UP, Landbank offer financial aid to 2026 Upcat passers

University of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines officials led by UP president Angelo Jimenez (seated, third from left) and Landbank executive vice president Leila Martin (seated, fourth from left) witness the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the two institutions on Aug. 1, 2025 — marking a deepening partnership to support inclusive admissions, digital transformation, and financial literacy. — Photo from UP MPRO

MANILA, Philippines — Financial assistance will be provided to students who will pass the 2026 University of the Philippines College Admission Test (Upcat) to ensure that poor but deserving students can proceed with their studies at the country’s top state university.

The Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) pledged to donate aid for UP’s Lingap Iskolar Program after the two government institutions signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday.

“We are bringing in students not because they simply qualify, but because they need help,” UP President Angelo Jimenez said in a statement provided to the Inquirer.

The amount to be given to the UP Lingap Iskolar Program will be pooled from donations from Landbank’s employees.

Landbank executive vice president Leila Martin said the memorandum signifies the deepening of the collaboration between UP and Landbank, especially on the “mutual and shared mission in making quality education more inclusive and more accessible.”

READ: 17,996 applicants pass UPCAT 2025; 6.74% higher than last year

The MOU also pledged Landbank’s sponsorship of four professorial chair grants, assistance in the conduct of the Upcat through information campaigns, as well as free transportation for test takers to and from their testing sites, as well as partnership for the Expanded Cash Lite-Campus Program.

According to Jimenez, the bank’s pledge to support the Lingap Iskolar Program will not only reinforce the realization of UP’s flagship program on inclusive admission, but also give students from underserved communities the opportunity to succeed.

A joint initiative of the UP Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs launched last year, UP’s Lingap Iskolar Program offers assistance to incoming first-year students from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and low-income backgrounds.

These are students who have passed the highly competitive Upcat but who often still choose not to enroll because they cannot afford the costs of university life.

The program supports students whose annual family income is P135,000 or below and who are not receiving other scholarships.

According to UP, even with the free tuition under Republic Act No. 10931, the reality of leaving home, renting a dorm room, paying for daily meals, and covering transport costs can be prohibitive, especially for families already struggling to make ends meet.

“Our mission is to ensure that every deserving Filipino student, regardless of socioeconomic background or circumstance, should have access to quality UP education. We are strongly committed to becoming a better mirror of the country we serve,” Jimenez previously said.

According to Jimenez, of about 18,000 who pass the Upcat, some 1,500 qualifiers from remote provinces opt not to enroll in any of the 17 campuses of UP across the country.

“Every year, we see too many brilliant young Filipinos — top of their class, full of potential — decide not to pursue their UP dream. And every year, that breaks our heart,” Jimenez said.

“The Lingap Iskolar Program is our promise that we will do better by them. That a UP education will be truly within reach, wherever they come from,” he added.

Last year, from those who passed the 2025 Upcat, the program provided 194 Lingap scholars around P165,000 each in financial aid, plus mentoring support coordinated by the Office of Student Affairs on campus.

For this year, UP has earmarked funds to support 300 Lingap scholars from the 2026 Upcat passers.

The Upcat was administered in 117 testing centers set up in all the regions of the country from Aug. 2 to 3.

With an initial P50-million budget allocated by the Jimenez administration in 2024, the program aims to provide housing, food, communication, transportation, and educational materials assistance.

“Our mission is to ensure that every deserving Filipino student, regardless of socioeconomic background or circumstance, should have access to quality UP education,” Jimenez said.

We are not yet where we want to be but we are moving forward. We are strongly committed to become a better mirror of the country we serve,” he added.

Students interested in applying for the Lingap Iskolar Program may coordinate with the UP Office of Student Development Services or their respective Constituent University’s Office of Student Affairs within the confirmation period set by the UP Office of Admissions. /das