Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

PDMASP is another program under the program beneficiary development (PBD) which concerns on giving free college education to children and direct descendants of CARP beneficiaries. This educational assistance is envisioned to interface with the improvement of land tenure by addressing the need to elevate the educational status of the farmers to allow their children assume greater responsibility for progress and responsibility. The PDMASP also aims to develop a poll of highly motivated and educated dependents of ARBs equipped with appropriate farming technologies.

The implementation of PDMASP is in partnership with state universities and colleges and in line with the 10-point priority agenda of the Arroyo Administration to provide educational scholarship to the deserving children of poor families. This was launched in 2003 in honor of President Diosdado Macapagal who himself was a son of a farmer, and who signed the agrarian reform program in the country in 1963 through Republic Act 3844 also known as the Agricultural Land Reform Code.

At present, there are about 1,787 agraryo iskolars nationwide enrolled in agriculture related courses in different state schools and universities in the country. They are provided under the PDMASP with free tuition fee, book allowance every semester and modest monthly allowance.

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PDMASP Vision

The Department of Agrarian Reform, through the implementation of the President Diosdado Macapagal Agrarian Scholarship Program is deeply committed in developing a pool of highly motivated, technically equipped and well-educated dependents of agrarian reform beneficiaries who are GOD-fearing and law-abiding citizens that will assume the responsibility for managing the lands awarded to them under CARP, serve as effective agents of change in the development of agriculture and in helping improve the quality of life of the people in their communities.

PDMASP Mission

The Department of Agrarian Reform, through the President Diosdado Macapagal Agrarian Scholarship Program intends to:

Develop a pool of well-educated and trained people and dependents of agrarian reform beneficiaries who will eventually assume the responsibility of working and making productive the lands awarded to them under CARP and;

Produce scholars who will also serve as agents of change to assist the government in the development and modernization of agriculture and in improving the quality of life in the rural communities.

PDMASP Philisophy

Every individual regardless of race, creed and affiliation has the alienable right to quality education to enable each and everyone to lead a dignified and productive life as a human being. In upholding this universal right and in consonance with the mandate of the law to provide agrarian reform beneficiaries support services necessary to make productive lands awarded to them under CARP, DAR shall make available to poor and derserving dependents of the beneficiaries the oppurtunity to be educated under conditions that will empower the mto assume greater responsibility for their own development.

The Scholarship Benefits

Free tuition and miscellaneous school fees in an amount not exceeding one thousand five hundred pesos (P1,500.00) per semester to be paid directly to the school where the grantee is enrolled.

A monthly stipend in the amount of eight hundred pesos (P800.00) to be paid directly to the scholarship grantee for every month that he or she is in actual school attendance in the first and second semester of the school year.

An allowance in the amount of five hundred pesos (P500.00) per semester to pay for the books, school supplies and materials needed to be paid direct to the scholarship grantee.

An accident insurance coverage against valid for one calendar year from the date of issue.

Upon enrollment in the state collage and university of their choice, the grantee shall be assured of the following services:

>>> The use of on-campus educational, recreational, sports and religious facilities

>>> Free guidance and counseling services

>>> Access to student health services

>>> Membership in institutionally recognized student campus organizations and attendace in

student assemblies and convocations

>>> Participation in worthwhile off and on-campus activities that will help enhance the personality,

skills and competency of the grantee

>>> Access to canteen and food services

>>> Security and protective services

Note: Outside the following enumerations no other benifits such as lodging in dormitories, transportation to and from school and home, school uniforms, graduation expenses, laboratory "breakages", etc., will be shouldered by the program.

Qualifications for a Scholarship Grant

The scholarship program will be available to all qualified dependents of ARBs found in all municipalities, provincies and regions of the country or where CARP is being implemented. Qualified ARBs should be CLOA holders, either as amortizing owners, hired workers of a commercial farm placed under the coverage of CARP or agricultural lessees duly registered with DAR. There will be no distinction made on where the ARBs originate, i.e. from an Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) or not and as to creed and political affiliation.

On the other hand, qualified dependents may either be the sons and daughters of the ARBs, grandchildren of ARBs, and wards of ARBs who are the legal guardians of the applicants. For this purpose only one (1) family member of an ARB will be qualified to becoma a grantee of the scholarship program.

Qualifications of Applicants

Must be dependent of an agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB).

Must be a high school graduate at the time of application and graduated with a general average of at least 80% or its equivalent.

Must have passed the college admission test given by the state owned college or university where the applicants will enroll.

Must be in good physical health and moral character.

Must be single and not more than 25 years of age at the time of application.

Must not be convicted in any case involving moral turpitude and without any pending criminal case in court.

Courses Eligible for Enrollment

Qualified applicants extended a scholarship grants under PDMASP will be allowed to enroll only in any 4-year college courses of their choice but preferebly related to agriculture. The following are the preferred agri-related courses:

B.S. in Agriculture

B.S. in Agri-Business

B.S. in Agricultural Education

B.S. in Animal Husbandry

B.S. in Agricultural Economics

B.S. in Fishery Technology

B.S. in Food Technology

B.S. in Community Development and Rural Sociology

However, if the applicant for a scholarship grant has the aptitude and interest to enroll in a 4-year technology course not related to agriculture, the program may allow enrollment provided such courses are offered in the state-owned college or university of the applicant's choice and after obtaining a written clearance fronm the Office of the Regional Director of the Department in the locality where the school is situated.

In like manner and under very exceptional cases, the program may allow applicants for scholarship to 5-year technical courses provided that the dependent has completed all First Year subjects and will be seeking entry as a scholar only for the remaining four (4) years of the course that the grantee is enrolled in, provided further, that the applicant for scholarship has all the qualifications necessary for admission to the program. In cases such as the one cited, the applicant must first secure the approval of the Office of the Regional Director before the National Program Office is consulted.

Once the scholars have enrolled in the courses of their choice the grantees are strictly required by the program to complete the course they have enrolled in, unless otherwise disqualified for cause. In the course of enrollment, the grantees will not be allowed to shift courses or enroll in subjects not included in the core subjects of the course that the grantee has initially enrolled in.

Ladder-type certificate courses related to agriculture and/or the application of agricultural technology or non-degree techno-vocational courses on agriculture mar also be allowed for enrollment by the program, provided that these courses are preferred to by the applicants and are available in state-owned trade school and colleges. Enrollment of scholars in privately-owned techno-vocational schools may also be allowed by the program only after pre-approval by the National Program Office and only with techno-vocational schools or institutions authorized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Admission to the Program

A. Documentary Requirements

It is a basic policy that admission to the program is conditional based on the required credentials and certifications.

An applicant for scholarship who submits fake or credentials shall be administratively and criminally liable. In this case, the applicant shall be banned permanently from re-applying for scholarship under the program and will be required to pay for the cost of the damages incurred as a consequence.

Letter of application duly noted by the parent or legal guardian and two 2"x2" non-pasted colored picture with applicant' ssignature written at the back of the pictures.

Certified machine copy of the birth certificate of the applicant.

Barangay Clearance issued at least one (1) month prior to the time of filing of the application.

Certification by the Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) assigned in the are that the applicant is a bonafide dependent or under the legal guardianship of an ARB.

Certified machine-copy of the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) for amortizing owners and/or DAR-approved Leasehold Agreement of the sponsoring ARB.

Machine copy of FORM 137 (High School Diploma).

Letter of Commitment and Endorement by the ARB parent or legal guardian of the applicant.

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Honor Graduates

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Detials and Inquiries

For details and other inquiries, you may contact Ms. Delia Sanidad of President Diosdado Macapagal Agrarian Scholarship Program (PDMASP) Secretariat at telephone number 489-9048.