Coconut farmers or their family members who want to avail of the Commission on Higher Education’s scholarship program for 2025-2026 have only until July 31, 2025 to submit their applications to earn one of the 47 slots allotted for the Bicol region.
In an update given during the “Usap Tayo” Coconut Conference last July 18, 2025 at E-Crown Hotel & Resort, Agriculturist Albert Joshua Barrio of the Philippine Coconut Authority announced that registration of applicants for the program, intended for coco farmers or their children registered under the National Coconut Farmers Registry System, is still open until the end of the month.
Mandated by Republic Act 1524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, the Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and their Families (CoScho) 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.
The program covers undergraduate students who will enroll or currently enrolled in agriculture, agricultural engineering, agribusiness management, agricultural economics and other courses identified by the PCA.
Applicants should be Filipino citizens and 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.
He or she must pass the entry level requirements of identified State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), not be a recipient of any government-funded financial assistance program, and the parents must have a combined annual gross income not exceeding ₱300,000.00.
Each scholar would be entitled to financial assistance including a stipend of P35,000 and book allowance of P5,000 per semester for a total of P80,000 per year. In addition, the scholar would receive thesis and/or OJT allowance of P75,000, P10,000 for one-time attendance in local conference or for a, and one-time financial assistance of P30,000 for purchase of laptop computer during first year of scholarship grant.
In exchange for the total assistance of P195,000, the graduating scholar would render return service of one year per year of scholarship within two years after graduation, prioritizing government agencies directly working with coconut industry, other government agencies, and private entities related to Philippine coconut industry.
The PCA has likewise conducted site validation in Pandan and Gigmoto for the grant of 750 heads of native chicken to each of two cooperatives, Panfarmco and Biong Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative, with their members getting 50 heads each as well as incubator and netting for their farms.
The grant is pursuant to the PCA’s “Manukan sa Niyugan” and “Bakahan sa Niyugan” programs jointly implemented with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
In the first week of July, Barrio reported, the PCA conducted a health and medical survey for coco farmers in Pandan under the agency’s social protection program, covering the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) of Tokio, Catamban, San Roque and Porot.
Natural grade salts were likewise distributed to farmers in Virac, Bato, San Andres, Caramoran, Panganiban and Viga while hybrid coconut seedlings are targeted for planting in 150 hectares in Catanduanes in still to be identified towns.
The PCA official also encouraged coconut farmers to apply for insurance for the farms with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), especially with the onset of the typhoon season.
In his opening remarks, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Dindo Nabol said coconut farmers and entrepreneurs should expect a lot more from the government because Bicol is among the regions to receive the highest share of CFIDP funding for 2025.
He cited the novelty products made out of coconut shell by a Virac handicraft maker who he said would join a DTI trade fair at Okada Manila this Aug. 15-19.
Nabol reported that the PCA has already approved the research and development program proposed by the DTI to develop more products in the coconut industry, especially on processed food.
For his part, Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez lamented that the industry in Catanduanes has not been given enough priority, as evidenced by the lone personnel assigned to the local PCA office.
“The inadequate support for coconut farmers here means they are stuck in subsistence farming,” he stressed, calling for the government to find ways to maximize the full potential of the tree of life and to adapt to the changing times.
Other agencies which provided updates to coconut farmers and officials of coconut farmers associations and cooperatives were representatives from TESDA, DOST, CDA, DOLE and PASO.
In a contest of most innovative products in the coconut and cacao industry, Gilda Bumanglah won in the coconut-based product contest while LSG Handicrafts Manufacturing was chosen for the non-food category.
In the cacao category, the Rural Improvement Club of Constantino (RICCO) was named champion, with Bumanglag as runner-up.
The cacao products features were choco nuts chewy, chocolate peanut butter, cacao bites, coated cacao and scrapbook made from cacao leaves.
Entries in the coco products contests included a charcoal deodorizer, flower vase with pen holder, “garapon de bagul,” “alak sa kareta,” “bukoron,” “turones de mani” with coconut and sesame seeds, and coco caramelized.