The Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III made a statement regarding the temporary suspension of application for CHED Merit Scholarship Program (CMSP) during his presentation on the Senate Committee Hearing on May 21, 2020.

With the COVID-19 pandemic going on for months now, CHED has arbitrated to temporarily suspend the CMSP for incoming freshmen students for Academic Year 2020-2021. And because of the crisis our country is facing, the available funding is only intended to financially support ongoing scholars as they continue their studies during this pandemic. CHED is prioritizing the need-based scholarships rather than the merit-based scholarships in support with the government’s efforts and national programs in helping families who are financially unstable in the midst of this calamity.

With the implementation of the National Budget Circular No. 580 by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), CHED Scholarship Programs are being cut off, but grant programs such as the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Student Loan Program (SLP) are not affected since it is under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) Law or Republic Act No. 10931, which is not the same as the CHED Merit Scholarship Program.