Cebu city: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), through its Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) and the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST), on Thursday rolled out the Visayas leg of the PBBM Gabay ng Bayan Programs in Cebu City, bringing higher education opportunities and government services closer to learners in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative is anchored on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to strengthen access to education and human capital development, supporting a whole-of-government approach in expanding opportunities for Filipino learners and workers. Held at the University of San Jose Recoletos - Basak Campus, the caravan gathered about 2,500 participants, including students, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, scholarship grantees, and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The initiative is centered on the theme 'Programa para sa Buti ng Bayan at Mamamayan: Galing, Akses, Batid, at Angat tungo sa Yaman ng Bayan,' which promotes wider access to education and government services. At the heart of the event is Project PEPA (Patuloy na Edukasyon, Patuloy na Pag-Ahon), a nationwide caravan that aims to inform learners of the education support and scholarships offered by the government.
The caravan highlights the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), Free Higher Education (FHE), Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs), and most notably the newly launched Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program (BPMSP), a flagship merit-based scholarship under the Marcos administration that supports top-performing SHS graduates enrolling in CHED-recognized degree programs, or in Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-identified priority diploma programs aligned with national development needs. Incoming first-year college students eligible for the BPMSP were presented during the event for possible inclusion in the scholarship program.
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis emphasized the impact of investing in education, stating that it not only helps a student but also strengthens a family, opens up more opportunities, and shapes the future of the country. The Commission also distributed LandBank automated teller machine (ATM) cards to 220 TES grantees in the region, enabling faster and more secure access to financial assistance.
The initiative is part of CHED and UniFAST's ongoing partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines, formalized in March to further expedite and digitalize the delivery of financial assistance to student-beneficiaries nationwide. On-site assistance was also provided to guide scholars in account activation and fund access.
Following the assistance provided to student-beneficiaries, CHED also highlighted opportunities for lifelong learning and skills recognition for OFWs. Under the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), overseas Filipino workers and repatriates participated in a symbolic enrollment through the program's recently launched portal, allowing them to easily register and apply to have their work experience recognized as academic qualifications.
The caravan featured service booths from various partner agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), PhilHealth, and the Land Bank of the Philippines, providing frontline services and program information to participants. Representatives from the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), the Consortium of Private Colleges and Universities, and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) also showcased key initiatives in the higher education sector.
Agrupis noted that these initiatives ensure that education access is matched with proper guidance and real opportunities so learners can complete their studies, gain skills, and find decent employment. The event brought together Regional Directors and Assistant Regional Directors from various government agencies, as well as Presidents of higher education institutions-demonstrating strong multi-sectoral collaboration and a shared commitment to public service.
The program featured inspiring testimonies from beneficiaries of UniFAST, 4Ps, and SIKAP, highlighting how government interventions have transformed lives and empowered individuals to pursue better opportunities. Through the PBBM Gabay ng Bayan Programs, CHED continues to strengthen pathways that connect education, employment, and lifelong learning for Filipinos nationwide-ultimately helping equip learners and workers with the opportunities and support they need to improve their lives and lift themselves out of poverty.
