TITLE: A Call to Increase DOST Scholarship Funding and Establish Government Scholarships for Non-STEM Programs.

In 2026, a budget up to PhP of 7.6 Billion has been allocated in the DOST-SEI scholarship program. But, this can only support up to 8,500 incoming first year students, that's out of over 100,000 applicants for the scholarship, in other words thats only 8.3% to 8.5% of the applicant population have the chance to grab this grant. So we propose a higher budget allocation that should be done to support more incoming first year college students.

Additionaly, most government scholarship programs primarily target STEM courses, leaving students in non-STEM fields with limited access to financial support. Agencies like the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) often prioritize technical and scientific programs, while humanities, social sciences, and the arts receive less attention. As a result, students pursuing non-STEM degrees face greater challenges in funding their education. Expanding scholarship opportunities to include all academic disciplines would promote equal access and support for a wider range of students.

We need to resolve this social issue for a reason of increasing the DOST scholarship budget and expanding scholarship grants to non-STEM programs will help more students that don’t have an access to quality education beyond science and technology programs, and by this we need to reduce financial barriers and promoting fairness across all fields of study. Scholarships make education more accessible and promotes social mobility for students from low-income families, helping them pursue careers that match their skills and passions rather than being limited by funding availability. This broader investment in education will create a more inclusive and balanced skilled workforce that can meet diverse national needs and drive social and economic development.

So today, we humbly call on the government and concerned agencies to increase the budget allocated for the DOST Scholarship Program. Only 8.3% of eligible examinees were accepted out of over 100,000 applications nationally, which is extremely alarming and does not represent the rising number of Filipino students who want to study science and technology but are unable to pay for it. The DOST Scholarship runs the risk of leaving out a large number of competent and driven students who could advance the country. An increased budget would allow more scholars to be supported, ensuring that talent is not wasted due to financial constraints and that opportunities remain accessible to those who are willing to serve the country through science and innovation.

Also, we deeply urge the Philippine government to allow and encourage other government agencies to provide scholarship grants for non-STEM programs, ensuring equal support for students in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and other vital fields. Expanding scholarship access for other fields will promote inclusive education, develop well-rounded professionals, and strengthen national development beyond science and technology alone. This initiative will also recognize the important role non-STEM graduates play in culture, governance, media, education, and community development.

Increasing the budget for DOST scholarships can greatly improve access to higher education by easing financial constraints particularly for students from low income families. This support enables more learners to pursue college and graduate studies, develop their skills, and achieve academic success which ultimately strengthens the country’s capital. Expanding scholarship programs beyond STEM fields further promotes inclusivity by giving students in non-STEM disciplines such as the humanities business and social sciences equal opportunities to pursue higher education and contribute their expertise to society. In the long run these investments provide strong returns for the government as a more educated population leads to higher productivity increased tax revenues and sustained national economic growth.

With your strong and valid support from this petition, it reflect the collective demand for accessible education, demonstrate public trust in scholarship programs, and highlight the urgency of addressing educational inequality.