DSWD Tuloy Program: Planned ₱25,000 Aid for Filipino College Students
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is working on a new cash aid program for college students. It is called the Tuloy Program. It would pay students at three points: when they enroll, while they stay in school, and after they graduate.
It sounds good, but it is not open yet. No one can apply today. Here is what the DSWD has said so far, and what is still missing.
Where the Program Stands
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian presented the Tuloy Program on October 21, during Senate talks on the department’s proposed 2027 budget. He said the agency plans to introduce it in December 2026.
Right now it is a plan. The DSWD has not released the full rules, so treat every detail below as subject to change.
The Three Stages
The program has three parts, one for each stage of college life:
- Tuloy Kolehiyo gives a one-time ₱10,000 grant after you show proof that you enrolled.
- Tuloy Aral gives an extra ₱5,000 if you stay enrolled and meet attendance rules. The DSWD has not set those rules yet.
- Tuloy Trabaho gives a one-time ₱10,000 grant after you graduate. It is meant for job hunting costs, like pre-employment documents and application requirements.
Gatchalian said the ₱5,000 from Tuloy Aral could add to support students already get from the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).
Is It Really ₱25,000?
Not in one go, and not for sure. Add the three amounts and you get ₱25,000. But that is the total across several years of college, paid in stages.
The DSWD has also not confirmed that ₱25,000 is the cap. It has not said whether the ₱5,000 in Tuloy Aral is paid once or in installments. So “up to ₱25,000” is a fair headline only if you read it as a rough total, not a payout you collect at once.
Who Is It For?
The program targets students from low-income households. That includes students in remote or isolated communities, where families may pay for long trips or a move to a city just so a child can attend college. Travel, rent, and daily costs pile up fast in those cases.
The DSWD plans to build Tuloy on its Enhanced Support Services Intervention (ESSI). That program gives extra help to families in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The intended students were described as “monitored children” under 4Ps.
Gatchalian also said the department does not plan to ask for a separate budget. It will use money already available under ESSI.
What We Still Do Not Know
These points have not been announced:
- Full eligibility rules
- Whether students who are already in college can join
- Whether children from families that left 4Ps can join
- How and where to apply
- Which documents you will need
- How many slots exist
- When the first payout will happen
Until the DSWD answers these, no one can tell you for sure whether you qualify.
What You Can Do Now
You cannot apply yet, but you can get ready:
- Find out if your family is a 4Ps household. The program leans that way.
- Keep your enrollment papers and school records in one folder.
- Watch the DSWD website and its official pages for the final guidelines.
Be careful with anyone who says they can “reserve” a slot. No application process exists yet. If a page, group, or person asks for a fee or your personal details to get you into Tuloy, skip it.
Quick Answers
Can I apply now? No. The DSWD plans to introduce the program in December 2026, and application steps are not out.
Do I need to be a 4Ps member? The program mainly aims at 4Ps-monitored students, but the DSWD has not released the full rules. Wait for the official guidelines.
Will I get ₱25,000 at once? No. The aid is planned in stages, and the total is not a confirmed cap.
Does this replace TES? No. Tuloy Aral could add to TES support, according to Gatchalian.
Check your family’s 4Ps status this week, and bookmark the DSWD website. When the rules drop in December, you will already know which box you fit in.
