Displaced OFWs’ dependents to benefit from OWWA cash aid

FILE: Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assist overseas Filipino workers heading home to their respective provinces during a send-off at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on Tuesday (May 26, 2020). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – A total of 2,000 dependents of repatriated, displaced or deceased overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are eligible for the grant of financial aid, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said Friday.

Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the beneficiaries would get a one-time PHP30,000 grant for the college education of children or dependents of OFWs under Tabang OFW program.

“The Tabang OFW program which is essentially a financial aid program for collegiate level dependents of returning OFWs affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). We rolled out last week, we began last week and so far we have around 2,000 approvals already of scholars,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing.

He added that they have finished the screening of the beneficiaries.

“There will be payouts that will commence over the weekend and this coming week. We will release the financial aid which is also timely to areas affected by typhoons, the college dependents of returning OFWs displaced due to Covid-19,” he added.

He said the program is a joint effort of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), OWWA, and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and initiated by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.

Cacdac also reported that they have rolled out last week the Tulong Puso program where they will provide PHP150,000 to PHP1 million grant to OFW groups.

“It is a group livelihood program where OFWs has to form either corporations, workers association or cooperative. They need to come with a business proposal and they will be given an initial grant amounting to PHP150,000 to PHP1 million,” he said.

Aside from the group livelihood program, the OWWA is also providing entrepreneurship training for OFWs.

The OFW Reintegration through Skills and Entrepreneurship (OFW RISE) Program aims to provide OFW-participants access to web-based training on basic entrepreneurship and practical business coaching, enable them to develop their business idea, and implement the same through livelihood assistance and other micro financing programs.

The initiative is a collaboration among the labor department, through the OWWA and National Reintegration Center for OFWs; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Philippine Trade Training Center and Coca-Cola Philippines.