Seeking to promote the development of agriculture and fisheries in the country, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) introduced the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Grants-in-Aid for Higher Education Program (ACEF-GIAHEP).
Based on R.A. 10848 or the “Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Extension Law,” this program is open to all qualified undergraduates who will enroll, or are currently enrolled, in Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, and other related agricultural education programs.
Program Benefits
Program beneficiaries enrolled in State/Local Universities and Colleges (SUCs/LUCs) as well as in Private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are entitled to the following benefits:
SUCs/LUCs
Every year, students enrolled in SUCs/LUCs will receive: free tuition and other school fees; stipend worth PHP 35,000 (PHP 17,500/semester); and book allowance amounting to PHP 5,000 (PHP 2,500/semester).
Private HEIs
Meanwhile, those enrolled in private HEIs will get: PHP 20,000 for tuition and other school fees; stipend worth PHP 35,000; and book allowance amounting to PHP 5,000 per academic year. Per semester, these amounts correspond to: PHP 10,000; PHP 17,500; and PHP 2,500, respectively.
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Eligibility
To qualify for the program, an applicant must:
- Be a Filipino citizen;
- Be a graduating high school student, high school graduate, or with earned college academic units relevant to identified degree programs;
- Enroll or is currently enrolled in Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, and other related agricultural education programs in a CHED-recognized SUC/LUC or private HEI;
- Have parents/guardians whose combined annual gross income does not exceed PHP 400,000;
- Preferably be a dependent of a registered farmer and/or fisherfolk in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and other registry systems;
- Not be a beneficiary of any government-funded student financial assistance program; and
- Not be convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
Requirements
Applicants need to prepare these documentary requirements:
- Certified true copy of Birth Certificate;
- Any of the following academic requirements: (a) Form 138 for senior high school graduates; (b) certified true copy of grades for Grade 11 and 1st semester of Grade 12 for graduating senior high school students; or (c) certified copy of grades for latest semester/term attended for applicants with earned college units;
- Any of the following proof of income: (a) latest Income Tax Return (ITR) of parents/guardians if emploted; (b) Certificate of Tax Exemption from Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); (c) Certificate of No Income from BIR; (d) Certificate/Case Study Report from City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWD);
- Proof that the student applicant belongs to special group/s (if applicable).
Application Procedure
Interested applicants are encouraged to submit an application to the nearest CHED Regional Office. The office will evaluate the application and recommend the master list to the CHED Office of Student Development and Services (OSDS). Eventually, the OSDS will validate and approve the list of qualified beneficiaries, for funding purposes.
To know more about this program, everyone is urged to visit the CHED official website.
Indeed, the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Grants-in-Aid for Higher Education Program (ACEF-GIAHEP) is a big help to students who are taking up agriculture, fisheries, and other related courses.
Meanwhile, for those who are aspiring to be statisticians or data scientists, CHED offers the Scholarship Program for Future Statisticians (ESTATISKOLAR). Check out this link for more details about it.