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The personal donation, made with his wife Trinidad M. Albarracin, will be coursed through PHINMA Foundation Inc., which will release P30 million annually over the next 20 years to support scholars and students facing financial emergencies.
Why it matters
The move places renewed focus on college completion at a time when dropout rates remain elevated.
The EDCOM 2 report shows a 29 percent dropout rate in Philippine higher education for 2025, highlighting how financial and personal pressures continue to push students out before they earn a degree.
For PHINMA Education, which serves largely low-income communities, student retention is closely tied to both its social mission and long-term operating model.
The structure
Under the memorandum of agreement signed on February 16, the fund will support two key initiatives: a scholarship program for qualified second- to fourth-year college students, who will receive P30,000 each annually until graduation, and a financial assistance program for students facing unexpected setbacks that could disrupt their studies.
According to a company release, the design of the fund reflects PHINMA Education’s internal Dropout Framework, developed by its analytics team after analyzing years of institutional data and conducting research with students who left school.
The research found that students rarely drop out because of a single issue. More often, attrition is the result of accumulated pressures, with a financial emergency acting as the tipping point.
Financial flexibility emerged as one of the most critical protective factors in helping students persist.
What they’re saying
"Education is a very powerful instrument for uplifting our underserved youth—I myself have seen the many doors it opened and vast opportunities it unlocked for a better life. It is our hope that investing in our students will help them realize their full potential, build better futures for themselves and their families, and ultimately live fulfilling lives," said Dr. Albarracin.
PHINMA Education Philippines country head Happy A. Tan said, “Our students have a strong desire to continue their education because they know a diploma can be a true game-changer for themselves and their families. But sometimes, life throws unexpected challenges their way. We want to support them when it matters most and continue standing by them through any obstacles they may face throughout their entire college journey,” he added.
The bottom line
Structured as a 20-year commitment, the P400 million fund embeds long-term financial support into PHINMA Education’s system — reinforcing student persistence as a central pillar of its education model. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma