OWWA offers scholarship grants to kin of COVID-affected OFWs

SAN FERNANDO City, Nov. 6 (PIA) -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) offers the Project EASE to help college-level dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) whose employment were affected by the pandemic, the 

 

Project EASE or the Educational Assistance through Scholarship in Emergencies is the latest educational assistance of OWWA which is intended only for OWWA active members who were repatriated since the declaration of COVID-19 outbreak on Feb.1.

 

This grants Php10,000 allowance annually for a maximum of four years.

 

“Para sa programang ito ay kailangan na may active membership itong ating mga OFW,” Labor Communication Officer Geraldine Lucero said in an interview on Tuesday.

 

Lucero added, “Kahit sila po ay scholar na ng ibang agencies like CHED, DOST o iba pa ay pupuwede pa rin silang mag-apply as long as anak o kapatid po sila ng repatriated OFW na napauwi ng February 1 onwards.”

 

Interested individuals may still apply online through www.ease.owwa.gov.ph.

 

They have to submit copies of valid passport, official receipt or other proof of membership, proof of relationship to the OFW, flight ticket of boarding pass or arrival stamp/sticker attached in the passport as a proof of return to the country on said date, and the certificate of grades of the dependents.

 

“Kumpletuhin na po ninyo yung mga dokumento at siguraduhing malinaw yung picture o scanned copy na inyong ipapasa para mabilis po naming ma-evaluate at ma-endorse agad for approval,” Lucero advised.

 

OWWA conducts real-time validation of applicants.

 

Upon approval of applications, beneficiaries are required to attend an orientation and sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA).

 

To date, there are 74 scholars in the region, of which 11 beneficiaries in La Union have already received their cash assistance while 63 are on pending status.

 

“Ready to release na ‘yung para sa 63 scholars. Though we are still arranging their schedule for the orientation and MOA signing because of the travel restrictions,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, OWWA also offers the “Tabang OFW” or the one-time Php30,000 educational cash aid to dependents of COVID-affected OFWs, whether active or inactive, who are in the tertiary level.

 

But Lucero said, “They have to choose between the two scholarship programs. Isa lang ang pwede nilang applyan kaya timbangin nila kung ano talaga ang gusto nilang makuha.” (JCR/JPD/CGC, PIA La Union)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)