The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Negros Island Region is accepting applications for the Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and their Families (CoScho) covering Academic Year 2026–2027, with the deadline set on August 31, 2026. The program is open to qualified students from Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
According to CHED, the application window opened on July 8, 2026, giving prospective applicants roughly one month to submit their requirements through the agency's online portal. The call was issued under Memorandum from the Office of the Executive Director No. 1191, Series of 2026.
Online-Only Submission, No Exceptions
CHED stated that all applications must be submitted exclusively online, with supporting documents uploaded in PDF format. The agency warned that falsified, incomplete, or incorrect submissions will result in automatic disqualification.
Who Qualifies for CoScho
The scholarship is open to coconut farmers registered under the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS) and their dependents. Only one qualified family member may hold the scholarship at any given time, according to CHED.
Eligible applicants must be Filipino citizens belonging to one of four categories: graduating senior high school students; senior high school graduates; Alternative Learning System (ALS) graduates with at least an 80 percent general weighted average (GWA); or college students enrolled in Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-identified priority programs with at least an 80 percent GWA in the previous semester.
A household income ceiling applies — the combined annual gross income of an applicant's parents must not exceed ₱300,000. Applicants must also be residents or students of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, or Siquijor and enrolled in a CHED-recognized undergraduate program.
Required Documents by Applicant Category
All applicants must submit a Philippine Statistics Authority birth certificate, appropriate academic records, a PCA certification, and proof of income. Acceptable proof of income includes a latest income tax return, a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) certificate of tax exemption, a BIR certificate of no income or low income stating actual income, or a certificate or case study from the city or municipal social welfare and development office.
Incoming first-year students and transferees must also provide a certificate of good moral character and a notice of admission from their higher education institution. Senior high school students must submit Grade 11 and Grade 12 first semester grades; SHS graduates must submit Form 138 or SF9; ALS graduates must submit Grade 12 ALS records; and college applicants must present certified grades for the most recent semester.
Second- to fourth-year college students must additionally submit an institutional certification confirming enrollment in a CoScho priority program and that they are not receiving any other national government-funded scholarship.
Agriculture and Technical Degrees on the Priority List
CoScho covers a defined list of agriculture, environment, and technical degrees. These include BS Agriculture, Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Extension Education, Agricultural Technology, Agribusiness Management, Agroforestry, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Agri Eco-Tourism Management, Agri-Fisheries Arts, Agri-Tourism Management, Biology, Biochemistry, Dairy Technology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Fisheries, Food Engineering, Forestry, Geology, Marine Biology, and Microbiology.
Other eligible programs include BS Development Communication, Development Management, Economics, Information Technology, Manufacturing Engineering or Manufacturing Technology Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Rural Development, Social Work, and Tourism.
Legal Basis and Implementing Partners
CoScho is implemented by CHED in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) under Republic Act No. 11524, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act. Implementing rules are set out in CHED-PCA Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2023. According to CHED, the program is funded through the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan and is designed to expand access to higher education among coconut-farming households while developing a skilled workforce for the coconut industry.
CHED Warns Against Fake Scholarship Offers
CHED cautioned applicants to be wary of fake scholarship offers and fraudulent links circulating online. The agency advised that only official CHED websites and verified social media accounts should be treated as authoritative sources of information on the program.
How and Where to Apply
Applicants may reach the CHED Dumaguete office by email at stufap.nir@ched.gov.ph or by phone at (035) 523-5561. The CHED Talisay sub-regional office may be reached at (034) 475-4624. Program updates are also posted on the CHED Regional Office XVIII – Negros Island Region Facebook page and the official CHED website.
By the Numbers
- August 31, 2026 — application deadline
- July 8, 2026 — date the application window opened
- ₱300,000 — maximum combined annual gross household income to qualify
- 80% — minimum GWA required for ALS graduates and continuing college students
- 3 provinces — Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor covered under the Negros Island Region slot
Why This Matters
CoScho directly targets one of the Philippines' most economically vulnerable agricultural sectors, offering college scholarships to coconut-farming families who may otherwise lack access to higher education. With the August 31 deadline less than five weeks away and applications accepted only online, eligible students in Negros Oriental and across the Negros Island Region have limited time to prepare and submit complete documentary requirements. The program's priority degree list is designed to funnel graduates back into agriculture and allied industries, addressing long-term workforce needs in the coconut sector.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of CHED Regional Office XVIII – Negros Island Region/Facebook