The University of Cebu–Maritime Education and Training Center (UC-METC) has launched a massive scholarship initiative, opening 2,645 fully funded slots for diploma programs in Hospitality and Tourism Management. The announcement was made by UC Chairman Augusto Go on Friday, December 5, 2025.
Urgent Call to Fill Available Slots
Chairman Go issued a strong appeal to the public, emphasizing the need to take advantage of the opportunity before the application deadline on December 15, 2025. He highlighted that the program, backed by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Region 7, offers nearly P100,000 in annual subsidy per student, covering tuition, allowances, and all related fees under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
"The government provides personal allowance, book allowance—everything is free," Go stated. He urged Filipinos to see this as a return on their tax contributions, noting that the funds should be used for education rather than other government expenditures.
Scholarship Details and Funding
The program follows Tesda's cost schedule issued in February 2023, which allocates P45,000 per scholar per semester. This comprehensive fund covers tuition, assessment fees, uniforms, instructional materials, and a training support fund. Qualified scholars will receive their funds via a Landbank ATM card, from which they will directly pay their fees to the university.
As of the announcement date, only 296 students had enrolled out of the 2,645 available slots. Go warned that unfilled slots could lead to the funds being returned to the National Treasury, potentially reducing the number of scholarships in the following academic year.
Application Process and Integrity Assurance
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must submit the following documents to UC-METC:
- Original Form 137 or Form 138 (Transcript of Records)
- Certificate of Good Moral Character
- Birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
The university accepts applications from Monday to Friday and for a half-day on Saturday. Chairman Go personally guaranteed the integrity of the fund management, promising that UC would not misuse the scholarship money.
UC Director for Technical Education Dennis Samar revealed that the university applied for the program in 2024, receiving final approval and the official award from Tesda on December 4, 2025. Mandated classes for successful applicants are set to begin on December 15, 2025.
