How to Apply OWWA Tuloy Aral Project

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) mandate is to protect and support does not start and end with their member OFWs. The truth is, the agency is supposed to cover for active, inactive, undocumented, repatriated, distressed, dismissed, and even deceased OFWs. Not only that, they are expected to provide support to the families and selected beneficiaries of these migrant workers.

Read: List of OWWA Scholarship Programs

We look into the OWWA initiative that helps them keep up with the mandate to protect and assist the OFWs, particularly those who don’t earn as much as the rest and are struggling to make ends meet. In particular, we are interested in sharing the details of OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP), a nationwide program specifically designed for the poor and needy elementary and high school children of less fortunate former OFWs. So should you be interested, or if you know someone who might benefit from this program, feel free to let this article walk you through the program application process.

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What is OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP)

The OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP) was a POLO-OWWA initiative launched in December 2004 with the end goal of providing assistance to the less fortunate children of former OFWs as well as the children of marginalized families to help them continue studying.

The program involves identifying successful and financially stable OFWs with the help of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and coaxing them to become donors who will voluntarily support the academic expenses of the young needy beneficiaries of the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP).

Under the program, each identified donor is requested to provide US$100.00 annual financial support per child-beneficiary which will help cover for other school expenditures like books, school supplies, projects, etc.

Along with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the OWWA regional offices, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the program also identifies the children of former OFWs needing financial assistance and prepares a family profile that will serve as the basis of the volunteer OFW donors in their selection of beneficiaries.

The program also involves having the OWWA Family Welfare Officers monitor each child’s progress in school, even as the agency scales the program coverage to be replicated in the regions.

Do note that this benefit program is not only designed to help but also to connect both active and inactive OWWA OFW members and their qualified dependents with other families.

Benefits of the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP)

Under the program, the approved elementary and high school applicants who become beneficiaries of the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP) will receive the following benefits:

An annual donation of up to US$100.00 from their sponsor OFWs or OFW families to be used for an elementary or high school student’s expenses at school including uniforms, books, and laboratory fees, library fees, and other facilities
A complete family profile which will serve as the basis of the volunteer OFW donors in their selection of beneficiaries
The guidance and monitoring of an OWWA Family Welfare Officer to watch each child’s progress in school
A chance to connect OFW families together
A chance to apply for OWWA’s Extension Program, Tuloy Kolehiyo, which offers Php 15,000.00 to underprivileged incoming or current college students per academic year.

Qualifications for the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP)

To qualify for the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP), an applicant must satisfy the following minimum qualifications:

A child of a married or a single parent OWWA OFW member, or a sibling, niece, or nephew of an unmarried OWWA OFW member
Not older than 21 years of age
A Filipino citizen
In good overall health and moral character
Enrolled in any public elementary or high school
Has a general average of at least 80% or equivalent
Part of the top 20% of the graduating class

Requirements for the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP)

If you satisfied the qualifying criteria for the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP), then you may want to check this list of documentary requirements that you will need to provide to apply for and avail the benefits of this program.

Here’s a complete list of documents that you need to provide:

Two (2) copies of recent and identical 1×1 ID picture
Two (2) copies of duly accomplished Tuloy-Aral Program scholarship application form
Certificate of Good Moral Character signed by the school principal or the school guidance counselor
Official document of grades
Form 137
Report card
Transcript of Records (TOR)
Health certificate issued by a physician
Notarized statement or certification to prove that the applicant has not taken any post-secondary or undergraduate courses prior to application for the TAP
Official Statement certifying that the applicant is not a dual citizen and has no pending immigration application, signed by either the parent or a legal guardian
OFW’s proof of OWWA membership
Membership Record secured from the OWWA RWO
Official receipt of OWWA membership contribution
OFW E-Card
Any proof of OWWA membership
Proof of relationship to OWWA member
Birth Certificate of the applicant, if the applicant is a child of active OWWA member OFW who is married or single
CENOMAR of OFW and birth certificate of OFW child, sibling, niece, or nephew, if the active OWWA member OFW is single.

Procedure for Applying for the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP)

Once the documentary requirements are completed, you may now follow these steps to apply for the TAP:

If you are in the Philippines: Secure an appointment to the nearest OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO):
Use the appointment scheduler available on the OWWA website (appointment.owwa.gov.ph).
Use the appointment scheduler on the OWWA Mobile App.
If you are abroad: Head to the designated POLO office for international applicants.
On the selected date of the appointment, visit the selected OWWA RWO that is closest to the OFW-member’s permanent address or the POLO Office closest to the member OFW’s location.
Secure a queueing number for the appropriate line for the desired educational assistance program.
Queue in line for the educational assistance programs.
Get a TAP application form from the processor or evaluator at the OWWA RWO or the POLO Office.
Accomplish the form by filling it in with the required information.
Attach the documentary requirements prepared beforehand.
Submit your application for the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP).
Once submitted, wait for either a call, a text or an email from an authorized OWWA or POLO representative regarding the status of your application.
If you are selected as one of the TAP beneficiaries, you will then be notified via text or email as to how to receive the financial assistance from the sponsoring OFW or OFW family.

Important Reminders

The OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP) is the agency’s initiative for the poor, launched with the help of the OFW community built by OWWA itself. It’s an interesting project, exclusively designed to help elementary- and high school-level students from poor families of former OFWs or those from financially-challenged families who find it difficult to send their kids to school without any form of support.

If you are interested in the program or if you know someone who might be in need of this privilege, then here are a few things that you need to know about it:

Though the Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP) is a collaborative program between DOLE, POLO, OWWA, and DSWD, the initiative mainly runs on donations, so it is not funded by the agencies or the government.
The agencies are tasked to identify both potential sponsors and beneficiaries, though beneficiaries would still need to apply to be able to join the program.
The program caters specifically to poor elementary and high school children of former OFWs or the poor, needy, and marginalized families.
While the program caters exclusively to elementary and high school students, there exists an extension program called Tuloy Kolehiyo which is offered to underprivileged incoming or current college students.
Unlike other OWWA scholarship programs, the beneficiary may apply for as many slots as possible though it must be only for one child.
Because it runs only on donated funds from volunteer sponsors, there is no guarantee that the child will be accepted into the program and will receive monetary support from sponsors.
Student beneficiaries will be monitored long after the slot for the Tuloy-Aral Project is awarded.

Video: Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP) Awarding Ceremony – Region 1

Watch this video from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) dated March 2020 as then-OWWA Deputy Administrator for Media and Public Affairs Esther Margaux “Mocha” J. Uson with then-OWWA Regional Director Gerardo Rimorin distribute financial assistance to 15 OFW family beneficiaries of the Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP) at the OWWA Regional Office 1 in San Fernando City, La Union.

Watch the full video of the awarding ceremony here:

These families were not as successful as the other OFWs who tried their luck abroad so they will be receiving financial assistance amounting anywhere from Php 3,000.00 to Php 5,000.00 to help them with the expenses of their children’s education. The distributed assistance came from the donations of the OFW’s rebates under the OFW Rebate Program of OWWA which started in 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions

In case you are interested, you may also check out these frequently asked questions and answers about the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP):

1. What is Tuloy Aral Program? Is it the same as the other OWWA scholarship projects?

The OWWA Tuloy-Aral Program (TAP) is an educational scholarship project initiative specifically designed to help support the studies and academic expenses of elementary- and secondary-level children of unemployed or former OFWs. It is somehow different from the other OWWA scholarships in the sense that while the other programs are government-funded, the Tuloy-Aral Project is funded by donations from more financially stable OFWs or their families who have been invited by OWWA to volunteer and sponsor the TAP beneficiaries. It is also specifically dedicated to support younger beneficiaries instead of college-level students or OFWs.

2. Who is qualified to apply for the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Program (TAP)?

The program is currently open to needy children of both active and inactive OWWA OFW members. The OFWs must either be unemployed or have finished their contract and have not gone back to employment. Plus, the student beneficiaries must be OFW dependents who are yet to complete their elementary or high school level studies, at the time of application.

3. Who determines who is qualified for the program?

The beneficiaries of the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Program (TAP) are carefully vetted and selected by OWWA Family Welfare Officers for each POLO office. The POLO Offices are tasked to monitor the project too, and they are the ones who invite potential sponsor OFWs or OFW families, as well as the ones who review and assess applications. The selected applicants for the program are then compiled by DOLE and a family profile is created with help from the DSWD before it is sent out to the potential sponsors. The OWWA Family Welfare Officers are also in-charge of monitoring the project and the student-beneficiaries of the program.

4. How much is the OWWA Tuloy-Aral project grant?

Each approved applicant is entitled to receive an annual grant amounting to up to US$ 100.00. This amount is expected to cover the student’s educational expenses, including but not limited to the books, uniforms, and use of school facilities like laboratories and libraries.

5. Is it possible to apply for the TAP grant for more than one child?

No. Though it is okay to send multiple applications for the grant, it is only allowed to submit an application for one child for each family. Even so, because the program is funded by donations from volunteers and sponsors, there is no guarantee that more than one approval will be given.

6. Is there a Tuloy-Aral grant for college-level beneficiaries? If so, how do I apply for that?

The Tuloy-Aral Program is exclusively for elementary- and high school-level students, but there is an extension program called Tuloy-Kolehiyo which is available for college-level student beneficiaries of former, unemployed, or financially challenged OFWs. The application process for Tuloy-Kolehiyo is basically the same as that of the Tuloy-Aral Project.

7. Is the Tuloy-Aral program an OWWA loan?

Just like the other OWWA educational assistance program, the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Program (TAP) is not a loan. It is a financial grant provided by OWWA and there is no need to pay it back.

8. Who do I reach out to if I have questions or concerns regarding the Tuloy-Aral Program?

For any questions or concerns, or you want to learn more about the Tuloy-Aral Program, then you may contact the OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs) or POLO Offices. You may also reach out to the OWWA head office directly through the following contact information:

Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA)

Office Address: F.B. Harrison St, Pasay, Metro Manila

Tel. No.: 8891-7601 to 24

OWWA hotline number: 1348, (02) 1348 (Regional), (+632) 1348 (International)

OWWA Email Address: owwacares@owwa.gov.ph, commandcenter@dole.gov.ph

OWWA Facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/OWWAofficial

OWWA website: https://owwa.gov.ph/

You may also download and install the OWWA Mobile App from either Google Play Store or Apple Store so you can stay updated on the latest OWWA projects and programs created specifically for active, and inactive Filipino migrant workers who wish to avail of the benefit of the grant. The OWWA Satellite Offices through their Facebook pages can also be contacted for more comprehensive information about the project.

Summary

Many Filipinos dream of working abroad to strive to build and provide better for their loved ones back home. Just like everything else in life, not all OFWs successfully accomplish such a feat. If that happens, know that you always have the option of getting you student dependents to apply for the benefits of the Tabang OFW.

The financial benefits of the Tabang OFW Program is not the end-all and be-all of this program though. More than the financial assistance for the kids, the beneficiary family is also getting the chance to connect to another OFW family who can hopefully teach the other party how it ended up being successful. Simply ut, it’s also a community-building initiative, devised under the guise of an educational assistance program. Such a program is an embodiment of the genuine Filipino service that OWWA aims to deliver to all Filipinos worldwide.

Contact Information

For more info on Tuloy Aral Program and other OWWA programs, you may visit their website at www.owwa.gov.ph or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OWWAofficial. You may also reach out to OWWA directly by reaching out through either of the following contact information: