OVERVIEW

Legal Bases: Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10848, “Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Extension Law”

Implementing Guidelines:

• CHED – DA Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2017-7 dated December 5, 2017, “Implementing Guidelines of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Grants-in-Aid for Higher Education Program (ACEF-GIAHEP)”
• CHED Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2018, “Guidelines for the Implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Agriculture (DA) Particularly in Fully Settling the Unpaid Obligation of DA to Its Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF ) Scholars”
• CHED – DA JMC No. 6, Series of 2019, “Amendments to Numbers 6.1 and 6.2 of JMC No. 2017-7
• CHED – DA JMC No. 2, Series of 2024, “Enhanced Implementing Guidelines of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Grants-in-Aid for Higher Education Program”

Objective: 

The ACEF-GIAHEP aims to promote the development of agriculture and fisheries by increasing the number of graduates in higher education who are trained in scientific habit of thought, entrepreneurial skills and technical competencies in the areas of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary medicine education.

Coverage:

The ACEF-GIAHEP is open to all qualified and deserving undergraduate students who will enroll or are currently enrolled in any CHED recognized higher education institution in the areas of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, veterinary medicine education and related agricultural education programs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. Filipino citizen
2. Graduating high school students; high school graduates; with earned college academic units relevant to the identified degree programs;
3. Will enroll or currently enrolled in recognized programs of private higher education institutions or authorized programs of SUCs/LUCs in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, veterinary medicine education and related agricultural education programs;
4. Combined annual gross income of parents/guardians not to exceed Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (₱400,000.00).

*In exceptional cases, where income exceeds ₱400,000.00, CHEDROs shall determine the merit of the application. Said exceptional cases include but are not limited to the following:

1. 1. Applicant who has four (4) or more dependent siblings;
   2. Applicant who has family member/s with medical findings of serious illness;
   3. Applicant whose Overseas Filipino Worker parent/guardian face employment problems, termination or deportation; and
   4. Other similar cases as mentioned above. 

5. Preferably dependent of registered farmers and/or fisherfolks in Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and other registry systems;
6. Must not be a beneficiary of any government funded student financial assistance program; and
7. Must not be convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude

DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

1. Certified true copy of Birth Certificate;
2. Academic requirement:
   1. For senior high school graduates – Form 138;
   2. For graduating senior high school students — duly certified true copy of grades for Grade 11 and 1st semester of Grade 12; and
   3. For applicants with earned units in college — duly certified copy of grades for the latest semester/term attended;
3. Proof of income – ANY of the following:
   1. Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) of parent/s or guardian/s if employed;
   2. Certificate of Tax Exemption from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR);
   3. Certificate of No Income from BIR; or
   4. Certificate/Case Study Report from City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWD).
4. Proof that the student applicant belonged to special group/s (if applicable).

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. Student Applicant should submit application to your CHED Regional Office:

1. The CHED Regional Office will then evaluates and approves application and recommends the master list to CHED OSDS
2. The CHED OSDS will then validates and approves list of qualified beneficiaries for funding purposes

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Private HEIs

SUCs/LUCs

ISSUANCES

Memorandum from the Office of the Chairperson – Call for Applications for the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Grants-in-Aid for Higher Education Program (ACEF-GIAHEP) for Academic Year 2024-2025