PBBM pushes for UniFAST expansion, unveils digital scholarship tool

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

EXPANSION AND DIGITALIZATION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the awarding of scholarship grants to student beneficiaries of the Commission on Higher Education through the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Friday (Sept. 12, 2025). Marcos also launched the electronic Certification, Authentication and Verification, designed to streamline scholarship documentation and verification. (RTVM via PNA)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday sought the expansion of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST).

This, as Marcos led the awarding of scholarship grants to student beneficiaries of the CHED-UniFAST and unveiled the electronic Certification, Authentication, and Verification (e-CAV), a digital system designed to streamline scholarship documentation and verification.

“Our assistance to our students proves that the returns are immeasurable when a government invests in people. When we strengthen education, we also strengthen our workforce and we forge a better future for our economy, for our country,” Marcos said in a keynote speech delivered at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Marcos cited the need to strengthen and expand the CHED-UniFAST, noting that communities become stronger when the country produces more professionals who will serve as pillars of national development.

He emphasized the importance of implementing clear guidelines for accessing student financial aid programs under CHED’s guidance through UniFAST to avoid confusion and the spread of misinformation.

“So, I now call on all state and local universities and colleges, private higher education institutions, local government, and our partners: Continue to work with us. I also call on Congress to help us strengthen UniFAST so that we can implement it fully as intended in the letter of that law,” Marcos said.

Marcos said the ultimate goal of UniFAST is to help youth from the vulnerable sectors pursue higher education without worrying about their tuition fees, miscellaneous and other school fees.

Under the initiative, student beneficiaries will receive at least PHP20,000 for their tuition fees and other school fees, Marcos noted.

Marcos added that persons with disabilities will get an additional PHP5,000 in cash aid and up to PHP8,000 worth of reimbursement for degree programs with licensure examinations.

“Dahil dito, milyon-milyong pamilya ang natutulungan at nabibigyan ng ginhawa. Hindi na nila kailangan sagutin ang halaga ng tuition. Mababawasan ang pangamba ng mga magulang at mas malaya nang makapag-aral ang ating mga estudyante (Because of this, millions of families are being helped and provided relief. They no longer have to shoulder the cost of tuition. Parents will have less to worry about and our students can study more freely),” he said.

“Bunga nito, inaasahan natin mas maraming mga estudyante ang mananatili sa paaralan at makakapagtapos ng kanilang pag-aaral. Gagaan din ang pasanin ng inyong mga magulang (As a result, we expect more students to stay in school and complete their education. This will also ease the burden on their parents),” Marcos added.

Online documentation platform

During the event, Marcos also launched the e-CAV, an online scholarship documentation system that provides a modern solution to the long-standing challenges of the traditional manual process.

Aligned with the e-government initiative, the innovation marks a milestone in ensuring that verifying academic records is seamless and accessible for every learner by streamlining lengthy procedures.

“We will continue to build our competitiveness through education and ensure that Filipinos can compete with the best in the world. So, let us strengthen both the eCAV and UniFAST as pillars of inclusive and modern education here in the Philippines,” Marcos said.