a public or private high school in the city or passed the DepEd Accreditation and Equivalency Test. You must have at least an 80% GPA, meet the family income limit, and pass the required interview and examination.

Who should check this: First-time college freshmen from Iligan City who meet the residency, grade, and income requirements

City of Dipolog

7. Dipolog City Scholarship and Educational Financial Assistance Program

The Dipolog City Scholarship and Educational Financial Assistance Program provides support to qualified students from Dipolog City.

Based on the application details provided, you may qualify if you have lived in Dipolog City for at least five years, have at least an 85% Senior High School average, and can provide proof of indigency and good moral character.

Who should check this: Incoming college freshmen from Dipolog City who meet the residency, academic, and financial requirements

City of Valenzuela

8. Dr. Pio Valenzuela Scholarship Program (DPVSP)

The Dr. Pio Valenzuela Scholarship Program provides educational assistance to qualified students, with priority given to applicants from low-income households.

You may qualify if you have at least an 85% GWA with no grade below 85% based on the required Grade 11 and Grade 12 report cards. The program also applies family income requirements, including an annual gross income limit of ₱120,000 for employed parents.

Different supporting documents may be required depending on whether your parents are employed, unemployed, or working abroad.

Who should check this: Incoming college freshmen from Valenzuela who meet the academic and financial requirements

Before You Apply

Before applying for a community-based scholarship, check whether you meet the location and residency requirements first.

Make sure to:

• Confirm that incoming college freshmen are currently eligible.
• Check how long you must have lived in the city, municipality, or region.
• Review the latest grade requirements.
• Check household income limits.
• Confirm eligible schools and courses.
• Review requirements for ALS graduates, PWDs, Indigenous Peoples, or other special groups if applicable.
• Check whether you may receive another scholarship.
• Prepare residency, income, school, and identification documents.
• Complete required examinations or interviews.
• Apply only through the official LGU, institution, church, or scholarship provider.

Application periods and requirements may change from one school year to another.

Always check the latest official announcement before applying.

References

The information in this guide was verified using the official scholarship information, application guidelines, announcements, and program details from the following local governments, regional institutions, churches, and community scholarship providers:

• Municipality of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur
• City Government of Sagay, Negros Occidental
• Redemptorist Church – Baclaran
• City Government of Makati
• BARMM Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE)
• City Government of Iligan
• City Government of Dipolog
• City Government of Valenzuela

Scholarship details may change without prior notice. Application schedules, residency requirements, eligibility requirements, benefits, available slots, accepted courses, partner schools, and documentary requirements are determined by each scholarship provider.

Always check the latest official announcement before applying.

Research Note: This guide was prepared and verified with the help of partners, volunteers, and the CRA team.

Please note that being included in this guide does not necessarily mean that a scholarship is currently accepting applications. Always visit the official LGU, institution, scholarship page, or verified announcement for the latest application period, requirements, eligible schools and courses, scholarship coverage, and application procedures.