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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider CHED expedites release of ₱764-M student aid in quake-hit Mindanao region

CHED expedites release of ₱764-M student aid in quake-hit Mindanao region

Published Jun 17, 2026 08:32 pm

At A Glance

  • CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis visited Soccsksargen in June 13 to oversee the distribution of Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) assistance to an initial 808 beneficiaries in General Santos City, Tacurong City, Koronadal City, and Polomolok.
  • An additional 501 beneficiaries in other parts of Soccsksargen also received assistance through simultaneous payout operations.
The structural remains of a fastfood restaurant lie in ruins in General Santos City on Monday, June 8, 2026, after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Mindanao region. The intense tremor caused widespread structural damage, triggered regional tsunami warnings, and knocked out critical power infrastructure across the southern grid. (Ryan Jay Quizon I Facebook)
The structural remains of a fastfood restaurant lie in ruins in General Santos City on Monday, June 8, 2026, after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Mindanao region. The intense tremor caused widespread structural damage, triggered regional tsunami warnings, and knocked out critical power infrastructure across the southern grid. (Ryan Jay Quizon I Facebook)
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has fast-tracked the distribution of student financial assistance in Soccsksargen (Region XII) as part of ongoing government support for areas affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Mindanao.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 17, CHED said the rollout covers beneficiaries in General Santos City and the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, and Davao del Sur.
CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis visited Soccsksargen in June 13 to oversee the distribution of Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) assistance to an initial 808 beneficiaries in General Santos City, Tacurong City, Koronadal City, and Polomolok.
An additional 501 beneficiaries in other parts of the region also received assistance through simultaneous payout operations.
CHED and the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) are continuing the release of ₱764 million in TES grants to 66,655 beneficiaries in Soccsksargen for the second semester of Academic Year 2025–2026.
The amount forms part of the government’s continuing education subsidy program, which also saw the release of ₱2.02 billion in TES and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) grants in April and May 2026.
CHED said earlier disbursements covered previous semesters, including periods before the current administration.
Since June 2025, the agency has been working to clear backlogs in the release of student financial assistance and has implemented reforms under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, including a partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines to speed up fund transfers.
CHED and UniFAST have also revised TES and TDP guidelines to improve processing efficiency and reduce delays in the release of assistance.

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CHED 7.8-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE MINDANAO SOCCSKSARGEN
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