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Migrante hits OWWA scholarship program

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 8) — Migrante criticized the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) scholarship program for being inaccessible to overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) dependents. The migrant group claims that the lack of OWWA’s information drive and rigorous processes and requirements for application deprives a large number of OFW dependents and beneficiaries to avail of the said scholarship grant.

According to Migrante-Cordillera Spokesperson Flora Belinan, the OWWA funds are from the sweat and blood of OFWs members therefore it is should be accessible to all of their dependents and beneficiaries.

Article VIII Section 5 (b) of the OWWA Omnibus Policies states that OFW dependents and beneficiaries are entitled to education and training programs. Among those offered is the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) for baccalaureate courses, Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) for six months to one year technical and vocational courses and the Seafarers Upgrading Program (SUP) for Filipino seamen.

In addition, the applicant for an OWWA scholarship must belong to the top 20% of his high school’s graduating class, must pass the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) examination and from the entrance examinations required by the chosen college or university.

Belinan disclosed that OWWA only grants 100 slots for the EDSP and 133-266 for the SESP nationwide. She explained that the said number of slots is very limited given the number of Filipinos working abroad and those who are leaving the country daily.

Further, Belinan said that the requirements also limit a large number of dependents to qualify for the said scholarship programs. She added that even if the applicant qualifies and submits all requirements, there is still a possibility that he would not get a scholarship because the final decision is still in the hands of the OWWA administrator and the Board of Trustees.

Belinan stressed that majority of OFW dependents and beneficiaries are not aware of the said programs. She called on OWWA to conduct wider information drives to promote their services because it is part of their job. She also called on all OFW beneficiaries and dependents to apply and avail of the OWWA services that are due them.

Moreover, Belinan called on all dependents and beneficiaries of OFWs to unite in fighting for better OWWA services and expansion of the scholarship program. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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