CHED Tulong Dunong Program 2026: Requirements, ₱7,500 Benefit & How to Apply

For many Filipino college students, tuition is only one part of the cost of going to school.

There’s transportation.

Projects.

Printing.

Internet or mobile data.

Books and school supplies.

Food during long school days.

And if you’re studying at a private college, there may still be tuition and other fees to think about.

This is where the Tulong Dunong Program, or TDP, can help.

Administered through the Commission on Higher Education and the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education or UniFAST, Tulong Dunong provides financial assistance to qualified college students enrolled in participating public and private higher education institutions.

And there is an important update for Academic Year 2026–2027.

UniFAST issued new national guidelines for TDP in 2026, officially listed as the “2026 Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of the Tulong Dunong Program.” The rules take effect beginning with the first semester of AY 2026–2027.

Under the revised rules, qualified grantees may receive:

₱7,500 per semester

or

₱15,000 for two semesters in an academic year.

But receiving the grant is not automatic just because you meet the basic qualifications.

Applications still undergo validation and cross-matching, your college or university must be covered by the program, and funding must be available.

So if you’re planning to apply for CHED Tulong Dunong in 2026, here’s a complete guide to the benefit, qualifications, documentary requirements, application process and some important changes you should know about.

What is the CHED Tulong Dunong Program?

The Tulong Dunong Program is a government financial assistance program for college students.

UniFAST describes TDP as assistance intended to cover at least part of the cost of tertiary education, including education-related expenses. It forms part of the government’s financial assistance system under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education framework.

You will sometimes see it called the “CHED Tulong Dunong Scholarship.”

That’s understandable, and many schools use the term scholarship when announcing applications.

Technically, however, Tulong Dunong is better described as a financial assistance grant or subsidy rather than a traditional academic scholarship.

You don’t have to repay it like a student loan.

And unlike a merit scholarship, the current national TDP guidelines do not prescribe a specific nationwide grade average that applicants must achieve before applying.

You still have to meet your school’s admission and retention policies.

CHED Tulong Dunong 2026 Quick Facts

Details	Tulong Dunong Program 2026
Program	Tulong Dunong Program or TDP
Implementing agencies	CHED / UniFAST
Current guidelines	UniFAST Memorandum Circular No. 02, Series of 2026
Effective	First Semester, AY 2026–2027 onward
Benefit	₱7,500 per semester
Possible annual amount	₱15,000 for two semesters
Type of assistance	Educational financial assistance/grant
Covered schools	Participating SUCs, CHED-recognized LUCs and private HEIs
Basic degree requirement	First undergraduate degree
Main financial-need document	Certificate of Indigency
Nationwide single deadline	None stated in the 2026 national guidelines
Application channel	Through authorized partner implementers or the concerned CHED Regional Office, following the official call for applications

UniFAST formally lists the revised 2026 TDP guidelines among its current issuances.

How Much Can You Receive From Tulong Dunong?

This is probably the first thing most students want to know.

Under the 2026 revised TDP guidelines, the grant amount is:

₱7,500 per semester.

For a student receiving TDP for two regular semesters, that is equivalent to:

₱15,000 per academic year.

The same ₱7,500-per-semester amount applies to both qualified new grantees and continuing grantees under the revised rules. The guidelines also allow the UniFAST Board to approve a higher amount in the future.

UniFAST’s official TDP information page likewise identifies the benefit as ₱7,500 per regular semester.

So when you see posts claiming that Tulong Dunong gives only ₱7,500 for an entire academic year, be careful.

The current national rate is ₱7,500 per semester.

Does That Mean New Applicants Automatically Get ₱15,000?

Not necessarily.

This is an important detail in the 2026 rules.

A new TDP grantee selected for the first semester of AY 2026–2027 is initially entitled to the grant for that semester.

The revised guidelines explain that these new grantees may be considered continuing beneficiaries in succeeding periods if similar funding is provided in the next fiscal year and thereafter.

In simpler terms:

If you’re accepted for the first semester, your immediate approved benefit may be ₱7,500.

Continuation for another semester or future academic years depends on the program’s funding and your continued eligibility.

So don’t treat the ₱15,000 annual figure as a guaranteed lump-sum payment when you first apply.

Who Can Apply for Tulong Dunong in 2026?

Under UniFAST Memorandum Circular No. 02, Series of 2026, a new applicant must be a Filipino citizen enrolled in a first undergraduate degree program at an eligible higher education institution.

That means the program is not necessarily limited to incoming freshmen.

A student may potentially be considered as a new TDP applicant even if already in college, provided the student is still taking his or her first undergraduate degree and meets the requirements of the particular application call.

However, some schools, LGUs or partner implementers may receive a limited allocation and announce applications only for a specific group of students.

Always follow the eligibility conditions in the actual TDP announcement applicable to you.

What Schools Are Covered?

The 2026 TDP guidelines cover qualified students in three major types of higher education institutions.

Type of institution	Can it participate?
State Universities and Colleges or SUCs	Yes
CHED-recognized Local Universities and Colleges or LUCs	Yes
Private Higher Education Institutions or PHEIs	Yes

But there is an important qualification.

Being enrolled in a college does not automatically mean that the school is participating in TDP.

The institution must have the required arrangement or Memorandum of Agreement with CHED-UniFAST, and the applicable academic program must satisfy CHED recognition and program-compliance requirements.

So before spending time preparing your application, ask your school’s scholarship office, Office of Student Affairs, registrar or designated UniFAST focal person:

“Is our school currently participating in the Tulong Dunong Program for AY 2026–2027?”

That one question can save you a lot of confusion.

Can Private-School Students Apply?

Yes.

Tulong Dunong is not limited to students in state universities.

Students enrolled in eligible private higher education institutions may qualify, provided the institution and academic program meet CHED-UniFAST requirements.

This makes TDP different from Free Higher Education under RA 10931, which primarily covers tuition and eligible school fees in SUCs and CHED-recognized LUCs.

What Degree Programs Are Eligible?

A new TDP applicant must be enrolled in a first undergraduate degree.

That generally means your first bachelor’s degree or comparable undergraduate program.

If you already completed one undergraduate degree and are taking another bachelor’s degree, you should not assume that you qualify as a new TDP applicant because the current national qualification specifically refers to a first undergraduate degree.

Your program must also be within the appropriate CHED-recognized institutional and program framework required under the guidelines.

CHED Tulong Dunong 2026 Requirements

The 2026 revised guidelines streamlined the documents required from qualified new applicants.

Requirement	Details
TDP Application Form	Scanned/accomplished Tulong Dunong application form
Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Enrollment	COR or COE showing that you are currently enrolled
Certificate of Indigency	Issued by the Punong Barangay where the applicant resides

These are the primary documentary requirements listed for qualified new TDP applicants under the 2026 guidelines.

What If You Cannot Get a Barangay Certificate of Indigency?

There is an alternative.

The 2026 guidelines state that when a Certificate of Indigency cannot be secured, the applicant may submit either a Certificate of Tax Exemption or a Social Case Study issued by a registered social worker.

This is an important improvement because it gives applicants another way of documenting financial circumstances when the usual barangay certificate is genuinely unavailable.

Still, if your barangay can issue a Certificate of Indigency, that remains the primary document identified by the guidelines.

What Happened to the ₱400,000 Family Income Limit?

This is one of the most important 2026 updates—and also one of the most confusing.

Older Tulong Dunong guidelines required the combined gross income of the applicant’s parents or guardians not to exceed ₱400,000.

In fact, UniFAST’s general TDP webpage and older informational materials still display the ₱400,000 figure.

However, the qualification section of the new 2026 Revised TDP Guidelines no longer expressly states a ₱400,000 annual household-income ceiling.

Instead, the revised guidelines require a Certificate of Indigency for qualified new applicants, with a Certificate of Tax Exemption or Social Case Study allowed when the indigency certificate cannot be obtained.

That distinction is important.

The 2026 circular also states that prior issuances inconsistent with the new guidelines are repealed or modified accordingly, and the revised rules take effect beginning with the first semester of AY 2026–2027.

So for applications governed by the 2026 revised guidelines, don’t automatically assume that the old ₱400,000 ceiling is still the controlling rule simply because you see it on an older infographic or webpage.

At the same time, applicants should follow the specific income/document instructions contained in the actual TDP application announcement from their CHED Regional Office, school or authorized partner implementer.

That is especially important while older and newer information remain online at the same time.

Is There a Required GWA?

The 2026 national TDP qualification section does not state a specific nationwide GWA such as 85%, 90% or 93%.

This isn’t the same type of academic-merit competition as some CHED scholarship programs.

However, TDP grantees still have to comply with the admission and retention policies of their school.

Failure to meet those policies is a ground for ineligibility, disqualification or termination of the grant.

So while there isn’t a single national “TDP passing grade” stated in the revised circular, you still need to remain academically eligible to stay enrolled in your institution.

How to Apply for CHED Tulong Dunong in 2026

One mistake students often make is searching for a permanent nationwide Tulong Dunong online application link.

That’s not how the current process is structured.

Step 1: Wait for an Official Call for TDP Applications

Under the 2026 rules, the UniFAST Secretariat issues a call for the submission of enrolled applicants after the enrollment period of participating higher education institutions, based on their academic calendars.

This means there is no one application date that applies to every college student in the Philippines.

Your school may have a different schedule from another university.

Step 2: Check With Your School or CHED Regional Office

Monitor announcements from your college or university’s scholarship office, student affairs office, registrar or UniFAST focal person.

You should also monitor your CHED Regional Office.

The revised guidelines allow applications and documentary requirements to be submitted through partner implementers or directly to the appropriate CHED Regional Office.

This is why you may sometimes see TDP announcements coming from a university, LGU, public official’s office or another authorized partner rather than through one national online form.

For example, actual 2026 application calls have been released locally with their own submission periods and available slots. San Juan City opened a 2026 TDP application for 200 students, while individual higher education institutions have also announced their own application windows.

Step 3: Complete the TDP Application Form

Use only the application form provided or recognized in the current official application call.

Avoid downloading random forms from old Facebook posts because formats and requirements may change.

Complete your information carefully.

Your name, school information and personal details should match your enrollment records.

Step 4: Prepare Your Enrollment Document

Obtain your current Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Enrollment.

The 2026 rules require enrollment verification because TDP is intended for currently enrolled students.

Don’t submit an old COR from a previous semester unless specifically instructed.

Step 5: Secure Your Certificate of Indigency

Request a Certificate of Indigency from the barangay where you reside.

Under the revised national guidelines, this is the primary financial-need document for new TDP applicants.

If it genuinely cannot be obtained, follow the alternative documentary rules discussed earlier.

Step 6: Submit During the Official Application Period

Follow the instructions in your school’s, partner implementer’s or CHED Regional Office’s announcement.

Deadlines matter.

An application call may have a limited number of slots or a short submission window even though the national guidelines themselves don’t set one universal nationwide deadline.

Step 7: Wait for Validation and Cross-Matching

Submitting documents does not mean you’ve already been approved.

The CHED Regional Office uploads and processes TDP applications, while CHED and UniFAST conduct cross-matching to identify possible duplicate government financial-assistance beneficiaries.

After validation, the list of qualified applicants is finalized and released through the appropriate channels to participating institutions.

This cross-matching process is one reason it’s important to disclose your other government-funded scholarships or assistance programs accurately.

Is Tulong Dunong First-Come, First-Served?

The national 2026 guidelines establish eligibility and validation procedures, but an applicant should not interpret basic eligibility as a guarantee of receiving funding.

Actual application calls may have limited allocations.

For example, a local 2026 San Juan implementation announced only 200 available TDP slots, while another college announced 250 available slots linked to its particular allocation.

So when your school opens applications, submit complete requirements as instructed and don’t assume you can wait until the end of the semester.

Can You Receive TDP and TES at the Same Time?

Generally, no.

The 2026 TDP rules prohibit the simultaneous availment of multiple national government-funded student financial assistance programs, subject to stated exceptions.

This means a student should not expect to receive both the regular Tulong Dunong grant and the Tertiary Education Subsidy as overlapping national financial-assistance benefits.

CHED and UniFAST conduct cross-matching partly to prevent this kind of duplication.

What About Free Tuition at a State University?

This is different.

Free Higher Education in SUCs and eligible LUCs under RA 10931 is specifically allowed.

So being covered by Free Higher Education does not, by itself, prevent a qualified student from receiving TDP.

That makes sense because the two programs address different costs.

Free Higher Education handles covered tuition and school fees.

Tulong Dunong provides an additional financial grant that can help with the wider cost of pursuing college education.

What If You Received DSWD AICS?

The revised rules contain an exception for certain one-time government assistance.

Recipients of one-time grants or subsidies such as DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, or AICS, may still be eligible to apply for TDP subject to the program rules.

So receiving one-time emergency assistance doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from Tulong Dunong.

What About CHED SMART?

The rules also recognize the one-time Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition or SMART grant.

However, the guidelines specifically state that a continuing TDP grantee should not receive TDP and SMART in the same semester.

If you have received SMART or another government student-assistance program, disclose it when applying instead of trying to guess whether it will be detected.

UniFAST performs cross-matching anyway.

What Can Cause You to Lose Tulong Dunong?

A grantee can become ineligible or have assistance terminated for several reasons under the revised rules.

These include failing to satisfy the school’s admission or retention policies, not enrolling for one academic term without an approved Leave of Absence, failing to enroll for at least two academic terms within an academic year, failing to report dropping out or transferring, suspension or expulsion, exceeding the applicable maximum residency period, submitting fraudulent documents, or improperly receiving overlapping national government financial-assistance programs.

In short, once you become a grantee, keep your student status properly documented.

Don’t simply disappear for a semester.

If you need to stop temporarily, coordinate with your school and secure an official Leave of Absence when applicable.

What If You Take a Leave of Absence?

A continuing TDP grantee who fails to enroll for one academic term may preserve eligibility if the absence is covered by an approved LOA.

When the student returns, the 2026 guidelines require proof of current enrollment together with the previously approved Leave of Absence.

This is one of those documents you definitely don’t want to lose.

Can a TDP Grantee Transfer Schools?

Yes, a continuing grantee may transfer, but the new institution must still be an eligible SUC, CHED-recognized LUC or private HEI included within the required CHED framework.

For transferees, the current HEI may need enrollment records from both the previous and current semesters as part of validation.

Don’t assume your TDP automatically follows you to any college you choose.

Ask your current and prospective schools about your TDP status before completing the transfer.

Do Continuing TDP Grantees Need to Apply Again?

Usually, no.

The revised guidelines state that continuing TDP grantees generally do not have to submit an entirely new application unless circumstances such as transferring require additional processing.

Instead, CHED validates their continuing eligibility using their enrollment information and supporting documents.

A continuing grantee should have an existing TDP Award Number and must remain enrolled and eligible.

Requirements for Continuing TDP Grantees

Most continuing-grantee documents are coordinated between the higher education institution and the CHED Regional Office.

The school provides its required billing forms, registrar certification and certified enrollment list or COR/COE.

Returning students who took an approved LOA need their current COR or COE and a copy of the LOA.

Transferee grantees may be required to provide their previous-semester and current-semester enrollment records.

If a school fails to submit the required documents for an individual grantee, the 2026 guidelines also provide a route for the grantee to submit the required enrollment and identification documents directly to the concerned CHED Regional Office.

How Is the ₱7,500 Tulong Dunong Grant Released?

The revised guidelines provide several possible disbursement methods.

CHED Regional Offices prioritize direct payment to qualified and validated grantees through government payment mechanisms. Check payments may also be used, and when those options aren’t applicable, funds may be coursed through the student’s higher education institution.

So don’t assume that every beneficiary will receive the money in exactly the same way.

Follow the payout instructions given by your CHED Regional Office or school.

How Long Does TDP Payout Take?

This requires an important clarification.

The 2026 guidelines say CHED Regional Offices or HEIs must disburse the received TDP benefits to students within 15 working days after receipt of the funds.

That does not mean you will receive ₱7,500 within 15 working days after submitting your application.

Before payout, several things still have to happen:

Your application must be submitted.

You must be validated.

Cross-matching must be completed.

You must make the Master List.

Billing must be processed.

Government funds must be released.

Only after the responsible CHEDRO or HEI receives the money does the 15-working-day disbursement provision apply.

That distinction matters because students sometimes hear “15 days” and assume there is a guaranteed 15-day application-to-cash timeline.

There isn’t.

Does Applying Guarantee Approval?

No.

Completing the requirements means you can be considered for the program.

It does not automatically make you a TDP grantee.

The CHED Regional Office validates documents and enrollment information and works with UniFAST on eligibility cross-matching. Only grantees included in the final Master List become eligible for payment.

Funding availability also matters.

Is There a Tulong Dunong Application Deadline for 2026?

There is no single nationwide TDP deadline stated in the 2026 revised guidelines.

The call for new TDP applicants is connected to the enrollment periods and academic calendars of participating HEIs.

That’s why you may see one school accepting applications in June, another in July or August, and another opening a separate application when an allocation becomes available.

As of September 18, 2026, students searching for TDP should therefore check the latest announcement applicable to their own institution or CHED Regional Office rather than relying on an old “national deadline” shared online.

Where Should You Ask About TDP?

Your first stop should usually be your school’s scholarship office, Office of Student Affairs, registrar or UniFAST/TDP focal person.

Ask whether your institution currently has a TDP call for applications and whether new slots are available.

If your school cannot answer the question, contact the CHED Regional Office that has jurisdiction over your institution.

UniFAST maintains a directory of its regional offices, while individual CHED regional offices also publish contact information for scholarship and UniFAST concerns.

Be careful with Facebook groups claiming that they can “process” or “guarantee” your CHED grant in exchange for payment.

Use official school, CHED, UniFAST or authorized partner channels.

Is Tulong Dunong a Loan?

No.

The ₱7,500 Tulong Dunong assistance is a grant.

You don’t repay it after graduation the way you would repay a student loan.

The Student Loan Program under the country’s tertiary education framework is a separate program.

Is Tulong Dunong Only for Poor Students?

TDP is designed as financial assistance for students who need help with the cost of tertiary education.

Under the current documentation rules, a new applicant normally demonstrates financial need through a Certificate of Indigency.

What changed in 2026 is that the new national TDP circular does not expressly repeat the old ₱400,000 household-income ceiling, even though that figure remains visible in older UniFAST materials.

Your actual application should therefore follow the current call and 2026 documentary requirements.

Can an Incoming Freshman Apply?

Yes, an incoming first-year college student may qualify once properly enrolled and once an applicable TDP call is opened.

But TDP isn’t necessarily restricted to freshmen at the national level.

The basic 2026 qualification is enrollment in a first undergraduate degree at an eligible institution.

A particular school or partner allocation may impose a narrower target group, so always read the actual announcement.

Can Second-Year, Third-Year or Fourth-Year Students Apply?

Potentially, yes.

The 2026 national guidelines do not say that all new applicants must be freshmen.

The relevant requirement is that a new applicant be enrolled in a first undergraduate degree at an eligible institution.

Whether applications are available to your particular year level will still depend on the current call for TDP slots.

Can You Apply If You Already Have a Private Scholarship?

The national restriction primarily concerns multiple national government-funded student financial assistance programs.

A scholarship funded by a private company, foundation, school or other non-national source is a different situation.

However, private scholarship agreements sometimes have their own restrictions on receiving additional grants.

Check both sets of rules and disclose your other financial assistance when required.

Is There an Entrance Exam for Tulong Dunong?

The 2026 TDP national guidelines do not prescribe a separate nationwide Tulong Dunong qualifying examination.

Qualification is based on the applicable program criteria, documentation, enrollment validation and cross-matching.

So if you see a website telling you there is one standard national “Tulong Dunong exam,” verify that information before believing it.

Tulong Dunong vs. TES: What’s the Difference?

Students often confuse TDP with the Tertiary Education Subsidy because both operate under the UniFAST system.

They are related, but they’re not identical.

TDP currently provides ₱7,500 per semester.

TES has a different subsidy structure, eligibility framework and prioritization system.

And generally, you shouldn’t expect to receive both at the same time because the government conducts cross-matching to prevent overlapping national financial assistance.

Important Reminder About Online TDP Information

Tulong Dunong has existed for several years, so Google is full of articles, infographics and Facebook posts based on older guidelines.

This creates a strange situation in 2026.

You can find information saying:

“Household income must not exceed ₱400,000.”

Then another source says that requirement is gone.

You might see old application procedures.

You might find an outdated form.

Or you might find a scholarship post for one city and assume it applies nationwide.

The safest approach is to check the date and source.

For AY 2026–2027 onward, UniFAST now lists the 2026 Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of the Tulong Dunong Program as its current issuance.

Then check your particular application announcement because that will tell you the actual submission period and local process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is CHED Tulong Dunong in 2026?

The current benefit is ₱7,500 per semester, equivalent to ₱15,000 for two semesters if the grantee remains eligible and the applicable funding is available.

Is the ₱7,500 given every month?

No.

It is ₱7,500 per semester, not ₱7,500 per month.

Do I have to pay Tulong Dunong back?

No. TDP is financial assistance, not a loan.

What are the main requirements for new applicants?

The 2026 guidelines identify the TDP Application Form, current COR or COE, and a Certificate of Indigency. If an indigency certificate cannot be obtained, a Certificate of Tax Exemption or Social Case Study from a registered social worker may be accepted under the guidelines.

Is there still a ₱400,000 family-income limit?

The old ₱400,000 limit remains visible in earlier UniFAST informational material, but it is not expressly stated in the qualification section of the 2026 Revised TDP Guidelines that took effect for AY 2026–2027. Applicants should follow the requirements in the current official application call.

Can private-college students apply?

Yes, provided the private HEI participates in the program and meets the CHED-UniFAST requirements.

Can state-university students apply even if their tuition is already free?

Yes. Free Higher Education in eligible SUCs and LUCs is specifically allowed alongside TDP under the revised rules.

Can I receive both TES and TDP?

Generally, no. The rules prohibit overlapping national government-funded student financial assistance, subject to specifically stated exceptions.

When is the TDP 2026 application deadline?

There is no single nationwide deadline stated in the 2026 revised guidelines. Application periods depend on official calls associated with participating schools, partner implementers and CHED Regional Offices.

Where can I get the application form?

Use the form provided through your official TDP application channel—normally your participating institution, authorized partner implementer or CHED Regional Office. Avoid relying on old forms circulating online.

How will I know if I’m approved?

The CHED Regional Office and UniFAST validate and cross-match applications. Qualified applicants are finalized through the TDP system, and the results are communicated through the relevant HEI or implementing channel.

Final Thoughts

₱7,500 may not cover the entire cost of going to college.

But for a student worrying about transportation, school supplies, projects, meals, internet expenses or part of a tuition balance, ₱7,500 can make a real difference.

And that is essentially the purpose of Tulong Dunong.

It isn’t meant to turn every student’s college expenses into zero.

It’s meant to provide additional financial support so that the cost of continuing your education becomes a little more manageable.

For 2026, remember the important points.

The current grant is ₱7,500 per semester.

The revised national rules take effect beginning with the first semester of AY 2026–2027.

The program covers qualified students in participating SUCs, CHED-recognized LUCs and private HEIs.

New applicants need to be enrolled in their first undergraduate degree and must submit the required proof of enrollment and financial need.

And perhaps most importantly, there is no permanent nationwide application link or one deadline that applies to every student.

Watch your school’s announcements.

Check with your UniFAST or scholarship coordinator.

Monitor your CHED Regional Office.

And once an official Tulong Dunong application opens for your school or area, prepare your requirements and submit them within the announced period.

Just make sure you’re following the 2026 rules—not a screenshot of an application guide from three or four years ago.