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Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
It is the lead government agency tasked to protect and promote the welfare and well-being of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents.
Being a membership institution, OWWA’s programs, projects and services are geared towards safeguarding and promoting the welfare and interests of its members.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What are OWWA’s vision and mission? OWWA develops and implements responsive programs and services while ensuring fund viability towards the protection of the interest and promotion of the welfare of its member-OFWs.
OWWA is the lead membership welfare institution that serves the interest and welfare of member-Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
OWWA commits to a fund stewardship that is transparent, judicious, and responsive to the requirements of the member-OFWs.
Follow these links (below) to read texts of: - Republic Act 8042 or known as the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995″ - Omnibus Policies of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What are OWWA’s mandates and objectives? The agency has a two-fold mandate:
Objectives: b. Facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the Labor Code concerning the responsibility of the government to promote the well-being of OFWs; c. Provide social and welfare services to OFWs, including insurance, social work assistance, legal assistance, cultural services, and remittance services; d. Ensure the efficiency of collection and the viability and sustainability of the fund through sound and judicious investment and fund management policies; e. Undertake studies and researches for the enhancement of their social, economic and cultural well-being; and f. Develop, support and finance specific projects for the welfare of OFWs.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What workers assistance and on-site services are available? The OWWA provides and sustains assistance to all its members in all its regional and overseas offices. Services that may be availed of on-site include:
On behalf of the OFW, the OWWA may provide appropriate representation with employers, agents and host authorities.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What constitutes OWWA’s fund source? OWWA’s fund is a single trust fund pooled from the US$25.00 membership contributions of foreign employers, land-based and sea-based workers, investment and interest income, and income from other sources.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - Who compose the OWWA Board of Trustees? OWWA is administered by the Board of Trustees through the Secretariat headed by the Administrator as the Chief Executive Officer and assisted by two Deputy Administrators.
The Board of Trustees is the policy making body. It is a tripartite body with twelve (12) members representing the Government, management, and labor-OFW. Pursuant to RA 8042, a representative from the women sector was included.
Below are the current members of the Board of Trustees:
Hon. Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz – Secretary of Labor and Employment and Chairman Hon. Carmelita S. Dimzon – Administrator and Vice-Chairman Members: Hon. Danilo P. Cruz – Undersecretary, DOLE Hon. Esteban B. Conejos – Undersecretary, DFA Hon. Carlos S. Cao, Jr. – Administrator, POEA Hon. Luz M. Cantor – Assistant Secretary, DBM Hon. Gil S. Beltran – Undersecretary, DOF Hon. Victorino F. Balais – Representative, Labor Sector Hon. Rene Y. Soriano – Representative, Management Sector
Hon. Ermie L. Garon - Representative, Land-Based Sector Hon. Estrella D. Añonuevo – Representative, Women’s Sector
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - Does OWWA have field offices? Yes. To deliver its programs, benefits and services to the OFWs and their families, OWWA has set up Field Offices overseas and in the regions. To date, OWWA has 35 posts in 25 countries overseas and 17 Regional Welfare Offices in the country.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - How can one become a member of OWWA? The OWWA is a membership institution. As such, its programs, projects and services are geared towards safeguarding and promoting the welfare and interests of its members. For a US$25.00 membership contribution, an OWWA member is entitled to various benefits and services. Membership in OWWA may be obtained in two ways:
Effectivity
Voluntary membership
Renewal
Proof of membership
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What are OWWA’s healthcare and disability/death benefits? Duly registered OWWA members are entitled to the HealthPro expanded medical/health program, as well as the Medical Rehabilitation Program.
A. Life/Accident Coverage
B. Disability and Dismemberment Benefit
C. Total Disability Benefit
D. Burial Benefit
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What are the requirements for claiming insurance and burial benefits? Basic Requirements for Life Insurance, Disability, Dismemberment and Burial Benefits:
Documentary Requirements for Life Insurance Benefits:
In the absence of birth/marriage certificate, the following must be submitted:
Documentary Requirements for Disability Benefit
Releasing Requirements
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What are the components of OWWA’s education and training programs? An OFW OWWA member may avail for himself/herself or his/her duly designated beneficiary any of the following scholarship programs, subject to a selection process and accreditation of participating institutions.
1. Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) It is given in the form of a financial assistance amounting to P 30,000.00 per semester. The OWWA pays the tuition fee directly to the school and releases the remaining amount upon the scholars’ submission of grades for the semester.
OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFW DSP). OWWA provides financial assistance of Php 20,000.00 per year to poor but deserving dependents of OFWs with a monthly salary of not more than US$400.00/month. Qualifiers enroll in a four- to five-year baccalaureate or associate course leading are entitled to a baccalaureate or associate degree in a state college or university.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - 2. Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)
A qualified applicant may avail of either a one-year technical or a six-month vocational course offered following the regular school year calendar.
Upon receipt of the scholarship voucher, the grantee may enroll in any TESDA-registered program. Program choices shall be supportive of the land – and sea-based skills requirement. Financial assistance for a one-year program is P14,500.00 while for a six-month program is P7,250.00.
The amount of financial assistance will be paid directly to the training institution. If the tuition fee is more than the financial assistance, the scholar will shoulder the difference. If the tuition fee is less, the difference will be given to the scholar upon completion of the course.
Course offerings include: agriculture and fishery; processed food and beverages; tourism (hotel and restaurant); decorative crafts and ceramics; gifts, toys and housewares; jewelry; metals and engineering; furniture and fixtures; garments; construction; communication/electronics/information technology; maritime; land transport; health, social services; and other community, social and personal services.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - 3. Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP)
Beneficiaries under the SUP receive from OWWA financial assistance for training costs, ranging from a minimum of PhP 1,200.00 to a maximum of PhP 7,500.00. These amounts are inclusive of meal and transportation allowances in the case of trainees referred to the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP).
Filipino seafarers who are active OWWA members may avail of the program. Beneficiaries may subsequently avail of the SUP after payment of three (3) additional membership contributions and if training is availed of within the prescribed period.
The Seafarers’ Upgrading Program is intended to provide OWWA-member seafarers job-related training in priority maritime courses identified by the Maritime Training Council. It is designed to upgrade the skills, and develop the expertise of Filipino seafarers in accordance with technological advancements and international maritime standards.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - 4. DOLE-OWWA Tulay Microsoft Project In partnership with Microsoft Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and OWWA has launched Tulay or Bridge Education Program, which provides OFWs IT training and access to technology that will enable them and their families to communicate through the internet.
The Tulay or Bridge Education Program is a part of Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential (UP), a global initiative aimed at providing technology and skills for underserved individuals. OFWs and their families learn the basics of computer applications such as MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel as well as internet and e-mail use at the Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLC).
Through Tulay, the OWWA expects OFWs to gain IT skills that will enhance their work, thus increasing their value in the workplace. These new IT skills can further help them become more competitive in pursuing a career in the country upon their return.
The project also aims to address the primary issue of family disintegration. It is hoped that through the project, problems arising form OFWs’ prolonged separation from their families will be greatly minimized and as it mitigates the social impact of being away from home because of the accessibility and ease of using technology to connect and communicate to loved ones at home.
The CTLCs being maintained and operated by DOLE-OWWA are located at the OWWA Central Office, OWWA Satellite Office in POEA, OWWA Regional Welfare Offices as well as OWWA overseas posts in Riyadh (KSA), Hong Kong, Taichung (Taiwan), Rome and Milan (Italy)
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - 5. Tuloy-Aral Project The Tuloy-Aral Project was launched in December 2004 with the objective of assisting the children of less fortunate former OFWs as well as other poor and needy elementary and high school children.
The DOLE and the OWWA regional offices, with the assistance of DSWD, identify children of former OFWs needing financial assistance to send to school. The DSWD or DOLE/OWWA prepares a family profile that shall serve as the basis for the selection of the beneficiary.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) are tasked to promote and identify OFWs who are successful, financially stable and in good standing to act as prospective sponsoring parents. OFW organizations may also volunteer to act as sponsor parents.
Identified sponsoring parents are requested to provide a US$ 100.00 financial support per year to the child-beneficiary to enable him/her to continue his/her elementary or high school education. The amount will help cover for expenses such as books, school supplies, materials for projects, transportation, authorized school contributions, and allowance for the whole school year.
The OWWA Family Welfare Officers monitor each child’s progress in school. The Tuloy-Aral project is nationwide in coverage as it is being replicated in each region of the country.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What is the Bridging Program? The Bridging Program is a scholarship grant given to qualified graduates of BS Mechanical Engineering and BS Electrical Engineering who wish to pursue a BS Marine Engineering course.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What are the privileges, eligibility and documentary requirements for OWWA EDSP? Scholarship Privileges
Eligibility Requirements
Documentary Requirements
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What are the eligibility and documentary requirements for the Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)? Qualified beneficiaries/dependents
Availment Requirements
For subsequent availments, three (3) additional membership contributions are required. After completing the course, must submit for competency assessment and certification administered by TESDA or its accredited testing center.
Documentary Requirements
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What are the requirements for the Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP)? Availment and Documentary Requirements:
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What is the Repatriation Program? OWWA members may avail of official OWWA assistance to return to the Philippines in a situation of emergency or distress. This includes provision of services to facilitate immediate repatriation of distressed OFWs, medically-ill OFWs, human remains, etc. like airport assistance, domestic transport, temporary shelter, etc.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What is the Reintegration Program? The Reintegration covers two (2) major components – economic and psycho-social components. The economic component on the other hand, includes social preparation programs for livelihood projects or community-based income generating projects, skills training and credit facilitation and lending. At present, the economic component has two (2) loan programs: the OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Programs for OFWs (LDPO) and the OFW Groceria Project. The psycho-social components includes community organizing program or organizing of OFW family circles and services like social counseling, family counseling, stress debriefing, and training on capacity building, value formation, etc.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What is the OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Program? This program is a joint undertaking of OWWA and National Livelihood Support Fund (NLSF). to address the economic component of the OFW Reintegration Program.
It is meant to further improve access to entrepreneurial development opportunities and credit facilities to OFWs, their families, and organizations. Enterprises may include:
The OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Program currently has the Collateral Loan Window for individual and group borrowers. Acceptable Purposes of Loan
Eligible Borrowers
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What are the loan packages and requirements under the OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Program 1. Collateral Loan Window
Loan Requirements For Individual Borrowers
Additional Requirements if availee is an immediate family member:
For Group Borrowers
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - How can one apply for a loan under OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Program? Loan applications may be filed at all OWWA Regional Welfare Offices together with the following standard requirements: Assets Acceptable as Collateral and Required Documents (For Collateral Loan Window)
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What is the Model OFW Family of the Year Award? The Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA) is a medium for recognizing the achievements of OFWs and their families in managing the impact of overseas employment in family life. It serves as a strategic mechanism for exemplifying the best practices of OFW families towards optimizing the gains of migration.
The Award also recognizes the ultimate results of OFW family success in terms of enterprise development and generation of employment opportunities.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - What is the story behind OWWA’s Logo?
The LOGO was designed in 1981 by Mr. Paeng Asuncion, using a Greek capital letter Delta (visually denoting a triangle or a pyramid), which symbolizes CHANGE that may occur progressively, step by step, or rapidly, on a broadening base that supports a concomitant upward trend.
The vertices (points) of the triangle are coherent with the concept of “trinity”, implying the union of the key stakeholders: the government, in partnership with OFWs, and the private sector.
The red, white and blue represent the colors of the Philippine flag, emphasizing the true spirit of the world-class Filipino worker.
The inner ring represents the world destinations of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). It visually implies the upper half of a rising sun and pouring rain in the lower half.
The sun represents energy, life-giving force, warmth and sustenance. The rain represents the sun’s complement in the life-giving force.
The sun and the rain also represent the favorable and adverse conditions encountered by the expatriate Filipino workers in the overseas job-sites.
Both sun and rain symbolize the gains and pains of OFWs, the concerns centering on the welfare and well-being of OFWs and their families.
OWWA strives to provide timely and responsive interventions: 24 hours, seven days a week with assured quality standards. It goes with our motto: “UMULAN MA’T UMARAW…. ANG OWWA AY MAASAHAN”.
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| Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) | || | National Reintegration Center for OFWs | || | Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) |