Philippines proposes P8.67 billion for DOST scholarships in 2027 budget

The Marcos administration has proposed an increase in funding for the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholarship programs in the 2027 national budget. The proposed allocation of P8.67 billion represents a 4.34% increase over the previous year's funding.

This budget is expected to support 67,504 scholars nationwide, an increase of 2,407 beneficiaries compared to the 65,097 scholars funded under the 2026 General Appropriations Act. Of the total proposed amount, P7.55 billion is earmarked for the DOST-Science Education Institute to fund undergraduate and graduate scholarships and specialized training. An additional P1.12 billion is designated for the Philippine Science High School System to support secondary-level STEM education.

Government officials stated that the increased investment aims to strengthen the country’s science, technology, and innovation ecosystem by building a larger pool of researchers and innovators to address national priorities such as healthcare, agriculture, and digital transformation.