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| Overseas Workers Welfare Administration's (OWWA) scholarship programs aim to help ease the financial burden of OFW families and allow them to access quality education and training. Learn more here. |
(UPDATED) Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) make tremendous sacrifices to support their families, including spending extended periods away from home. It's a testament to their dedication and hard work. Fortunately, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) recognizes OFWs' significant contributions to the country and provides support through various programs, including scholarships for their dependents.
These scholarships aim to provide financial assistance to OFW dependents who aspire to pursue their studies and achieve their dreams. The OWWA scholarship programs cover a broad range of academic disciplines, from primary education to technical and vocational courses, as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Through these programs, OWWA helps ease the financial burden of OFW families and allows them to access quality education and training.
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Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP)
The EDSP, or Educational Development Scholarship Program, is a grant offered to qualified Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) dependents. It provides a maximum amount of Php 60,000.00 per school year until the successful completion of a baccalaureate course, typically lasting 4-5 years. The selection of scholars for incoming freshmen is based on the results of the DOST national examinations, with only the top 400 passers being considered for admission.
Meanwhile, for those already enrolled in college, there are 600 slots available. To qualify for this scholarship program, dependents must meet the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) criteria.
Who are eligible?
The Educational Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) may be availed by individuals who meet certain eligibility criteria. These criteria include being either a child of an active Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) member or a sibling of a single active OWWA member.
- For incoming Senior High School students (Grade 12):
- Must possess a General Weighted Average (GWA) of no less than 80% and have no record of any failing grades at the time of application.
- Must have taken and successfully passed the qualifying examination conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and ranked among the top 400 exam passers nationwide.
- For incoming freshmen (1st-year college):
- Must be single, a Grade 11 graduate (incoming Grade 12 / currently enrolled as Grade 12), and not over 21 years old.
- Must have a GWA of 80% or higher.
- If the applicant's GWA still needs to be obtainable at the time of filing the application, the evaluation shall rely on the academic performance of the candidate for the two consecutive preceding school years.
- Must secure a spot among the top 400 qualifiers in the DOST national qualifying exam.
- For those who are already enrolled in the 2nd year to 5th year in college:
- Must be at most 30 years of age.
- Should have achieved a minimum grade of B or its equivalent, which is 85% in all academic and non-academic courses taken in the preceding academic year, with a whole load of coursework.
What are the eligibility requirements?
If you're interested in applying for the EDSP scholarship, here are the eligibility requirements that you need to meet:
- Scholarship Application Form (obtainable from OWWA RWO)
- OFW Membership Record (obtainable from OWWA RWO)
- Two (2) I.D. pictures with a name tag
- At least one (1) valid ID of the OFW and/or the Authorized Representative (government-issued or company-issued I.D.)
- Documentary evidence showing proof of relationship to the OFW member, which may include any of the following:
- Birth certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) or Local Civil Registry (LCR)
- OFW birth certificate if the dependent is a sibling of the OFW member
- OFW Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR) if the dependent is single
- Dependent's birth certificate
- Academic records, such as:
- Dependent's Form 137
- Certified True Copy of Form 138
- Transcript of Records (TOR) with the required General Weighted Average (GWA)
- Notification from the Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs) indicating that the dependent has qualified in the DOST-OWWA Pre-Qualifying Examination for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP)
- Other special requirements that are typically required but have been waived due to the pandemic:
- Certificate of Good Moral
- Medical Certificate stating that the student is physically fit to attend school in cases where the student has a medical pre-condition.
How to apply?
To avail of the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), follow these steps:
- Visit the OWWA Regional Welfare Office, which corresponds to the OFW's permanent address.
- Upon arrival, the applicant may obtain a queuing number or join the line designated for EDSP scholarship applications.
- Once called, the applicant must present the necessary requirements, including the I.D. of the OFW member, to the Membership Verification Desk.
- If the applicant's qualifications meet the criteria, the applicant will be issued a Notice of Award and Schedule of Scholarship Orientation validation/evaluation.
- The applicant must attend the Scholarship Orientation and facilitate the notarization of the Scholarship Agreement.
OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP)
The ODSP, or OFW Dependent Scholarship Program, is a scholarship initiative that aims to provide financial assistance to eligible dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Under this program, qualified scholars can receive Php 20,000.00 per academic year, which can be used to support their education.
To be eligible for the ODSP scholarship program, the dependent of an OFW must be enrolled, have enrolled, or plan to enroll in a four or five-year bachelor's or associate's degree program in any college or university. Moreover, the OFW should have a monthly salary that does not exceed U.S. $600.00.
Who are eligible?
Dependents of active OWWA members who are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with active OWWA membership at the time of application are eligible for the Overseas Dependents Scholarship Program (ODSP):
- For Incoming Freshmen (1st-year college):
- Must be single
- Must be a Grade 11 graduate (Incoming Grade 12 / currently enrolled as Grade 12)
- Must not be more than 21 years old
- Must have a passing grade
- For those who are already enrolled in 2nd year to 5th year in college:
- Must be single
- Must not be more than 30 years old
- Must have a passing grade
Note: The applicant must not be a recipient of any OWWA or other scholarship grant.
What are the eligibility requirements?
The requirements for ODSP application are the following:
- Completed Scholarship Application Form, which can be obtained from the OWWA RWO.
- OFW Membership Record, obtainable from OWWA RWO.
- Two (2) ID pictures with a name tag.
- A government-issued or company-issued ID.
- At least one (1) valid ID of the OFW member and/or Authorized Representative.
- Documentary evidence showing proof of relationship to the OFW member, such as a birth certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) or the Local Civil Registry (LCR).
- Dependent's Form 137, Certified True Copy of Form 138, or Transcript of Records (TOR) indicating an 80% grade point average without any failing grades, which can be obtained from the school registrar.
- Other special requirements that are typically required but have been waived due to the pandemic:
- Certificate of Good Moral
- Medical Certificate (only required if the student has a medical condition_.
How to apply?
To be eligible for the ODSP scholarship, you must fulfill the necessary requirements and follow the steps below:
- Visit the OWWA Regional Welfare Office corresponding to the OFW's permanent address.
- Secure a queuing number or fall in line to apply for the ODSP scholarship.
- Upon being called, obtain the Notice of Award and Schedule of Scholarship Orientation.
- Attend the Scholarship Orientation and facilitate the notarization of the Scholarship Agreement to finalize the scholarship.
Education and Livelihood Assistance Program for the Dependents of Deceased OFW Members (ELAP)
The ELAP, or Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), is a scheme that offers monetary support for the continuation of education and livelihood undertakings for survivors of OFWs who were active members of OWWA at the time of their passing and the families of OFWs who are in foreign prisons and have received capital punishment.
The following are the program's particulars:
Livelihood Assistance:
- Amount: Php 15,000.00
Educational Assistance:
- Intended for deceased OFWs with qualified school-age dependents.
- The qualified dependent shall be the eldest or the firstborn child. If the firstborn is ineligible or unable, the next-born child shall be selected as the qualified dependent.
Education assistance covers:
- Primary (Kindergarten) - Php 5,000.00
- Secondary - Php 8,000.00
- Tertiary - Php 10,000.00
Who are eligible?
The Enhanced Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) is accessible to a child of an active Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) member or a single active OWWA member's sibling who satisfies the following qualifications:
- For incoming first-year college students:
- Must be single
- A Grade 11 graduate (Incoming Grade 12 or currently enrolled as Grade 12)
- Not exceeding 21 years old
- Must have achieved a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 80% in all academic and non-academic subjects taken at full load during the previous school year.
- For those currently enrolled in their second to fifth year of college:
- Must be single
- Not exceeding 30 years old
- must have achieved a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 80% in all academic and non-academic subjects taken at full load during the previous school year.
Note: The applicant must not be a recipient of any OWWA or other scholarship grant.
What are the eligibility requirements?
To qualify for the ELAP, the following documents must be submitted:
- OFW Membership Record (MR) from OWWA RWO
- Proof of Relationship to OFW Member
- Birth Certificate from PSA or LCR
- Marriage Certificate if the applicant is the spouse of OFW
- Birth Certificate of the applicant if the applicant is a child of OFW or a sibling
- Birth Certificate of OFW if the applicant is a sibling or parent of OFW
- Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) if OFW is single
- Two pieces of 2 x 2 colored ID photos of the applicant with a name tag
- Death Certificate of OFW from Philippine Statistics Authority / Local Civil Registrar
- Entrepreneurial Development Training Certificate (EDT) from OWWA RWO
- Business Plan from the applicant
- School Record of Qualified Dependent for Educational Assistance (e.g., Form 137/138, Transcript of Record, Certificate of Grades if college level) from School Registrar
- Other Special Requirements:
- Certificate of Good Moral and Medical Certificate (if the student has a medical pre-condition/s) from the School Registrar or Authorized School Officer/Faculty or any competent Medical Practitioner from a public or private medical institution/facility.
How to apply?
To avail of the ELAP, one must:
- Visit the OWWA Regional Welfare Office corresponding to the OFW's permanent address.
- Obtain a queuing number or line up in the queue.
- Present or submit the accomplished Endorsement Form from the Social Benefits Unit/Desks and the OFW Membership Record. Receive the ELAP application forms and checklist of requirements.
- Submit the completed forms and requirements to the Reintegration Unit/Desks and obtain the Entrepreneurship Development Training (EDT) schedule.
- For those with qualified dependents for ELAP-Educational Assistance, proceed to the Education and Training Unit/Desk and acquire a requirements checklist.
- Submit the complete requirements for ELAP-Educational Assistance Application and await the evaluation result.
- Attend the scheduled training or orientation at the specified venue.
- Receive the Notice from the Reintegration Unit/Desk and/or Education and Training Unit/Desk for the release of assistance. Ensure to bring at least two (2) valid IDs of the claimant/dependents.
Note: Schedules for orientations/training may differ depending on the RWO location and the complexity of cases regarding the qualifications and compliance with the applicants' requirements.
When is the deadline for the OWWA Scholarship Application?
The application deadline may vary depending on when OWWA opens the application process, so interested applicants should regularly check OWWA's platforms, such as their website or social media pages, for updates.
It is important to submit all required documents and application forms before the deadline, which will be specified once the application period opens. Submissions must be on time to be accepted, so submitting your application well before the deadline is best to avoid any issues.
Conclusion
The OWWA Scholarship Program for Dependents presents a valuable opportunity that can significantly impact the lives of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families. The program's emphasis on dependents during the 2024 application period offers an even greater chance for young Filipinos to receive financial assistance for their education and, in turn, contribute to the development of their communities.
Individuals interested in obtaining additional information and updates on the OWWA Scholarship Program for Dependents may visit OWWA's scholarship page on their official website. Additionally, interested individuals may reach out to OWWA Hotline 1348 or send an email to owwacares@owwa.gov.ph for further inquiries. —iTacloban/AJ Yes