Students from low-income family in Baguio City can get P2,500 monthly food vouchers - CSWDO

Baguio City, Philippines - Baguio City has taken a major step toward student welfare with the approval of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Free Youth Meals for College Students Ordinance of 2023, granting qualified low-income college students up to P2,500 worth of food vouchers monthly to support their daily nutritional needs while pursuing higher education. 

This is through Ordinance No. 96, series of 2022, authored by former Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Levy Lloyd Orcales, which was adopted by the city council in 2023. 

For its first year of implementation, this 2025, the program is backed by P2,640,000 from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

The CSWDO initially targets 100 beneficiaries, where applicants can submit requirements at CSWDO offices located at Saint Louis University, University of Cordillera, and University of Baguio. They can also submit to their respective barangay social worker. 

Requirements include a duly accomplished application form, Form 138 for freshmen, a copy of grades from the previous semester for higher years, and a barangay certificate of residency stating that the applicant’s family has been a resident of Baguio City for at least one year, a certificate of indigency from CSWDO, a voter’s ID or Comelec voter’s certificate, and if not available, a parent’s voter’s ID or voter’s certificate. 

To qualify for the program, as cited by the Baguio City Sangguniang Panlungsod, a student must be a resident, pass the City Social Welfare and Development Office screening, maintain passing grades, and not be receiving other government subsidies.

Once qualified, they will receive a total of P2,500 worth of food vouchers each month which they can use to buy meals at approved food outlets in the city. 

With the approval of the order, the city government hopes that students will see improvements in their health and academic performance.