The government has awarded graduate scholarships to 230 public school personnel under a program aimed at addressing the shortage of guidance counselors and strengthening mental health support for learners.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) selected the scholars for the 2026-2027 Learning Initiatives for Nurturing Guidance Associates and Counselors Program (LINGAP), which provides financial support for graduate studies in guidance and counseling or psychology.
Nine scholars from the Negros Island Region received their awards during a ceremony at the Negros Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City on Friday, Oct. 9, led by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez.
Angara said the program seeks to address the country’s long-standing shortage of guidance counselors, which he attributed partly to low salaries and stringent licensure requirements.
He recalled that during his time as a senator, he learned that some regions had no guidance counselors and no students pursuing the profession, leaving schools with limited capacity to respond to learners’ mental health concerns.
“We have long been planning this (program) due to the lack of guidance counselors and as such, our policy-makers are looking for ways to address the problem,” Angara said.
He stressed that supporting learners’ mental health requires cooperation among education agencies, teachers, guidance counselors and students.
“No matter how skilled we are in pedagogy, no matter how many degrees or awards we have for being centers of excellence or for being outstanding professors, if our learners do not feel that we care about them, if our learners do not feel seen, if there is no connection between those teaching and being taught, I think we have not done our job adequately,” he said.
Agrupis said the country had about 5,000 guidance counselors as of January, with fewer than 1,000 serving in DepEd, which oversees around 45,000 schools.
She said LINGAP forms part of the government’s effort to invest in professionals who can guide learners through personal and academic challenges.
“When learners feel safe, supported, and guided, they are better able to learn, make informed choices, and pursue the opportunities ahead of them,” Agrupis said.
“Through LINGAP, we are investing in the professionals who can help our students navigate challenges and move forward with confidence,” she added.
The scholarship covers tuition and other school fees, provides a monthly living allowance of P30,000 and includes a research allowance of up to P150,000, subject to applicable scholarship policies.
Of the 327 nominees shortlisted for academic year 2026-2027, around 230 were selected after DepEd conducted identification, evaluation and validation processes. Scholars are expected to take the applicable professional licensure examination after completing their graduate studies.
Under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, LINGAP has 870 scholarship slots and a funding allocation of about P182.055 million.
The joint CHED-DepEd initiative offers DepEd teaching and non-teaching personnel opportunities to pursue graduate studies in guidance and counseling or psychology.
Benitez said the program could help address learners’ mental health concerns and encouraged the scholars to make the most of the opportunity, noting that financial constraints prevent many aspiring students from pursuing further education and developing additional skills.
LINGAP was among the programs presented during the fourth Joint Education Trifocal Management Committee meeting in Dumaguete, which brought together CHED, DepEd and TESDA.
The three agencies also launched the Localized Access Pathways and Institutional Transitions (LAPIT) Index, a tool designed to gather data on gaps in learners’ education pathways, and the Integrated Ladderized Education-to-Employment Pathways (ILEEP), which aims to provide alternative routes from education to employment beyond the traditional four-year college track.
The government said LINGAP, whose name means “care,” is intended to expand the pool of trained professionals who can support learners as they face academic, personal and mental health challenges.
Photo courtesy of Development Asia
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