Government expands college scholarships for coconut farmers

MANILA, Philippines — The government has expanded its scholarship program to support the college education of country’s coconut farmers or their families.

More than 10,000 scholarship slots will be available for registered coconut farmers or their dependents under the Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and Their Families (CoScho) for the academic year 2026-2027.

This comes following the signing of a joint memorandum circular between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), which revises the implementing guidelines of the CoScho program for the upcoming academic year.

The academic year 2026–2027 program will offer a total of 10,789 scholarship slots nationwide, with 6,824 new beneficiaries and 3,965 for continuing scholars.

Under the PCA and CHED’s revised guidelines, the agencies will evaluate scholarship applications through a more efficient, targeted and transparent selection process.

The agencies said this would allow them to offer more improved scholarship packages to qualified beneficiaries nationwide.

The CoScho program provides significant financial aid, covering stipends, book allowances and thesis for registered coconut farmers under the National Coconut Farmers Registry System.

The program’s key feature is its return service component, which encourages scholarship graduates to channel their expertise into strengthening the local coconut industry, driving innovation, boosting productivity and fostering community growth in coconut producing regions.

The funding is sourced from the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund established under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act or Republic Act 11524.

“The CoScho program is an investment in the future of Filipino farming communities. By helping the children of coconut farmers earn college degrees, we are opening pathways to economic mobility while developing future professionals who can contribute to the modernization and sustainability of the coconut industry,” CHED chairperson Shirley Agrupis said.