The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) launched on Thursday a P400-million educational assistance program for the children of repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
"Project EASE" or the Educational Assistance through Scholarship in Emergencies, aims to provide educational assistance to qualified college-level dependents of member-OFWs who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the program, a cash grant of P10,000 per year for a maximum of four years would be given to the OFWs dependents.
The OWWA Board of Trustees allocated a total of P400 million for the first year of its implementation. The funds will be sourced from the OWWA's budget.
"True to its mandate of providing holistic programs and services to the OFWs and their families, the OWWA board has set aside funds to support the education of college-level dependents of active OWWA member-OFWs”, said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III who also chairs the OWWA Board.
"As the project title suggests, we intend to ease the impact of the pandemic on the lives of our dear OFWs”, he added.
To avail of the educational aid, OFWs must have an active membership status at the time of their repatriation to the country from the declaration of the outbreak on February 1.
Eligible dependents include children of married or single-parent migrant workers, as well as siblings of a single OFW.
Beneficiaries of existing scholarship grants, inactive OWWA members, and undocumented OFWs are not covered by the program.
Application forms must be filled up and filed at http://ease.owwa.gov.ph.