GSIS to launch STEM Scholarship this year

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will provide grants to 1,000 college freshmen for Academic Year (AY) 2026–2027 through the GSIS Subsidy for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Program (GSSP).

The initiative directly supports the government’s strategy to strengthen economic competitiveness through education. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has emphasized that advancing STEM is a vital component of his economic agenda, stating that “innovation and agility will be the key to survival in the coming years.”

“Our program is a direct response to the President’s call for a technologically proficient workforce,” GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said. “By supporting the education of these young minds, we are building a pipeline of talent that will drive innovation and secure our nation’s economic future.”

Each grantee will receive an annual subsidy of ₱15,000 or equivalent to ₱15 million per batch per year to assist with educational expenses. The program will run over four academic years (AY 2026 to 2030), supporting a total of 4,000 students. The total budget allocation amounts to ₱240 million by the year 2034.

The program will be open to children of active GSIS members and permanent total disability pensioners under 60 years old. To ensure inclusivity, 200 of the 1,000 annual slots will be reserved for children of persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and solo parents.

The GSIS will prioritize applicants whose parents have the lowest salary grades (SG 15 and below) or pension amounts. Qualified nominees must be incoming first-year college students accepted into a STEM course at a Philippine college or university recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). They must also have a senior high school general weighted average (GWA) of at least 90%.

Since 1998, the GSIS has provided educational assistance to its active members’ dependents, benefiting nearly 28,000 grantees with a total budget expended at ₱836 million in scholarships and educational subsidies. This strategic shift to focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields aligns the subsidy program with the nation’s goal of fostering a robust workforce capable of driving innovation and economic growth.

The application period and submission for the GSSP will commence on June 30, 2026.

For future updates, members may visit the GSIS website at www.gsis.gov.ph.