The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) helps Filipinos, particularly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), through various cash assistance programs that cater to their unique situations.
From disability benefits and medical aid to livelihood grants and educational subsidies, OWWA has programs for OFWs and their families to receive financial support during times of need, whether due to accidents, job displacement, or other hardships.
Cash assistance programs are financial aid initiatives designed to provide direct monetary support to individuals facing specific circumstances such as unemployment, disability, or other emergencies. Through these programs, OWWA strives to empower migrant workers, helping them navigate the complexities of working abroad while securing their financial stability and well-being.
Types of Cash Aid Projects from OWWA
OWWA provides several cash assistance programs tailored to support Filipino migrant workers and their families. These programs cater to various circumstances, ensuring that assistance is accessible when needed most. The following is a list of OWWA cash programs:
- Cash Assistance for Displaced Workers: Financial support for distressed OFWs and workers who have lost their jobs due to unexpected circumstances.
- Emergency Cash Assistance: Immediate assistance for members facing critical situations, such as natural disasters or health emergencies.
- Welfare Assistance Program: Aimed at providing support for medical expenses and other urgent needs.
- Livelihood Assistance Program: Funding for members looking to start or sustain a small business or income-generating project.
- Education Assistance Program: Financial aid for members’ dependents’ educational needs, supporting academic pursuits and vocational training.
These programs are classified under different categories though all of them are designed to provide financial aid for various situations affecting active OWWA members and their beneficiaries.
Social Benefits
By definition, social benefits refer to those benefits that help lighten the financial burden of the target beneficiaries of a specific program. For OWWA, these generally refer to the support given to the member OFWs and their beneficiaries in cases of emergency like sickness, unemployment, calamity, disability, dismemberment, or death.
Disability and Dismemberment
The disability and dismemberment benefits offered under the OWWA Social Benefit Program provides financial assistance to active members who sustain injuries during an accident while working abroad. Any active OWWA member injured while working overseas is eligible can receive:
- Up to Php 50,000 for partial disability and
- Up to Php 100,000 for total permanent disability.
Supplemental Medical Assistance for OFWs (MEDplus)
The MEDplus Program, a joint initiative by OWWA and PhilHealth, provides supplemental medical assistance to OFWs facing hospitalization due to serious illnesses. Eligible OFWs can receive:
- Up to Php 50,000 in financial aid to help cover medical bills, supplementing their PhilHealth benefits.
Death and Burial
OWWA provides death and burial benefits to the dependents of deceased OFWs who were active members at the time of death. These benefits include:
- Up to Php 100,000 for natural deaths,
- Php 200,000 for accidental deaths, and
- An additional Php 20,000 burial grant to assist with funeral expenses.
Welfare Assistance Program (WAP)
The Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) by OWWA provides cash relief to OFWs and their families who are not eligible for other OWWA benefits. It covers various situations such as natural calamities, bereavement, disability from crimes or accidents, medical needs not covered by other programs, and displacement due to economic or political crises. WAP offers the following financial support to both active and inactive OWWA members, ensuring aid during unforeseen hardships.
- Calamity Assistance: Cash aid for natural and man-made disasters, ranging from Php 500 to Php 3,000.
- Bereavement Assistance: Up to Php 20,000 for families of deceased OFW members.
- Medical Assistance: Cash support for medical needs not covered by MEDplus.
- Disability Assistance: Financial aid for OFWs with disabilities resulting from crimes or accidents.
- Relief Assistance: Cash aid for OFWs affected by economic, political, or health crises.
Education and Training
The Philippine government, through the OWWA, offers scholarships, financial assistance, and grants to support the higher education of OFW children and beneficiaries to enhance the skills of OFWs. These programs aim to foster talent development, improve employability, and ensure a brighter future for both OFWs and their dependents.
Scholarships For Dependents
As one of the different kinds of cash aid programs offered by the OWWA, the Scholarships For Dependents is the one especially dedicated to the beneficiaries of the OFW. These scholarships include:
Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP)
The Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) supports the college education of qualified OFW dependents through competitive grants. It provides up to Php 60,000 per year for 1,000 scholars, allowing them to choose their preferred course and school, provided they meet academic and program requirements. The scholarship is available to those who pass the DOST qualifying exams (top 400 for freshman and 600 for those already in college and requires scholars to maintain good academic standing throughout their studies.
OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP)
The OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP) provides financial assistance to qualified dependents of active OWWA member OFWs with a monthly income of $600 or less, helping them complete any four-year or five-year tertiary education at state universities or colleges (SUCs). Eligible beneficiaries, including single children or siblings of active OWWA members, who meet specific academic and age criteria, may receive:
- Up to Php 20,000 per academic year to cover tuition fees for four- or five-year degree programs.
Education and Livelihood Assistance Program for the Dependents of Deceased OFW Members (ELAP)
The OWWA Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) provides financial support to the surviving dependents of deceased OFWs who are incarcerated/convicted and meted out the death penalty in foreign countries. It offers educational assistance to one eligible child, usually the eldest, for primary, secondary, and tertiary education, as well as a livelihood grant to the surviving spouse or parent to help sustain family income. The program offers:
- Cash aid amounting to Php 5,000.00 for primary (Kindergarten), Php 8,000.00 for secondary, and Php 10,000.00 for tertiary education
- Php 15,000 grant for economic assistance
Short-Term Training Programs For OFWs & Dependents
OWWA provides short-term training programs designed to help OFWs and their dependents enhance their skills. These programs aim to support both the professional development of OFWs and the personal growth of the member OFWs and their beneficiaries.
Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)
The Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) is a short-term program designed to provide financial assistance to OFWs and their dependents for completing technical or vocational courses in TESDA or MARINA-accredited institutions. The program is available only to OFWs and OFW dependents from 21 to 24 years old, provided they remain single. It covers a portion of the tuition fees, with the following cash incentives:
- Up to Php 14,500 for one- to two-year courses
- Php 7,250 for six-month courses, with extended eligibility for up to six months after OWWA membership expires.
Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP)
The OWWA Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP) provides active, returning, or first-time Filipino seafarers with free training and financial assistance to enhance their skills in line with international maritime standards. The program offers a wide range of pre-approved courses through accredited institutions like TESDA and MARINA, allowing seafarers to improve their competitiveness and meet evolving industry requirements. Beneficiaries receive cash grants ranging from Php 1,200 to Php 7,500 per course, and the program covers meal and transportation allowances for some participants.
Reintegration
OWWA provides skills training and development programs to help OFWs reintegrate into society and maintain a stable livelihood while staying with their families. These programs include livelihood training, financial literacy seminars, and entrepreneurial development workshops as part of the Reintegration Preparedness Program.
Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program
The Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program (BPBH) by OWWA provides livelihood support to distressed or displaced OFWs, offering cash assistance, training, and services to help them start a business upon their return. Both active and inactive OWWA members are eligible, with cash grants varying by membership status, up to Php 20,000. The program also includes enhanced entrepreneurship training, marketing linkages, and job referrals to support reintegration into society.
Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong – PUSO)
The Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong PUSO) is a joint initiative by DOLE, OWWA, CDA, and SEC to assist repatriated, distressed, and displaced OFWs in starting or expanding businesses. The program offers financial grants, business guidance, and resources to OFW groups of varying sizes to support livelihood projects, including startups, expansions, and restorations. It also includes additional support for business materials and equipment. This one-time financial grant may vary as follows:
- Micro-sized OFW groups (5 to 10 members) may avail up to maximum of Php 150,000.00 grant
- Small-sized OFW groups (11 to 15 members) may avail up to maximum of Php 250,000.00 grant
- Medium-sized OFW groups (16 to 30 members) may avail up to maximum of Php 500,000.00 grant
- Large-sized OFW groups (31 or more members) may avail up to maximum of Php 1,000,000.00 grant
Overseas Filipino Workers – Enterprise Development and Loan Program (OFW-EDLP)
The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Enterprise Development and Loan Program (OFW-EDLP), formerly known as the OFW-Reintegration Program (ORP), provides financial support for displaced OFWs to start or expand businesses. This program offers loans ranging from Php 100,000 to Php 2,000,000 for individuals and Php 100,000 to Php 5,000,000 for group loan borrowers from various industries, including franchising, construction, and agriculture. Eligible OWWA members must also complete the Enhanced Entrepreneurial Development Training (EEDT) and meet a 20% equity requirement, with a 7.5% annual interest rate on the loans. The repayment term may range from one (1) year to up to 7 years, inclusive of a maximum of 2 years grace period, depending on cash flow.
Special Projects
The OWWA occasionally launches special projects to provide additional targeted assistance to OFWs and their dependents, particularly in times of crisis or need. These projects aim to alleviate the financial burdens faced by OFWs and their families, enhance their educational opportunities, and facilitate their reintegration into society after returning from abroad, especially in response to the emergency or unexpected challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOLE-OWWA AKAP for OFWs
The OWWA DOLE-AKAP Financial Assistance Program provides a one-time cash aid of US$200 (Php 10,000.00) to displaced OFWs affected by COVID-19, supporting their basic needs. This program, funded by the DOLE COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program, offers assistance without repayment requirements and is available to OFWs in various priority countries. Applicants can receive the aid through an online platform or local POLO-OWWA offices, with funds disbursed directly to their bank accounts or through money exchange services.
Tertiary Education Subsidy for Dependents of Repatriated OFWs (Tabang OFW)
The Tabang OFW Program is a Tertiary Education Subsidy (YES) initiative by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through OWWA, in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), aimed at assisting repatriated OFWs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a budget of PHP 1 billion, the program provides a one-time financial grant of PHP 30,000 to support the college-level dependents of OFWs who lost their jobs or died due to the pandemic. This grant serves as a scholarship assistance, reflecting the Philippine government’s commitment to support OFWs and their families during challenging times, without the need for repayment and was in effect for the Academic Year 2020-2021.
OWWA Rebate Program
The OWWA Rebate Program was established under Section 54 of Republic Act 10801 to allow long-term OWWA members, who have contributed for ten years or more without benefiting from other OWWA programs, to receive a portion of their contributions back. While it is not a complete refund, beneficiaries, including dependents of deceased members, can claim rebates ranging from PHP 941 to PHP 13,000 based on their contribution history, with a total of PHP 1 billion allocated for distribution to approximately 556,000 beneficiaries. The rebates can be used for various purposes, such as donations to the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project for educational support or to renew OWWA membership for active OFWs.
Educational Assistance by Scholarship in Emergencies (Project EASE)
Project EASE, a component of OWWA’s CARE amelioration program, offers educational assistance to qualified college-level dependents of active OWWA member-OFWs who lost their jobs or were repatriated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an annual scholarship grant of PHP 10,000 for up to four years per dependent. With a budget of PHP 400 million allocated in the first year alone, directly from the OWWA fund, the program aims to ease the difficulties faced by affected migrant workers and their families during the health crisis, in line with OWWA’s mandate to provide holistic support until the pandemic is declared controlled and managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) or any other competent authorities.
Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP)
The OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP) is an initiative launched by POLO-OWWA in 2004 to provide educational assistance to the children of former OFWs and marginalized families, with the help of financially stable OFW donors who contribute $100 annually per child-beneficiary to cover school expenses. The program involves identifying eligible children, preparing family profiles, and monitoring their academic progress through OWWA Family Welfare Officers, while also connecting OFW families and offering an extension program called Tuloy Kolehiyo for underprivileged college students.
Video: OWWA Benefits and Programs
To learn more about the different programs and benefits that active and inactive OFWs and their beneficiaries may take advantage of, you may want to watch this video from OWWA Member YT Channel until the end.
Summary
Since it was established, OWWA has been offering a comprehensive range of cash assistance programs designed to support OFWs, especially their member OFWs, and their families during times of need, usually in the form of educational grants, medical aid, and livelihood support. These initiatives reflect the Philippine government’s commitment to alleviating the financial burdens faced by OFWs, ensuring their well-being and that of their dependents amidst various challenges.