10 OWWA programs and services for OFWs

With a membership to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, overseas Filipino workers can avail of OWWA benefits and programs that will help them from the time they begin their journey abroad to the moment they come back home to start a new chapter in the Philippines.

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In the unfortunate event that an OWWA member passes away or goes to prison, the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program helps their child stay in school or gives their dependent some money to get by.

A child who qualifies for the ELAP will receive OWWA’s financial assistance from kinder to college amounting to

• ₱5,000 a year from kinder to Grade 6
• ₱8,000 a year from Grades 7 to 12
• ₱10,000 a year for college

An OWWA member’s dependent may also apply for a ₱15,000 grant from the ELAP program to support a small business that keeps the family going.

Active OWWA members and their dependents have access to this insurance program that provides

Active OWWA members and their dependents have access to this insurance program that provides

• Financial assistance for the OFW’s family in case of their death
• Financial assistance to pay for the OFW’s burial
• Financial assistance in case an OFW is injured

In case an active OWWA member passes away from natural causes, their family can receive up to PHP 100,000 through this benefits program. For accidental deaths, the OWWA member’s family can receive ₱200,000.

For funeral costs, the program provides ₱20,000 to the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, OWWA members who become disabled after an accident may also apply for ₱2,500 to ₱25,000 in partial disability benefits or ₱50,000 to ₱100,000 in total or permanent disability benefits.

Active OWWA members who are also members of PhilHealth can apply for OWWA‘s Supplemental Medical Assistance Program or MEDPlus in the event they fall ill because of

• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Lung disease
• Cancer

They can get up to ₱50,000 in financial assistance whether they get sick while on the job abroad or while they are home in the Philippines.

OWWA‘s Welfare Assistance Program or WAP offers OFWs with financial assistance in case they experience hardships but are unable to apply for OWWA‘s other social benefits programs.

These hardships include

• Typhoons, floods, and earthquakes
• Political unrest
• The death of an OWWA member by causes not covered by OWWA’s Death and Disability Benefit
• Disabilities that are not covered by OWWA’s Death and Disability Benefit
• Financial assistance for OFWs with illnesses not covered by MEDPlus
• Financial assistance for OFWs who lose their jobs or homes from crises (e.g., losing their job because of political issues in their host country)

OFWs can apply for this program whether or not they are active OWWA members. Their family members may also apply for WAP in their place.

There are three OWWA benefits programs OFWs or their dependents can try to add to their skillset and make them stand out in the job market:

• Skills-for Employment Scholarship Program – provides financial assistance of up to ₱14,500 for OFWs or their dependents to complete a six-month to two-year government-funded training program, including lessons conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Maritime Industry Authority
• Seafarers’ Upgrading Program – provides financial assistance of up to ₱7,500 for seafarers to get the training they need to comply with the International Maritime Organisation’s skills requirements
• Information Technology Program – improves OFWs’ or their dependents’ computer skills by teaching them how to use the internet and important software, like Microsoft Word or Excel

From January to June 2017, the OWWA also provided financial assistance of up to PHP 7,500 for seafarers who were active OWWA members and were working on becoming certified Masters, Chief Mates, Chief Engineers, and 2nd Engineers via the Updating Management Level Courses program.

Another of OWWA’s benefits programs is the OFW Enterprise Development and Loan Program, which helps returning OFWs get the financial assistance they need to start their own businesses within three years of coming home to the Philippines. They can also join this program if they already have a business before filing their applications.

After undergoing OWWA’s Enhanced Enterprise Development Training, an OFW can approach the Land Bank of the Philippines or the Development Bank of the Philippines to apply for a loan of up to ₱2 million for a solopreneurs and ₱5 million for group businesses.

It’s important to note that this is a loan, meaning the OFW must pay back the money within the time set by the bank.

This OWWA benefits program is for OFWs who have lost their jobs, experienced violence or abuse abroad, were forced to change host countries, or were affected by crises in their host countries.

The Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! Program provides OFWs with at most ₱20,000 in financial assistance to help them start a small business or get the training or connections they need to restart their lives in the Philippines.

Most importantly, BPBH is accessible to both active and inactive OWWA members.

The OWWA’s Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar is the first step of the OFW process.

Before starting their journey abroad, a prospective OFW must first learn about their host countries, the challenges of OFW life, the expectations of their foreign employers, the documents they need to travel and work outside the Philippines, the steps they can take to stay safe and healthy abroad, and the OWWA programs and services they can avail to help them along the way.

This is a special seminar domestic workers must take before they leave for their host countries.

Conducted within at most six days, the Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program for Household Service Workers or CDPEP teaches Filipino domestic workers about

• Their host countries’ cultures
• Basic words and sentences in their host countries’ languages
• How to deal with the stress of working abroad in healthy and mindful ways

Whether an OFW is an active or inactive member, the OWWA can help them come home if they are sick or if they are caught in a natural or human-caused crisis in their host country.

Included in the OWWA’s repatriation assistance program are these benefits:

• A free ticket home
• Help at the airport
• A place to stay before you fly home
• Medical assistance
• Counselling
• A ride home

While some OWWA programs and services are available for both active and inactive members, it would still help to check if your OWWA membership and contributions are up to date. That way, you can enjoy more benefits from the organisation.

You can view your membership status via the OWWA app on Android or iOS.

If you have more questions about OWWA benefits, consult your nearest Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

It would also help to start saving for a rainy day while it’s still early. We may not know when an emergency will happen in the Philippines, but it always helps to have funds set aside just in case.

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