The Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) provides student financial assistance under CHED-UniFAST. Its revised 2026 guidelines state PHP 7,500 per semester, or PHP 15,000 per academic year, for the specified new and continuing grantees. Applications follow an official call and validation process. This is distinct from the Tertiary Education Subsidy and CHED merit scholarship programmes.
About Tulong Dunong
TDP assists eligible Filipino undergraduate students. The official UniFAST guidelines directory links the 2026 revised TDP memorandum, which applies from the first semester of AY 2026–27 onward. Consult your CHED Regional Office or recognised programme implementer for an active call.
The UniFAST programme information provides background on student aid. Older TDP descriptions should not be used to substitute for the revised memorandum, particularly where they combine benefits from unrelated programmes.
Funding and its limits
The revised rules list PHP 7,500 each semester for continuing grantees and new AY 2026–27 grantees, with changes subject to UniFAST approval. Continued funding beyond the initial fiscal period depends on the required future funding provision; a new application does not guarantee support through every remaining year of the degree.
| Programme | Tulong Dunong Program |
|---|---|
| Listed semester grant | PHP 7,500 |
| Listed annual equivalent | PHP 15,000 |
| Basis for payment | Validated grantee master list and billing |
| Application timing | Official call after the institution’s enrolment period |
Record a pending application separately from an approved payment. If you need money for fees before validation finishes, ask the institution about its payment arrangements rather than assuming the grant will arrive by a particular date.
Who can qualify?
The revised memorandum requires Filipino citizenship and enrolment in a first undergraduate degree at a covered SUC, CHED-recognised LUC or eligible private HEI within the recognised programme framework. Admission and retention policies still apply.
Rules on overlapping national government assistance include stated exceptions, such as free higher education and certain one-time grants. Do not assume all aid can be combined. For example, the memorandum specifies how continuing TDP and CHED SMART support must be handled for the same semester.
The revised document should be the starting point for current requirements. This guide does not carry forward an old universal age limit, fixed household-income threshold or high-school priority-course list without a matching current call.
Documents for qualified new applicants
The validation checklist includes a scanned TDP application form, a Certificate of Registration or Enrolment in PDF, and a Certificate of Indigency issued by the Punong Barangay where the applicant resides. Where the indigency certificate cannot be secured, the memorandum specifies alternatives: a Certificate of Tax Exemption or a social case study issued by a registered social worker.
Ask which alternative is acceptable before replacing a missing document. Keep names and the academic period consistent. Check that scans include the complete page and are readable; a photograph of only part of a certificate may prevent the office from verifying it.
How to apply and check status
- Confirm that an official new-grantee call applies to your institution and academic period.
- Obtain the current form and required submission instructions.
- Prepare the requested enrolment and supporting evidence.
- Submit through the designated partner implementer or concerned CHED Regional Office.
- Monitor validation and the release of the qualified list through official channels.
The CHED Regional Office uploads applications through its coordinator portal and performs checks with UniFAST. Only grantees in the validated master list qualify for payment. A form receipt is useful evidence of submission, but it is not an award notice.
Use a private tracker for the form, each supporting document and confirmation. If a record is missing, ask the designated office how to complete it. Avoid sending different versions to multiple offices without guidance because duplication is checked.
Continuing, returning and transfer grantees
Continuing students generally undergo validation rather than a fresh application, except where the revised rules specify otherwise. Transfers and returns from an approved leave require the relevant enrolment and leave records. Notify the concerned office of a withdrawal, deferment or transfer.
Keep your prior award information and current registration together so staff can identify your record. Confirm how your programme’s maximum residency rules affect continued support instead of assuming the grant has no duration limit.
Related Philippine guides
Read TES requirements and Gokongwei/GBF programmes. For international study, the Chevening guide covers a separate postgraduate route.
Frequently asked questions
Is TDP the same as TES?
No. They have separate rules and validation processes.
Is the grant PHP 12,000 per year?
The revised 2026 memorandum lists PHP 15,000 per academic year for the stated categories.
Does submitting guarantee payment?
No. Validation, master-list inclusion and funding conditions apply.