RATIONALE

Republic Act (RA) No. 11524, otherwise known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) Act was enacted to manage and utilize the CFITF pursuant to a Development Plan, with an objective, among others, to provide a scholarship program for coconut farmers and their families which will be implemented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in coordination with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PСА).

POLICY STATEMENT

Pursuant to RA 11524, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to consolidate the benefits due to coconut farmers, especially the poor and marginalized, under various statutes and to expedite the delivery thereof to attain increased incomes for coconut farmers, alleviate poverty, and achieve social equality. The CHED has the mandate to provide financial assistance through scholarships toqualified and deserving students in harmony with the benefits or financial assistance under RA 10931, "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act."

OBJECTIVES

The scholarship program aims to raise social equity of coconut farmers and ultimately alleviate poverty through the provision of quality education to coconut farmers and/or their dependents. Moreover, the scholarship program is ultimately expected to improve agricultural productivity and modernization in the coconut industry by raising the knowledge of coconut farmers and/or their dependents on scientific advances in agricultural technology and other related fields and motivate the younger generation to be engaged in the agriculture sector. 

COVERAGE

The scholarship program shall be accessible to qualified and deserving coconut farmers and their families duly registered under the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS). The program shall cover undergraduate students who will enroll or are currently enrolled in agriculture, agricultural engineering, agribusiness management, agricultural economics and other programs identified by the Philippine Coconut Authority.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. Filipino citizen

2. Graduating high school student/high school graduate with a general weighted average grade (GWA) of 80% or its equivalent or 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;

3. Pass the entry level requirements of identified State Universities and Colleges (SUCs);

4. Not be a recipient of any government-funded financial assistance program;

5. Duly registered coconut farmer in the NCFRS or his/her dependent;

6. Must have a combined annual gross income of parents not exceeding ₱300,000.00

DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

1. Birth Certificate issued by the Local Civil Registry or Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 

2. Academic:

• For senior high school students – duly certified copy of the grades for Grade 11 and first semester for Grade 12;

• For senior high school graduates – form 138; and

• For applicants with earned units or currently enrolled in college – 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 upon the endorsement of the PCA Provicial Office and/or Local Coconut Industry Development Councils (LCIDCs), small coconut farmers organizations, federations, and cooperatives. Note: Only one family member shall be 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:

• Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) of applicant and/spouse/parents/guardians if imployed;

• Certificate of Tax Exemption from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR);

• Certificate of No Income from BIR;

• Certificate of Indigency from their Barangay; or

• Certificate/Case Study from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

6. Notice of admission from the HEI with collegiate degree offerings;

7. Proof that the student applicant belonged to special group/s (if applicable); and

8. Original Barangay Certification that parents/guardians and siblings had never attended college/university (if applicable).