OWWA PROGRAM AND SERVICES

OFW- ARE YOU BENEFITED OF IT?

OWWA-Programs and Services

DO READ PLEASE!

For its duly registered members, OWWA delivers a wide range of health care, disability and death benefits, scholarships and financial assistance for education and training, workers assistance and on-site services, and social services and family welfare assistance subject to the qualification requirements and availability of OWWA funds.

All benefits and services are over and above the provisions of the employment contract, offer of employers, or the laws of the receiving country.

For a US$25 membership contribution, an OWWA member and/or his family is entitled to the following benefits and services:

I. MEDICAL / HEALTH CARE, DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFITS

1.3 Disability and Dismemberment Benefit. A member is entitled to disability/dismemberment benefit of up to Php 50,000.

1.4 Total Disability Benefit. A member is entitled to Php 100,000.00 in case of total permanent disability.

1.5 Death Benefit. A member is entitled to a benefit of Php 100,000.00 for the duration of his employment contract for death due to natural cause, and Php 200,000.00 for death due to accident.

1.6 Burial Benefit. A burial benefit of Php 20,000.00 shall be provided as a rider in case of the member’s death.

II. EDUCATION AND TRAINING BENEFITS

1. Pre-Departure Education Program (PDEP). The PDEP is a mandatory training for all departing migrant workers. A component of the PDOS is the Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) where classes on language training, culture familiarization and stress management for the OFWs are held to prepare them for their new life overseas. The components of the PDEP are:

Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) for household service workers, where classes on language training, culture familiarization and stress management for the OFWs are held to prepare them for their new life overseas.

Country-specific Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for OFWs bound for Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants are presented with a comprehensive module with sessions on contract familiarization, profile of the country of destination, stages of the OFW’s life, health and safety, airport procedures and government programs.

2. Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program. The SESP is a technical or vocational training scholarship to qualified OFWs and their beneficiaries. The SESP covers short-term (up to two years) vocational or technician’s course for OFWs and their dependents. A maximum of Php 14,500.00 per course shall be provided to qualified OFWs or their beneficiary.

3. Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP). One hundred fifty (150) college scholarships are awarded to dependents of OFWs to pursue four- to five-year baccalaureate courses. A maximum of Php 60,000.00 per year shall be provided to qualified beneficiaries of OFWs.

4. OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFW DSP). OWWA provides financial assistance of Php 20,000.00 per year to poor but deserving dependents of OFWs with a monthly salary of not more than US$400.00/month. Qualifiers enroll in a four- to five-year baccalaureate or associate course leading are entitled to a baccalaureate or associate degree in a state college or university.

5. Seafarers’ Comprehensive Education and Training Programs. Resulting from the maritime industry’s high demand for seafarers and the enhancement of competency for officer positions, OWWA undertakes stop-gap measures to ensure considerable supply of seafarers in the mid-management level and secure the place of our sea-based OFWs in the industry.

5.1 Seafarers’ Upgrading Program. The program intends to provide training assistance to seafarers for upgrading and updating of knowledge and skills through sponsorships. Up to Php 7,500.00 in scholarship grants are available per seafarer.

5.2 Mariners’ Dugtong-Aral. “Dugtong,” which means “bridging” in Filipino, is OWWA’s response to the government’s Bridging Program. The MDA is a scholarship grant given to qualified graduates of BS Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and BS Electrical Engineering (BSEE) who wish to graduate as BS Marine Engineering (BS MarE) and board ocean-going vessels as qualified Marine Officers through referrals made by manning agencies after hurdling the licensure examination.

5.3 Incentive Program for Top 200 Maritime Cadets (Cadetship Program). OWWA shall grant a Php 30,000.00 financial incentive to the top 200 cadets of BS Marine Transportation and BS Marine Engineering who passed the Maritime School Assessment Program (MSAP) as part of the education for development scholarship program of OWWA for prospective OWWA members.

5.4 Maritime Educational Development Loan Program (MEDLOP) For Prospective Marine Officers and Engineers with Guaranteed International Onboard Employment (Study Now, Pay Later Scheme). MEDLOP is an interest-free financial assistance to defray costs of tertiary education of prospective Marine Officers and Engineers. The manning agency will be the applicant and sponsor for the MEDLOP and shall select the student to whom it shall extend the loan.

6. OWWA-Microsoft Tulay. “Tulay,” meaning “bridge” in Filipino, is a pioneering project between the OWWA and Microsoft Corporation that brings information and communication technology training to OFWs, to broaden their career opportunities, and facilitate long-distance communication between them and their families. It offers free information and communication technology (ICT) skills training, access to technology and communication via the Internet. At present, there are Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLC) in every OWWA regional welfare office in the Philippines and in some key overseas OWWA posts.

7. Tuloy-Aral Project. The Tuloy-Aral (“continuation of education”) or TAP is an educational assistance project which aids the less fortunate children of former OFWs to enable them to continue their elementary and high school education in the Philippines by providing a US$100 financial support per year to the child-beneficiary. Donors may be OFWs, OFW organizations, and other interested individuals or groups.

8. Tuloy-Kolehiyo. Extended coverage of the established TAP is the Tuloy Kolehiyo (“continuation of college education”) to include the tertiary education leading to either an associate or baccalaureate degree. The beneficiaries are entitled to either semestral stipend or actual costs of tuition and miscellaneous fees, offered by participating educational institutions, but not to exceed the maximum amount Php 15,000 per school year.

III. WORKERS ASSISTANCE AND ON-SITE SERVICES

The OWWA sustains and maintains assistance to members in all its regional and overseas offices. On behalf of the OFW, the OWWA may provide appropriate representation with employers, agents, and host government authorities. Services include:

1. Locating OFW’S whereabouts, providing information and guidance, counseling and conciliation services, medical and legal assistance, community organization, workplace and hospital visitation, outreach missions, etc.

2. Repatriation Program which includes negotiation with employers and agents, repatriation of distressed workers, human remains and belongings, airport assistance, OWWA Halfway House accommodation, and coordination with families through the OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWO).

IV. SOCIAL SERVICES AND FAMILY WELFARE ASSISTANCE

1. Reintegration Program. The program is implemented by OWWA through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) and OWWA’s Regional Welfare Offices and Overseas Posts for the member-OFW’s economic and social reintegration. Member-OFWs and their families are beneficiaries of the reintegration program and can participate through business counseling, community organizing, financial literacy seminars, capability-building, networking with support institutions, and other social preparation programs activities. Livelihood loans are available to members subject to the policies formulated by the Board.

2. OWWA-NLDC LDPO PROJECT

The OWWA has an existing tie-up with the National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) to come up with implement the Livelihood Development Program for OFWs (LDPO) to provide OFW families access to capital for their entrepreneurial activities.

3. 24/7 OWWA OPERATIONS CENTER

The OWWA maintains a 24/7 Operations Center designed to quickly respond to OFW and public inquiries on OWWA programs and services. Manned by OWWA personnel who work in shifts, the Operations Center provides information and advice as well as facilitative services to OFWs in distress overseas; follow-up requests for assistance; global developments on worker migration; and coordination with OWWA regional welfare offices on OFW concerns.

The 24/7 Operations Center is located at

OWWA Building

7th corner F.B. Harrison Sts.

Pasay City

Metro Manila, Philippines

and can be contacted through the following:

Landline: (+632)833-OWWA or (+632)833-6992

GLOBE HOTLINE 2917 (Press “3” for OWWA)

Mobile/SMS text messaging: (0917)TXT-OWWA or (0917)898-6992

Facsimile: +63-2-8040638

Email: opcenter@owwa.gov.ph/ owwa_opcenter@yahoo.com

Web site: www.owwa

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR OFWs

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR OFWs!

DO READ PLEASE! INTERESTING……..

Learn how to invest in real estate in the Philippines even with no money down. Join the growing list of real estate investors. Make profits from buying foreclosed condos, apartments and houses. This may be among the best business opportunities in the Philippines for OFWs and other Filipinos.

People need housing or shelter. It is one of the basic human needs. In most places, including the Philippines, this measures one’s standard of living. This is true even in a crisis. You do not have to look for other good ways to invest money because its value goes up over time.

How to invest in real estate technique #1:

Affiliate Real Estate Marketing or AREM

AREM is selling another person’s property. You get quick cash with no risks. This is good for beginning real esate investor. Even if you do not sell the house, you get to build a buyers’ list. You will know what buyers are looking for.

How to do this with no money and no banks? Sign a non-exclusive option to purchase contract with the seller, no agents involved. You have the option to purchase the property at an agreed price when you find a buyer.

Downsides: AREM makes small money, as small as wholesaling or sometimes even smaller. Seller or buyer can go around you since you do not control or own the property. But with no risks and a buyers’ list, it’s worth the efforts.

How to invest in real estate technique #2:

Wholesaling

Wholesaling is finding a buyer who will close the deal for you or take over your position. You do this before a purchase contract expires. Signing the purchase contract gives you control of the property. You get quick cask with little risk.

How to do this with no money and no banks? Partner with your buyer by letting them put up the earnest money deposit. They are going to buy the property anyway. Another way is to assign or sell the contract, or double close it.

The process for buying foreclosed homes is crucial. Edrick Esguerra, a teammate in Trace’s Apprentice Challenge on real estate investing, sold a house and made P250,000 in six days after winning a foreclosure auction. His buyer would take over the payments with the bank.

Downsides: You can earn from wholesaling even with no money down. But it gives you one time income. Once the deal completes, you have to find other deals to make money. You can lose your earnest money deposit if you can’t find a buyer quickly.

How to invest in real estate technique # 3:

Retailing

Retailing is selling a house to an end buyer after fixing the repairs. You get a big chunk of cash when the deal completes. You earn more when you buy low and avoid too much repairs. The key is finding your maximum offer with proper cost of repairs.

How to do this with no money and no banks? Trace teaches how to borrow private money from lenders or partners. His students learn how to approach people to be real esate investors. Trace gives pointers on how to answer whether this is the safest way to invest money.

Downsides: Learning how to raise money to fund your deals is another key. You also need to manage contractors doing the repairs. And you need to sell the house fast. Mistakes could be costly.

Do you have the money but do not want to handle the nitty-gritty of a deal?

How to invest in real estate technique # 4:

Rent to own

Rent to own offers three streams of income: down payment, monthly cash flow and back end. You profit when a tenant or buyer makes down payment. Monthly rent from tenant gives you cash flow. And you earn big when tenant buys the house.

The house can be a foreclosed asset of a bank. This requires money for down or full payment to the bank and repairs. Finding real estate investorsto fund the deal does not need your own money. It is like getting real estate investor loans. You give lenders higher return on their money as incentive.

How to do this with no money and no banks? Trace said through owner financing or vendor financing. You take over the mortgage payments. Ask the seller to put up 3 months of mortgage payments to give you enough time to find a tenant/buyer.

Downsides: You have to deal with tenants, toilets and termites. Or you can avoid dealing with them by hiring someone do the job. And the big profit or back end does not come after a few years.

That covers the four quick turn techniques on how to invest in real estate. You as an OFW or Filipino immigrant abroad can use these techniques to build wealth or earn passive income.

OFW SSS REPORT 2012

                 

Pension fund Social Security System (SSS) collected a total of P2.17 billion in contributions from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) last year, up 17% from P1.85 billion in 2010.

SSS President and CEO Emilio de Quiros Jr. said social security coverage of overseas workers is among the agency's top priorities, adding that they want to reach out to more OFWs through additional foreign offices and expansion of e-payment and online services.

"The SSS posted a double-digit growth in OFW collection for the third straight year. It reflects the growing awareness among overseas workers of the importance of active SSS membership and saving for retirement and other contingencies," he said.

The SSS has over 738,000 OFW members at present, which it aims to expand through tie-ups with key agencies handling deployment of migrant workers such as the Department of Labor and Employment and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

"OFWs are usually excluded from social protection programs in their country of employment, even if many of them work in high-risk environments and are considered family breadwinners. This further highlights the value of SSS," he said.

De Quiros said SSS has launched various programs to entice OFWs to become active members. One of these is the Member-Get-Member promo, which offers monthly raffle prizes and a travel package for two in the Grand Draw for successful referral of OFWs.

"More than 1,900 OFWs so far have registered through SSS branches and foreign offices, as well as via the SSS website at www.sss.gov.ph. One active participant has referred as many as 109 OFWs at present, and we are only in the third month of the promo," he said.

The SSS chief added that bilateral social security agreements between the Philippines and other countries are also underway. He said the agency wrapped up negotiations with Denmark and Portugal in 2011, and is preparing for initial talks with Japan this year. It is also eyeing other countries, including Australia, China, Cyprus, Germany and Sweden.

"By forging bilateral agreements with other nations, we also help overseas Filipinos become entitled to social security benefits comparable to those received by citizens of their host countries."

OFW GUIDE!

OFW- READ, THINK and REALIZE..........

Many Overseas Filipino Workers who work abroad for many years but are not successful and no investments were acquired by the time that they have already retired. 


The worst situation is that there are some OFWs who have been in an accident overseas which prevented them from working again. Regardless of working in or outside the Philippines, Filipino worker should know how to value his labor and sacrifices while aiming for his dreams.
The following tips are worth reading that will serve as guides for typical Overseas Filipino Workers.

1. Do not spend too much of your income. Not because you are earning big now and you have extra money, you are going to spend too much for your vices and unnecessary things. Think that job abroad is just temporary, anytime ou can be sent back home if some unpleasant situation happened such as war, bankruptcy, slow economy or as I have mentioned above, when they become paralyzed and couldn’t work anymore after an accident.


2. Always keep some income for savings. Save some of your income in Philippine banks as well as banks in the country where you work. And because you will stay abroad for about two years or more, it’s better that you’ll keep your money in a term of savings where you can earn more interest such as Time Deposit or Funds. Some Philippine banks offer special savings program for Overseas Filipino Workers and their beneficiaries. 


3. Obtain pension plans for retirement, savings fund, children's educational plan, health insurance or life insurance. Get more if you can, although you already have the OWWA Benefits or Social Security Insurance (SSS) or Pag-Ibig, it is also better to get another one from private insurance company.
It is not always safe to work anywhere, you will never know if you can have an accident in the future that will prevent you to engage in any kind of jobs again. Having some insurance is always a big help.


4. Once you start receiving your salary and suppose you have no debts to pay anymore, make sure you would invest in a property first. If you will buy some property, its’ value does not go down; it's always accumulating or increasing every year. House and Lot or Lot is the best investment of all.


5. If you want to build a house, unless you already got many houses, it is better to build an apartment first to have some additional income. Your wife/husband is in Philippines can take care of your property in case you want them to be a commercial or residential apartment for rent.
If you are earning from the rental of your apartment, you may now save your income and with some additional money from the last few years of working abroad, you can build a new house again for your family. 


6. Do not give so much allowance to your beneficiaries that could only make them spend your remittance for unnecessary things as well. You should let them know how hard it is to work in a foreign land and earn that money that you are sending for them. You should let them know how to spend wisely as well. 
Do not stay quiet or ashamed to tell and explain how hard it is to work as Overseas Filipino Workers abroad to your family. If they do not know about your real situation, they would just think that you are just "collecting" money while you're walking on the road. So, they would just spend your remittance on things that are unnecessary.


7. If you cannot bring your family while you are working abroad and your vacation is not yet due, why not try bringing them to your country of work. Sometimes, you need to spend a little to maintain the relationship and bonding of your family.


8. If you are on vacation, do not spend all your savings thinking that you still have a job in abroad upon returning there. It is not always like that. I have someone that I knew, who had bought brand new car, spent most of his savings while on vacation but by the time that this fellow overseas Filipino worker is now going back to work abroad, his employer's company suddenly closed. He did not know that the company was already failing and facing bankruptcy. 


9. Rather than spending too much of your savings on less important things, just improve your skills. You will never know that your current job will still be on demand after one or two years. You should try to be knowledgeable of other types of skills and profession. 
If you are a carpenter, acquire some skills that could help you to become a contractor just in case you want to have your own business and would like to get your own carpenter to do the jobs.


10. Do not start your own business if you do not have any idea about the business. Do not just listen with other people’s suggestions, think about it. It is not because having an Internet Cafe is one of the good businesses these days, you will engage yourself with that same business even you do not know anything about computers.
If you have an experience in carpentry jobs, start business that is related to carpentry such as cabinet making, construction materials retail, painting etc. Do not engage in other kinds of business unless you have also experienced it before. This is not the proper way to do business. Put up a business that you are familiar with and that you most love to do.

These would surely help OFW's to be successful

Living on OFWs' blood and sweat

A report on benefits of OWWA employees by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed that each employee receives nearly P100,000 monetary benefits annually.

In a report presented by the DBM to the members of the OWWA board of trustees, employees of OWWA are found to be receiving too much benefits compared to other government employees. Based on the study, each worker gets P20,000 anniversary bonus, P25,000 gift check, P8,000 medical insurance, P7,200 staple food allowance, uniform allowance amounting to P4,000, rice subsidy and 13th month pay. Apart from the financial benefits, OWWA workers are also getting other incentives such as longevity fee which is equivalent to one percent of the annual salary; productivity incentive worth P2,500; Program on Awards and Incentive Service Excellence (Praise).

Moreover, while most OFWs do not even receive a 13th month pay, OWWA employees are getting a 14th month and provident fund, more than what most other employees in the Philippines receive.

The study also led to the suspension of some of the benefits being enjoyed by the employees since these benefits were found to be illegal. Among the financial benefits suspended by the board of trustees include the P25,000 gift check, P7,200 staple food allowance, provident fund and the 14th month pay since the issuance of this monetary packages has no legal basis.
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****OPINION******
Actually, the POEA and OWWA might have functions that CATER to the SAME CLIENTELE (OFW's) but they have different functions.

POEA: More on EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS- negotiation with Host Countries; DOCUMENTS-PROCESSING of a Filipino who wants to become an OFW; and OVERSIGHT on all RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

OWWA: Directed more on OWWA-Member Benefits- Seminars; Trainings; Re-Integration Programs; Services and Benefits of OFW's who might have encounter HEALTH or who DIED abroad

Now, it would be better if both AGENCIES would be COMBINED in order to TRIM DOWN and STREAMLINE the BUREAUCRACY. Then again, how can people make MILKING COWS of Government Agencies if we make them EFFICIENT... he VOLUNTARY SYSTEM might be the ANSWER to a lot of COMPLAINTS when it comes to Membership Payments at OWWA. There are a lot of Filipino who COMPLAIN a lot- they don't want to pay DUES but they want to have BENEFITS which is plain ILLOGICAL...

For those who OPT to VOLUNTARILY PAY- they will be assured of the BENEFITS that they would get from OWWA
For those who OPT NOT TO PAY - they will receive nothing from OWWA

Besides, the OWWA should be made EFFICIENT and not BLOATED...

I think that would simplify things. As to the issue on why certain GOVERNMENT AGENCIES have a lot of PERKS - this is because it is being allowed and a lot of people BENEFIT FROM IT (especially the corrupt ones). I don't know what happened to the OVERSIGHT POWERS of Congress on the different Agencies - it might be the Senators and Congressmen are also benefiting DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY by turning a blind eye.

There's a lot of Government Agencies which have Sky-High perks - the GSIS; the POEA; the OWWA; the BSP; the different GOCC's to name a few...