CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — More than 800 children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the MIMAROPA region availed of the scholarship programs of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
“Sa Oriental Mindoro alone, we have roughly 500 scholars not to include yung parating pa this year na 100 additional [slots]. For MIMAROPA we have more than 800 overseas Filipino workers scholars,” OWWA Program Officer Tristan Arvin A. Perez of Oriental Mindoro shared during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas in Calapan City, Sept. 3.
Among the scholarship programs offered by the OWWA are OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP), Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), Educational and Livelihood Assist Program (ELAP), Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP), and Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP).
For the EDSP, Perez said that the scholarship grant to qualified dependents of OFWs consists of a maximum of ₱60,000 per school year until the completion of a baccalaureate course (4-5 years). For incoming freshmen, the selection of scholars is determined through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) national examinations.
Meanwhile, Perez shared that the ODSP is a scholarship program that offers financial assistance amounting to ₱20,000 per school year to qualified dependents of OFWs who receive a monthly salary of not more than US $600, and who shall enroll, are currently enrolled or have been enrolled in any four-year or five-year baccalaureate course or associate course in any college or university.
He also expects the number of scholarship spots to increase for the coming years.
“Naiintindihan po namin na kailangan ang pag-aaral. Sa panahon ngayon, ang pag-aaral ay hindi lamang karapatan; isa na syang pribilehiyo. Hopefully, mas lumaki pa ang slots ng scholarships natin,” he said.
Additional information about the scholarships of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration can be accessed through their website at owwa.gov.ph or message OWWA MIMAROPA at facebook.com/owwaregion4b. (AS/PIA MIMAROPA)
