TACLOBAN CITY– The Commission on Higher Education (ChEd) in the region has distributed the first-semester allowances for new scholars under the Scholarship for Coconut Farmers and their Families (CoScho) program.
The ceremonial event, led by ChEd Regional Director Maximo Aljibe, was held on December 18 at Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) and its external campuses for Academic Year 2024-2025.
A total of 173 scholars were awarded financial assistance, with each receiving P70,000, amounting to a total distribution of P12.11 million.
Aljibe emphasized the transformative power of education, particularly in uplifting the lives of coconut farmers and their families.
He urged the scholars to make the most of this opportunity, excel academically, and contribute to the progress of their communities.
CoScho is a government initiative led by the ChED in collaboration with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
This program is designed to provide educational opportunities to coconut farmers and their families, aiming to improve their quality of life and empower them through higher education.
The target beneficiaries of the program are children or immediate family members of coconut farmers, and even coconut farmers themselves who wish to pursue higher education.
The program seeks to uplift the socioeconomic conditions of coconut farming communities by enabling access to quality education, which is seen as a pathway to better livelihood opportunities.
While scholars can enroll in any recognized program, there is a particular emphasis on agricultural or coconut-related studies to benefit the coconut farming industry directly.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
