CHED Opens 212 Coconut Scholarship Slots in Negros Island Region for AY 2026–2027

AGRI-NEWS | Farming Posted on 2026-08-04 16:44:31

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is inviting qualified applicants from the Negros Island Region (NIR) to apply for 212 scholarship slots under the Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and Their Families (CoScho) for Academic Year 2026–2027, expanding educational opportunities for farming communities while supporting the long-term growth of the country's coconut industry.

In an announcement released Tuesday, the CHED–Negros Island Region said applications will be accepted until August 31 through the official CoScho online application portal.

Eligible applicants include deserving coconut farmers registered in the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS) as well as qualified undergraduate students currently enrolled in CHED-recognized degree programs.

The scholarship program covers applicants from the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, which comprise the newly established Negros Island Region.

Of the 212 scholarship allocations for the region, 80 percent are reserved for priority degree programs identified by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), while the remaining 20 percent are open to students pursuing other eligible academic fields.

The scholarship expansion follows the issuance of a Joint Memorandum Circular by CHED and the PCA in June 2026, introducing revised implementing guidelines designed to make the selection process more efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of qualified beneficiaries.

Under the updated guidelines, both agencies will jointly evaluate applicants to ensure that scholarship grants reach deserving recipients while providing enhanced educational support throughout their studies.

Nationwide, the CoScho Program offers 10,789 scholarship slots for Academic Year 2026–2027, consisting of 3,965 continuing scholars and 6,824 new beneficiaries, making it one of the government's largest education assistance initiatives dedicated to agricultural communities.

A distinctive feature of the program is its return service component, which encourages scholar-graduates to contribute their expertise to the development of the Philippine coconut industry by promoting innovation, increasing productivity, and supporting sustainable growth in coconut-producing communities.

According to CHED, the CoScho Program reflects the government's continuing commitment to expanding access to quality higher education for underserved sectors while investing in human capital that will help modernize agriculture, strengthen rural economies, and improve the competitiveness of one of the country's most important agricultural industries.

NPO News Team I PNA-CHED_NIR-PR

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