The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) offers various scholarship programs for Filipinos, especially overseas Filipino worker (OFW) dependents. Hence, as an overseas Filipino worker, these scholarship grants and training programs are very helpful financially and great perks or benefits while working away from home and their families.
It is important to know the different scholarship programs that your dependents may avail themselves of, if qualified. One of the basic requirements is to have an active membership in OWWA. That is why it is important to keep your OWWA membership active to avail yourself of scholarship grants for your dependents.
Before that, we have compiled a list of all OWWA Scholarships Programs in case you do not have anything in mind about what kind of scholarship program OWWA offers for its active members.
What is Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)?
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is an agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that focuses on the welfare and well-being of every overseas Filipino worker. It is a membership institution that protects and promotes the welfare of the OFWs including their dependents. Additionally, OWWA assists overseas Filipino workers whenever they encounter concerns with their employees. Aside from that, OWWA offers various educational scholarships and training programs for the OFW dependents.
Here’s a list of the different educational scholarships and training programs and check out where you wish to avail yourself for your dependents.
Education and Scholarship Grants for Members
1. Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP)
The Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) is a scholarship grant intended for the qualified dependents of OFWs. They are entitled to receive a maximum of Php 60,000 per year until they finish and graduate from a 4-year or 5-year baccalaureate course. Freshmen students or incoming 1st Year students will undergo a selection process through the DOST national examinations, whereby only the top 400 passers shall get a slot for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) from Freshmen and 600 slots for those students who have already earned some units in college.
2. Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)
The Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) is a scholarship grant that is educational assistance intended for the dependents of the active OWWA members who wish to enroll or are currently enrolled in any technical-vocational (tech-voc) courses. Scholars shall receive monetary assistance up to Php 14,500 per course leading to the completion of a technical or vocational course in any school accredited by TESDA, MARINA, and other government training institutions.
3. OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP)
The OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP) is a scholarship program intended for the dependents of OFWs who receives a monthly salary of not more than US$ 600 and who will enroll or are currently enrolled in any 4-year or 5-year baccalaureate course or associate course in any college or university. Scholars are entitled to receive Php 20,000 per school year.
4. Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP)
This Education Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) scholarship program is intended for the survivors of the deceased OFWs that are active members of OWWA at the time of death and families of OFWs who are incarcerated or convicted and meted out the death penalty in foreign countries.
This scholarship program aims to provide financial assistance for the continuing education of a qualified dependent, and a livelihood activity for surviving members of the family to augment the family income. The beneficiaries are entitled to receive a livelihood program amounting to Php 15,000 and educational assistance for their children who are in school-age qualified for the scholarship grant.
The eldest or firstborn is qualified for the scholarship grant. By any chance that the eldest is not qualified, the next born shall be elected. They are entitled to receive financial educational assistance that covers primary (Kindergarten) of Php 5,000, secondary education of Php 8,000, and tertiary education of Php 10,000.
Educational and Training Programs
5. OWWA Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP)
The OWWA Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP) is a short-term training for seafarers. They are entitled to receive Php 7,500 per upgrading course in accredited maritime training centers/institutions to ensure competitive advantage in meeting International Maritime Organizations competency standards.
6. Mariner’s Dugtong Aral (Bridging) Program (MDA)
The Mariner’s Dugtong Aral (Bridging) Program (MDA) is a bridging program scholarship grant intended for selected engineering students who want to become seafarers with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (BSME) or electrical engineering (BSEE). This program is only intended for those who want to take up a Marine Engineering course to become Marine Officers. Beneficiaries are entitled to receive a maximum of Php 38,120 plus a 3-month stipend of Php 15,000.
7. Pre-Departure Education Program
OWWA offers two (2) Pre-Departure Education Programs. The first one is the Country Specific Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) which is a mandatory orientation seminar to orient departing migrant workers with basic information that is most beneficial to them. The seminars are country-specific and in some cases, skill-specific. It aims to provide basic information about work standards, the general profile of the country of destination, stages of the OFW’s life abroad, health & safety, travel tips, airport procedure, and government programs & services.
The second one is the Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program for Household Service Workers (CPDEP for HSWs) which is a two to six-day orientation seminar for departing household service workers to address the difficulty confronting the OFWs relating to the language barrier, as well as the culture of destination countries.
8. Information Technology (IT) Training Program
The Information Technology (IT) Training Program is a basic computer literacy program intended to upgrade the IT skills of OFWs and their families. There are IT Training centers that were set up in OWWA Regional Offices and other overseas posts initially to enhance family connectivity using mobile and internet connections which over time evolved into teaching IT applications to upgrade the skills and knowledge of OFWs and dependents for employment.
Special Education Scholarships
9. Project EASE (Educational Assistance through Scholarship in Emergencies)
Project EASE (Educational Assistance through Scholarship in Emergencies) is an educational assistance that provides financial assistance amounting to Php 10,000 per annum for a maximum of 4 years in college. This is intended for the qualified dependent of an active OWWA member-OFW at the time of repatriation to the country from the Coronavirus 2019 outbreak on 01 February 2020, until the pandemic is declared controlled and managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) or any other competent authorities.
10. Tabang OFW Program
The Tabang OFW Program is special educational assistance or program of OWWA intended for the dependent OFWs who are studying in college. It can only be availed when the overseas Filipino worker has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic situation and lost their jobs, passed away, or has been repatriated. Their dependents are eligible to receive financial assistance amounting to Php 30,000 cash scholarship aid.
Video: OWWA Scholarships for OFWs and Dependents
This video is very helpful and insightful as you will get to know more about the different scholarship programs offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
In this video, you will also learn about the eligibility and requirements for the scholarship and training programs. Additionally, you will learn the process of applying for each of the scholarship programs being discussed. Hence, you must watch this video to further learn about the different scholarships and training programs offered by OWWA.
If you want to know more about the scholarships and training programs offered by OWWA, you can visit their official website here – https://owwa.gov.ph/.
Summary
Thus, there are various scholarships and training programs OWWA offers for the dependents of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Bear in mind that most of these scholarship grants and training programs are intended only for the dependents of overseas Filipino workers who are active members of OWWA. You can also check out the official website of OWWA to learn more about these scholarship and training programs.
Hence, if you think you are qualified or your dependent is qualified for any of the above-mentioned scholarship and training programs, do not hesitate to apply when the application period starts.