TL;DR: LandBank's current scholarship offer is the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program (ILP), launched in 2023 for children or grandchildren of agrarian reform beneficiaries and small farmers or fishers. It reportedly provides PHP 100,000 per year per scholar and targets around 60 new scholars annually through 2028. The older Gawad Patnubay Scholarship Program, which many people still search for, officially closed in 2022, so do not apply to it or send documents to anyone claiming to still run it.
Introduction
If you searched "LandBank scholarship," there is a good chance you found old information about the Gawad Patnubay Scholarship Program, which used to fund agriculture and fisheries students. That program is no longer accepting applicants. LandBank confirmed to Rappler that Gawad Patnubay closed in 2022 and was replaced by a new initiative, the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program.
This guide walks through what the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program actually is today: who it's for, what it pays for, the eligibility requirements, the documents you'll need, and how the application process generally works. Because scholarship programs like this change requirements and deadlines every cycle, treat every figure here as "as reported" and always double-check directly with LandBank or LandBank Countryside Development Foundation Inc (LCDFI) before you commit time or money to an application.
Is the LandBank Gawad Patnubay Scholarship still active?
No. LandBank told Rappler directly that the Gawad Patnubay Scholarship Program (short for "Gawad Pag-aaral Tungo sa Maunlad na Bayan") officially ended in 2022. Before it closed, Gawad Patnubay supported second- to fourth-year college students taking BS Agriculture, BS Fisheries, and related courses, with full tuition subsidy, monthly stipend, book allowance, and thesis support at partner schools.
If you see social media posts, Facebook pages, or forwarded messages claiming Gawad Patnubay is "now open" for a current school year, be cautious. Rappler's fact-check specifically flagged this kind of misleading post. Never submit personal documents (birth certificates, tax records, IDs) to a page or link you haven't verified is officially from LandBank.
What is the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program?
The Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program (ILP) is LandBank's scholarship initiative launched in 2023 to support underprivileged but academically qualified students who are children or grandchildren of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) or small farmers and fishers (SFFs). LandBank has said the program prioritizes applicants from the country's poorest provinces.
Unlike Gawad Patnubay, which was agriculture- and fisheries-course specific, the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program reportedly covers a broader mix of agriculture-adjacent and technical courses, described in more detail below.
Who is eligible for the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program?
Based on program materials circulated by LandBank and partner state universities, eligibility generally includes:
| Requirement | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Filipino citizen |
| Family background | Child or grandchild of an agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB), or of a small farmer or fisher (SFF) |
| Academic standing | Incoming first-year college student with a minimum 90% average, or ranked in the top 10% of senior high school graduating class |
| School endorsement | Recommendation or endorsement letter from the high school principal |
| Family income | Total annual family income not exceeding PHP 300,000 (reported exceptions handled case by case) |
| Other aid | Must not be currently receiving another scholarship, grant, or financial assistance |
| Enrollment | Must enroll in an eligible course at a LandBank partner state university or college |
Confirm current-cycle eligibility with LandBank or LCDFI. Requirements, income ceilings, and the list of partner schools can be updated between application cycles.
How much does the LandBank scholarship pay?
Reported benefits of the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program include:
- PHP 100,000 per year per scholar, intended to cover school fees, allowance, books, clothing, and other course requirements
- Cash incentives for scholars who graduate with academic honors
- On-the-job training (OJT) opportunities at LandBank branches, lending centers, and partner agencies
LandBank has stated it allocated a total of PHP 128 million to the program, intended to fund 360 scholars from 2023 to 2028, which works out to roughly 60 new scholars accepted per year. Treat the PHP 100,000 figure and the total program budget as reported amounts from LandBank's own program announcements rather than a guaranteed personal award, since actual disbursement can depend on documentation, enrollment status, and program funding in a given year.
What courses can Iskolar ng LANDBANK scholars take?
Reported eligible courses span both agriculture-focused and broader technical/business programs, including:
- Agribusiness Management
- Horticulture
- Animal Science
- Food Technology
- Agricultural Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial or Management Engineering
- Information Technology
- Data Analytics / Data Science
- Accounting
Scholars are expected to enroll at LandBank's partner state universities and colleges (SUCs), which have reportedly included institutions such as the University of the Philippines Los Baños and other regional SUCs with strong agriculture or engineering programs. Confirm the current partner-school list with LandBank, since it is not consistently published in one place and can change per cycle.
What documents do you need to apply?
Reported application requirements for the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program include:
- Completed application form
- Certified true copy of grades or transcript of records, with school seal
- Recommendation or endorsement letter from your high school principal
- PSA (formerly NSO) certified birth certificate
- Proof of RSBSA (Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture) registration, or a certification from your Municipal Agriculture Office confirming ARB/SFF status
- Parent or guardian's income tax return (ITR), or a certificate of tax exemption if applicable
- Barangay clearance
- Certificate of good moral character from your school
- Short essay(s), commonly on why you are pursuing your chosen course and how LandBank contributes to nation-building or agricultural development
- Data privacy consent form
Because scholarship programs frequently adjust their checklist, get the official, current-cycle requirements list directly from LandBank, LCDFI, or your school's scholarship office before assembling documents.
How and when do you apply?
Application generally works like this:
- Check current-cycle openness. LandBank or LCDFI typically announces the application window through partner schools and its official channels. In the most recently documented cycle, several partner state universities and colleges circulated an application deadline around mid-August for the following school year.
- Secure your documents. Gather the requirements listed above, including your principal's endorsement and RSBSA proof, ahead of time since some (like barangay clearance or ITR copies) take days to process.
- Submit through your school or the designated office. Applications are typically coursed through the Scholarship Office or Office of Student Affairs of a LandBank partner SUC, not submitted directly to a LandBank branch.
- Wait for screening results. Shortlisting reportedly considers academic standing, family income documentation, and completeness of requirements.
As of this writing, no official 2026-2027 application cycle details (dates, updated requirements, or partner school list) have been published yet. If you plan to apply for the coming school year, watch LandBank's official website and your target SUC's scholarship office for the announcement, rather than relying on outdated cycle information.
LandBank scholarship vs. LandBank student loan: don't confuse the two
LandBank also offers financing products that are sometimes mistaken for scholarships:
| Program | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program | Scholarship (grant) | Provides funding support, no repayment required, for qualified ARB/SFF dependents |
| LandBank ACADEME Lending Program / i-STUDY | Study-now-pay-later loan | Credit facility for schools and families to finance tuition, repaid with interest over time |
| Gawad Patnubay Scholarship Program | Discontinued scholarship | Closed in 2022; replaced by Iskolar ng LANDBANK |
If you don't qualify for the ILP grant, a study-now-pay-later loan through your school (if it's a LandBank partner institution) is a different route worth asking about, but it is credit you'll need to repay, unlike a scholarship.
If you don't qualify: other options to check
The ARB/SFF family background and income ceiling in the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program rule out a lot of applicants. If that's you, it's worth comparing other options such as government student aid programs, the CHED Tulong Dunong Program, DOST scholarships for science and engineering courses, or TESDA scholarships if a technical-vocational path fits your goals. If you need to work while studying, look into working student scholarship programs as well.
For a broader list of scholarship types available to Filipino college students, see our guides on scholarships for college students in the Philippines and how to get a scholarship in the Philippines. Private universities also run their own scholarship programs worth checking, covered in our private university scholarships guide, and government-run options like the Iskolar ng Bayan program or SM Foundation scholarship are also worth comparing against LandBank's offer.
Disclaimer
Scholarship names, eligibility rules, benefit amounts, partner schools, and deadlines can change from one application cycle to the next, and LandBank has already replaced one scholarship program with another in recent years. Before applying, confirm every detail, especially the current program name, income ceiling, benefit amount, and deadline, directly with LandBank, LandBank Countryside Development Foundation Inc (LCDFI), or the scholarship office of your target school.
Find a school that fits your course and budget
Whether or not you land the Iskolar ng LANDBANK scholarship, choosing the right school for your course still matters. Use SchoolFinderPH to compare colleges and universities by course offering, location, and tuition, or browse schools in specific cities like Manila if you're weighing your options for agriculture, engineering, IT, or accounting programs.
Sources
- Gawad Patnubay Scholarship Program - LandBank official
- LANDBANK's Gawad Patnubay Scholarship Program wins Best CSR Project - LandBank official
- FACT CHECK: Landbank's Gawad Patnubay scholarship program ended in 2022 - Rappler
- 'Iskolar ng LANDBANK' to accept students from poorest provinces - LandBank official
- Public advisory on Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program - LandBank official
- Iskolar ng LANDBANK - LandBank official
- Application for ISKOLAR NG LANDBANK Program (AY 2025-2026) - Mountain Province State University
- Iskolar ng LANDBANK 2025-2026 - PhilScholar (aggregator, cross-checked against LandBank official sources)
- LANDBANK offers direct 'study now, pay later' loan program for students - LandBank official
- LANDBANK ACADEME Lending Program - LandBank official
- LANDBANK ISTUDY - LandBank official
