The University of Cebu–Maritime Education and Training Center (UC METC) is opening its doors to thousands of aspiring students by offering a massive 2,625 fully funded scholarship slots for its three-year diploma programs. This landmark educational opportunity, announced on Friday, December 5, 2025, by UC Chairman Atty. Augustus Go, covers the fields of Hospitality Management and Tourism Management.
Government-Funded Opportunity for Aspiring Students
This initiative is made possible under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA) and is a collaborative effort with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda VII). The funding follows the Tesda cost schedule issued on February 14, 2023, which allocates P45,000 per scholar for each semester.
The comprehensive scholarship package is designed to remove financial barriers. It includes:
- Full tuition fees
- Assessment fees
- Uniforms
- Instructional materials
- A training support fund
In a passionate appeal to the public, Chairman Go emphasized the scale of government support. "Please disseminate this to as many people as possible, so we can help those who were not able to go to college continue with their ambition," he stated. "The government provides personal allowance, book allowance—everything is free, nearly P100,000 per student per year."
Urgent Call to Fill Available Slots
Despite the vast number of slots available, Go revealed that as of the announcement date, only 296 enrollees had been accepted. He issued a compelling reminder that these programs are funded by public money and urged Filipinos to take full advantage.
"Look, we are paying taxes already—heavily. Whenever you ride a jeepney, you pay gasoline tax, road tax, income tax. Let us make use of our money for this, not for contractors, so please help me," Go explained. He assured the public that UC would manage the funds with integrity.
There is a pressing deadline, however. Tesda has mandated that classes will begin on December 15, 2025. The scholarship funds will be downloaded directly to the students' Landbank ATM cards, and the scholars will then pay UC-METC for the applicable fees themselves.
Eligibility and Application Details
The scholarship is open to a wide range of applicants, including:
- Senior High School graduates from 2023 and earlier
- ALS completers
- High school graduates under the old curriculum
- College undergraduates
Prospective scholars must submit the following requirements:
- Original Form 137 or Form 138
- Certificate of Good Moral Character
- PSA-issued birth certificate
Applications are accepted at the UC METC office from Monday to Friday, and for a half-day on Saturdays.
UC Director for Technical Education, Dennis Samar, provided background on the program's approval. The university applied for it in 2024, receiving official approval from Tesda on August 29, 2024. The final Notice to Proceed was issued on November 28, 2025, and formally delivered to UC on December 4, 2025.
Chairman Go concluded with a critical warning: any unfilled slots could result in the unused funds being returned to the government. If only 1,000 slots are filled, only those 1,000 scholars can continue through the program cycle, with no additional slots added the following year. This makes it imperative for qualified individuals to apply immediately and seize this fully-funded chance to build a career in the thriving tourism and hospitality industries.
