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
