Objectives:
The primary goals of the scholarship program are to enhance social equity among coconut farmers and alleviate poverty by offering access to quality education for them and their dependents. Additionally, the program aims to boost agricultural productivity and modernization within the coconut industry. This will be achieved by empowering coconut farmers and their dependents with knowledge in scientific advancements in agricultural technology and related fields, thereby encouraging the younger generation to actively participate in the agriculture sector.
Coverage:
The scholarship program will be open to eligible and deserving coconut farmers and their families who are officially registered under the National Coconut Farmers Registry System. It will support undergraduate students who are either enrolling or already enrolled in disciplines such as agriculture, agricultural engineering, agribusiness management, agricultural economics, and other courses designated by the PCA.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
✔️. Must be a Filipino citizen.
✔️. Must either be a graduating high school student or high school graduate with a general weighted average grade (GWA) of 80% or its equivalent. Alternatively, a college student with earned academic units relevant to the degree programs identified by PCA, with a GWA of 80% the previous semester or its equivalent.
✔️. Must meet the entry level requirements of identified State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
✔️. Should not be a recipient of any government-funded financial assistance program.
✔️. Must be duly registered as a coconut farmer in the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS), or be a dependent of a registered coconut farmer.
✔️. The combined annual gross income of parents must not exceed ₱300,000.00.
DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
1. Birth Certificate issued by the Local Civil Registry or Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
2. Academic Records:
a. For senior high school students – duly certified copy of grades for Grade 11 and first semester for Grade 12.
b. For senior high school graduates – form 138.
c. For college applicants with earned units or currently enrolled – duly Certified Copy of Grades for the latest semester/term attended.
3. PCA Certification: Issued by PCA Regional Office (PCA-RO) to NCFRS registered coconut farmers/farmworkers, endorsed by the PCA Provincial Office and/or Local Coconut Industry Development Councils (LCIDCs), small coconut farmers organizations, federations, and cooperatives. Note: Only one family member is allowed to apply for the scholarship.
4. Certificate of Good Moral Character from the last school attended.
5. Proof of Income – any of the following:
a. Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) of applicant and/or spouse/parents/guardians if employed.
b. Certificate of Tax Exemption from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
c. Certificate of No Income from BIR.
d. Certificate of Indigency from their Barangay.
e. Certificate/Case Study from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
6. Notice of admission from the Higher Education Institution (HEI) offering collegiate degree programs.
7. Proof that the student applicant belonged to special group/s (if applicable).
8. Original Barangay Certification indicating that parents/guardians and siblings have never attended college/university (if applicable).
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
RETURN SERVICE:
Recipients of the scholarship are required to render one (1) year of service in the Philippines for each year of scholarship received, within two (2) years following graduation. Priority will be given to the following sectors:
1. Government agencies directly involved in the coconut industry.
2. Other government agencies.
3. Private entities associated with the Philippine Coconut Industry.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and their Families (CoScho) for AY 2024-2025 is now open!
The deadline for submission is until May 31, 2024
For inquiries, kindly contact your respective (CHED Regional Office)