Rigid application for Iskolar ng Bayan opens tomorrow for top 10 SHS grads

Big news for top graduates of public high schools

Starting tomorrow, June 10, through June 11, 2026, UP will officially activate its application portal for the Iskolar ng Bayan (INB) Program for Academic Year 2026–2027.

Mandated under Republic Act No. 10648, this program is intended to democratize access to premier higher education through a special admission track for outstanding public senior high school graduates. But hopefuls need to be exact in their actions, as the application window inside UP’s DIWA Portal will be open for exactly 48 hours.

Strict eligibility and technical requirements

To finalize the INB, applicants must overcome a rigorous set of local and documentation rules. The program is only open to public SHS graduates who ranked officially in the top 10 of their graduating batch and have not been previously offered a degree program on any UP campus during the first UPCAT run.

To protect localized allocations to slots, you may apply only to a UP constituent unit in the same geographic region as your senior high school. The only exception to this rule is the UP Open University (UPOU) which admits applicants from all over the country, depending on the slots available and course prerequisites. 

Also, you will be disqualified on the spot if you don’t have a formal rank certification signed by your school principal/head explicitly stating that you are part of the top 10 batch of your school and uploaded to the DIWA portal before the June 11 deadline.

The DIWA portal caveat

Applicants face a high-stakes choice because the DIWA system blocks you from playing both sides. Applying for the Iskolar ng Bayan (INB) track systemically bars you from the first batch of General Appeals. Once submitted, your INB application is permanently locked and cannot be withdrawn.

However, if you already filed a general appeal but realize your top 10 status gives you a better shot via the INB track, you must act fast. Manually log into the DIWA portal, explicitly withdraw your General Appeal, and immediately lodge your INB entry before the June 11, 2026, deadline.

The countdown to results

Due to a compressed calendar, the turnaround time is incredibly rapid. The application window runs from June 10 to June 11, 2026, with official INB results coming out on June 17, 2026.

The stakes remain high after passing: qualifiers face a strict deadline on June 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM to click “Accept Offer” in the portal. Missing this exact minute automatically forfeits your slot. Prepare your digital certificates tonight, align your regional preferences, and log in early to beat server congestion.

Are you a top 10 public SHS graduate aiming for UP? Make sure you submit your application on or before Thursday, June 11 via https://diwa.up.edu.ph/

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