Marcos expands UniFAST scholarships, launches e-CAV system

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday vowed to expand government scholarship aid and unveiled a new digital system for academic records, saying education must be treated as a right and not a privilege.

Speaking at Cuneta Astrodome during the awarding of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) UniFAST scholarships and the launch of the Electronic Certification, Authentication, and Verification (eCAV) system, Mr. Marcos said the government is determined to ease the financial burden of Filipino families sending their children to college.

“Education is one of the keys to a better future, but many of our people still struggle to attain it,” President Marcos said.

“No parent should be forced to choose which of their children gets to finish school, and no student should be deprived of education because of poverty,” he added.

The Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) currently provides full or partial tuition and fee coverage to qualified students in state and CHED-recognized local universities and colleges nationwide.

It also extends subsidies of at least P20,000 annually for other expenses such as transportation, food, and books. Additional grants include P5,000 for persons with disabilities and up to P8,000 in reimbursements for degree programs requiring licensure examinations.

The president urged Congress to strengthen UniFAST through legislation, saying the program has already benefited millions of families by reducing costs and helping more students complete their studies.

Alongside the scholarship program, the president formally launched the eCAV system, a digital platform that enables graduates to request academic records, including diplomas, transcripts, and certificates, through the government’s eGovPH Super App.

The system aims to cut processing times and remove the need for in-person visits to schools or CHED offices.

“This means students and new graduates can easily secure their credentials for job applications without traveling far,” the president said.

“By harnessing technology, we not only make education more accessible but also strengthen our competitiveness in the global workforce,” he added.

Mr. Marcos called on state universities and colleges, private higher education institutions, and local governments to support the expansion of both UniFAST and eCAV, framing them as pillars of inclusive and modern education in the country.