The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is preparing a program that would give qualified Filipino college students cash assistance at three points in their studies: enrollment, continued attendance and graduation.
Called the Tuloy Program, the initiative is meant to help eligible beneficiaries enroll in college, stay in school and prepare for work after graduating. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian presented the proposal during Senate deliberations on the department’s proposed 2027 budget on October 21. He said the agency is preparing to introduce the program in December 2026.
Tuloy Kolehiyo would give qualified beneficiaries a one-time grant of ₱10,000 after they submit proof of college enrollment. Tuloy Aral would provide an additional ₱5,000 to beneficiaries who remain enrolled and meet attendance requirements that the DSWD has yet to set. Tuloy Trabaho would give another one-time ₱10,000 grant after graduation to cover pre-employment expenses, including documents and other requirements for job applications.
Counting Tuloy Aral once, the three amounts total ₱25,000. That figure is not a single payout or a confirmed maximum. The assistance would be released at different stages, and the DSWD has not said whether the ₱5,000 under Tuloy Aral would be given once or in installments. Gatchalian said the Tuloy Aral assistance could supplement support from the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).
The program is aimed at students from low-income households, including those in remote and geographically isolated communities. Gatchalian said some of these students must travel long distances or move to cities and provincial capitals to attend college. This adds costs for lodging, transportation and daily needs, and can make it harder for them to finish their education.
The DSWD plans to strengthen its Enhanced Support Services Intervention (ESSI), which provides additional assistance to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Gatchalian said the department does not intend to seek a separate budget for Tuloy and will instead make better use of resources already available under ESSI. The intended beneficiaries were described as “monitored children” within the 4Ps-related support system.
The DSWD has not released complete eligibility guidelines, including whether students already attending college or those from former 4Ps households would qualify. Application procedures, required documents, the number of available slots and the date of the first payout have not been confirmed.
The Tuloy Program remains a planned initiative, with implementation targeted for December 2026. Students and families may check official DSWD announcements for the final guidelines.
