16/05/2026
The Beyond K-12 Educational Assistance Program opens doors for Senior High School Graduates, and hundreds have already stepped through.
For many young people in Sorsogon, college has always felt like a dream just out of reach. The cost of tuition, books, and daily expenses have long forced families to choose between sending a child to higher education and putting food on the table. This year, a new program is trying to change that reality.
The Beyond K-12 Educational Assistance Program, a joint effort between the Provincial Government of Sorsogon and The Lewis College (TLC), is offering up to 1,000 slots of free, full tuition to incoming college freshmen across the province. The program is part of the larger 7 Kadunungan initiative, a flagship effort by the local government to invest in the province's future through education.
Applications officially opened on April 13 and were later extended to April 22, 2026. During that window, students lined up at two key locations: the TLC Campus Information Booth at the RFL Building in Sorsogon City, and the Juban Municipal Hall—both serving as entry points to a program that many families say they have been waiting for.
The program targets students whose families earn a combined annual gross income of no more than ₱250,000, ensuring that assistance goes to those who truly need it most.
The story did not end at the application booths. On May 15, 2026, the program took its next major step: all applicants whose names appeared on the official masterlist were called to attend a formal profiling and interview session at the TLC Gymnasium, conducted by the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO).
The session was organized by surname to manage the large crowd. Applicants with last names from A to F were scheduled in the morning, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon, while those from G to Z were assigned the afternoon slot, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
The PSWDO interview is not merely a formality. It is a critical final step to verify that each applicant genuinely qualifies for the assistance, and that they are a resident of Sorsogon Province, a legitimate Grade 12 graduate, and that their family truly falls within the income bracket the program is designed to help. Officials reminded applicants that the scholarship cannot be combined with other government-funded financial assistance programs.
For students who qualify, the reward is access to quality higher education at The Lewis College, an institution with modern facilities and a long-standing commitment to academic excellence in the Bicol Region. The program effectively removes the single biggest barrier most families face when sending a child to college: the cost.
Local education observers say the program signals a meaningful shift in how Sorsogon's provincial leadership views investment in its youth. By partnering with a private institution and channeling funds directly to tuition, the government is taking a practical, targeted approach which is getting money where it is most needed, and doing it fast enough to matter for this year's freshmen.
via | Ermie P. Jañolan
graphics and frame by Laica Jane Cruda
