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WHEREAS, Congress enacted into law Republic Act No. 9496 (RA No. 9496) otherwise known as “An Act to Extend the Utilization Period of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), amending Republic Act No. 8178 entitled An Act Replacing Quantitative Import Restrictions on Agricultural Products, Except Rice, with Tariffs, Creating the ACEF, and for Other Purposes.”

WHEREAS, Section 8. of RA 9496 states that ten percent (10%) of the Fund shall be set aside and earmarked for funding of a comprehensive scholarship program for agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary medicine education.

WHEREAS, there is a need for the issuance of a separate set of guidelines for this purpose to govern the funding of a comprehensive scholarship program.

NOW, THEREFORE, this administrative order containing the rules and regulations, that will govern the disposition and utilization of ACEF for Scholarship Program is hereby issued.

SECTION I. General Framework -

A. DECLARATION OF POLICY

Consistent with the provision of DA Administrative Order No. 19, series of 2009, this issuance maintains the thrust of being supportive of the goal of the national economy for a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and an expanding productivity as the key in raising the quality of life for all especially the underprivileged.

B. CLIENTELE

Incoming college, post-secondary and returning students in participating State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-managed or supervised education and training institutions offering agriculture, fishery and forestry and other courses useful to agriculture and fisheries development.

C. SOURCE OF FUND/FUND ALLOCATION

Ten percent (10%) of the total available funds in Special Fund 183 upon effectivity of this AO.

D. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEME

Regional Allocation or By Demand/Number of Interested Scholars per Region. The concerned SUCs/Institutions will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the DA-ACEF ExeCom. Funds will be downloaded to the SUCs/Institutions upon effectivity of MOA and availability of funds as released by the Department of Budget and Management subject to accounting and audit rules and regulations.

E. PARTICIPATING SCHOOL

Any SUC and TESDA-managed and supervised education and training institutions offering degree, diploma and certificate courses in agriculture, fishery and forestry and other courses useful to agriculture and fisheries development.

F. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

1. Bachelor of Science in Agriculture;
2. Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Chemistry;
3. Bachelor of Science in Food Technology under the College of Agriculture
4. Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics;
5. Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management;
6. Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering;
7. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine;
8. Bachelor of Science in Fisheries;
9. Bachelor of Science in Forestry;
10. Other Agriculture related degree courses;
11. Diploma and certificate courses in agriculture, fishery and forestry and other courses useful to agriculture and fisheries development; and
12. Biotech and/or other cutting edge technology courses.

G. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. The student must be a Filipino citizen;
2. Incoming college, post secondary, returning students, and other qualified and interested applicant;
3. He/She intends to enroll at any SUC’s and other TESDA-managed and supervised post-secondary education and training institutions;
4. He/She must be in need of financial assistance;
5. He/She must be physically and mentally fit to undergo education;
6. He/She must be of good moral character; and
7. He/She must not be a recipient of any government scholarship grant of similar nature.

H. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

1. Duly accomplished application form;
2. One (1) copy of passport size picture with signature over printed name at the back;
3. If applicable, income tax returns (including attached BIR Form W-2) of parents/legal guardian. For those who are tax exempt, submit a certificate of exemption from BIR stating the annual gross income. If parents/legal guardian/ spouse is retired submit retirement and/or pension voucher. Certificate of Indigence from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in lieu of the ITR.
4. Barangay clearance;
5. Form 137 from 1st year up to 4th year 2nd quarter;
6. Certificate of good moral character as signed by the school principal; and
7. Certificate of good health from a government physician.

SECTION II. Procedures -

A. APPLICATION PROCESS

The selection, approval and endorsement of scholars will be performed by the partner SUCs.

B. ASSISTANCE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM

1. School Fees - full amount of tuition and other school fees;
2. Student Stipend - maximum of P4,000.00 per month; and
3. P3,000 for book allowance and other course requirements of diploma and certificate courses in TESDA-managed and supervised institutions.

C. OBLIGATIONS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTEE

The grantee must observe the following obligations:

1. Must maintain a GPA of 2.50 every semester;
2. Must not have any conditional or failing grades;
3. Must not drop any subjects;
4. Must take the full semestral load;
5. Must not be subjected to disciplinary action carrying a penalty of one month suspension or more;
6. Must not be convicted of any administrative and criminal charges.
7. Must participate in agricultural and fishery community service such as service to farm, livestock and fishery farmers under the SUC agriculture and fishery extension program either as part of field research or an Adopt-A-Farm, Adopt-A-Fishfarm, Adopt-A-Forest Program of the SUC Extension Office; and
8. Must enter into a contract of agreement with the government to render service (for every year of full scholarship the scholar shall serve two years in the government).

D. MODE OF PAYMENT

The DA-ACEF ExeCom shall directly pay the school (for the tuition and other school fees) upon receipt of the billing statements, deductible from the total fund transferred to the SUCs/Institutions.

The other financial assistance (monthly stipend and book or technical/vocational course requirement allowance) to grantees shall be given by ACEF on a monthly basis through payroll or ATM whichever is applicable.

For the thesis grant, it will be given to the grantee upon enrollment of the thesis.

For the non-thesis grant, it will be given upon the start of the on the job training.

E. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP

1. Information dissemination
2. Selection of Scholars thru the SUCs.
3. Monitoring and evaluation of scholar’s performance.

SECTION III. Effectivity - This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 27 May 2009

(SGD.) ATTY. ARTHUR C. YAP
Secretary