- CHED reaffirms push for inclusive internationalization, aiming to uplift all Philippine HEIs, especially in marginal communities.
- 171 HEIs now hold international recognition up from just 22 in 2022 thanks to strengthened global engagement and support programs.
- With PHP20B allocated for 2026, CHED expands financial aid for poor and middle-income students through TES and the new 'Triple A' scholarship.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reiterated its support for inclusive internationalization in all higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines, underlining that no HEI must be left behind. This came after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s 4th State of the Nation Address, during which he took pride over more than 100 world-ranked HEIs, most of which are State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
Delivering a keynote speech during the post-SONA forum in San Juan City, CHED Chairman Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III reiterated that promoting international competitiveness among HEIs, particularly in marginal communities, is a priority under the Marcos government.
To further make HEIs inclusive, CHED is fortifying its international affairs services to assist the country's HEIs in attaining global quality standards. This involves increasing HEI participation in international education fairs, providing faculty immersion opportunities overseas, and holding capacity-building workshops that would help HEIs conform to global ranking standards. As of July 2025, 171 Philippine HEIs have received international recognition, a whopping jump from only 22 in 2022 and far exceeding the initial target of 110 for 2025.
CHED is also ramping up initiatives to accommodate students from poorer communities. It reaffirmed its support for President Marcos' dream of having at least one college or technical-vocational graduate in each household among the nation's poorest of the poor families. Through the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), CHED has continued to verify beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
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In the current academic year, only 300,000 out of 535,000 qualified 4Ps beneficiaries received financial aid. However, PHP4.4 billion more is required to cover the remaining 161,000 qualified students. For 2026, CHED has been allocated PHP20 billion to sustain scholarships for 4Ps beneficiaries. It also simultaneously established the Presidential Merit Scholarship or 'Triple A' scholarship, targeting the top-performing students from the country's 12,000 senior high schools.
This scheme is targeted not just at the academically meritorious but also students from middle-income families who cannot afford quality higher education. The scholarship is designed for pursuing high-impact and hard-to-fill majors like health sciences, agriculture, fisheries, digital technology, and artificial intelligence.
