An OFW OWWA member may avail for himself/herself or his/her duly designated beneficiary any of the following scholarship programs, subject to a selection process and accreditation of participating institutions.
1. Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP)
The Education for Development Scholarship Program is a scholarship grant offered to qualified beneficiaries/dependents of OWWA member-OFWs who intend to enroll in any 4 to 5-year baccalaureate course.
It is given in the form of a financial assistance amounting to P 30,000.00 per semester. The OWWA pays the tuition fee directly to the school and releases the remaining amount upon the scholars’ submission of grades for the semester.
2. Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)
The Skills for Employment Scholarship Program is a scholarship program that the OWWA offers in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to land-based or sea-based OWWA member-OFW’s or their dependents/beneficiaries.
A qualified applicant may avail of either a one-year technical of a six-month vocational course offered following the regular school year calendar.
Upon receipt of the scholarship voucher, the grantee may enroll in any TESDA-registered program. Program choices shall be supportive of the land – and sea-based skills requirement. Financial assistance for a one-year program is P14,500.00 while for a six-month program is P7,250.00.
The amount of financial assistance will be paid directly to the training institution. If the tuition fee is more than the financial assistance, the scholar will shoulder the difference. If the tuition fee is less, the difference will be given to the scholar upon completion of the course.
Course offerings include: agriculture and fishery; processed food and beverages; tourism (hotel and restaurant); decorative crafts and ceramics; gifts, toys and housewares; jewelry; metals and engineering; furniture and fixtures; garments; construction; communication/electronics/information technology; maritime; land transport; health, social services; and other community, social and personal services.
3. Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP)
The Seafarers’ Upgrading Program is intended to provide OWWA-member seafarers job-related training in priority maritime courses identified by the Maritime Training Council. It is designed to upgrade the skills, and develop the expertise of Filipino seafarers in accordance with technological advancements and international maritime standards.
Beneficiaries under the SUP receive from OWWA financial assistance for training costs, ranging from a minimum of P 1,200.00 to a maximum of P 7,500.00. These amounts are inclusive of meal and transportation allowances in the case of trainees referred to the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP).
Filipino seafarers who are active OWWA members may avail of the program. Beneficiaries may subsequently avail of the SUP after payment of three (3) additional membership contributions and if training is availed of within the prescribed period.
The Seafarers’ Upgrading Program is intended to provide OWWA-member seafarers job-related training in priority maritime courses identified by the Maritime Training Council. It is designed to upgrade the skills, and develop the expertise of Filipino seafarers in accordance with technological advancements and international maritime standards.
4. DOLE-OWWA Tulay Microsoft Project
In partnership with Microsoft Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and OWWA has launched Tulay or Bridge Education Program, which provides OFWs IT training and access to technology that will enable them and thei families to communicate through the internet.
The Tulay or Bridge Education Program is a part of Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential (UP), a global initiative aimed at providing technology and skills for underserved individuals. OFWs and their families learn the basics of computer applications such as MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel as well as internet and e-mail use at the Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLC).
Through Tulay, the OWWA expects OFWs to gain IT skills that will enhance their work, thus increasing their value in the workplace. These new IT skills can further help them become more competitive in pursuing a career in the country upon their return.
The project also aims to address the primary issue of family disintegration. It is hoped that through the project, problems arising form OFWs’ prolonged separation from their families will be greatly minimized and as it mitigates the social impact of being away from home because of the accessibility and ease of using technology to connect and communicate to loved ones at home.
The CTLCs being maintained and operated by DOLE-OWWA are located at the OWWA Central Office, OWWA Satellite Office in POEA, OWWA Regional Welfare Offices as well as OWWA overseas posts in Riyadh (KSA), Hong Kong, Taichung (Taiwan).
5. Tuloy-Aral Project
The Tuloy-Aral Project was launched in December 2004 with the objective of assisting the children of less fortunate former OFWs as well as other poor and needy elementary and high school children.
The DOLE and the OWWA regional offices, with the assistance of DSWD, identify children of former OFWs needing financial assistance to send to school. The DSWD or DOLE/OWWA prepares a family profile that shall serve as the basis for the selection of the beneficiary.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) are tasked to promote and identify OFWs who are successful, financially stable and in good standing to act as prospective sponsoring parents. OFW organizations may also volunteer to act as sponsor parents.
Identified sponsoring parents are requested to provide a US $ 100.00 financial support per year to the child-beneficiary to enable him/her to continue his/her elementary or high school education. The amount will help cover for expenses such as books, school supplies, materials for projects, transportation, authorized school contributions, and allowance for the whole school year.
The OWWA Family Welfare Officers monitor each child’s progress in school. The Tuloy-Aral project is nationwide in coverage as it is being replicated in each region of the country.
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