THE COMMISSION on Higher Education said 150 applicants qualified for the scholarship program as part of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) to boost the industry.
During the Agribiz Media Forum on May 21, CFDIP focal person Richel E. Zamora said the CHED’s scholarship program for coconut farmers and their families (CoScho) is intended for children of farmers.
As of their latest data, the 150 scholars are from Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao City. The scholarship is worth P2.6 million with P70,000 per student (P35,000 per semester).
The parents of the scholars are required to be registered in the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS) to avail the scholarships. Parents with an annual income of P300,000 and below are also the requirements for the scholarship program.
“Hindi lang po yung directly na dependent pud ng mga anak ng mga magsasaka ninyo, pati na din po yung ng mga anak ng mga regular na laborers pud nila,” he said.
Zamora also added that the priority beneficiaries include indigenous peoples, solo parents, PWDs, and senior citizens as long as they have qualified dependents.
Under CHED’s scholarship program, agriculture-related courses were offered but for this year the new courses that be offered are Marine Biology, Microbiology, Architectural Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, and others. Zamora highlighted the new courses can help the coconut industry with improvement and innovation.
“Lahat ng mga courses na ito ay pwedeng po makatulong sa in the near future o doon sa mga coconut farmers po natin,” he said.
The scholars can enroll at any college as long as they meet the requirements like entrance exams and the colleges should also have one of the following new courses proposed in the scholarship program.
The CFIDP, consisting of 16 agencies, was launched in 2022 and was created by Republic Act No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) Act signed by former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and approved on Feb 26, 2021. Under the law, 8 percent of the fund is allocated for scholarship programs for farmers and their families.
