OWWA launches scholarship program for OFW dependents

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Philippine Overseas Workers Welfare Administration recently announced that it is now accepting applications from dependents of overseas Filipino workers for its college scholarship program. The scholarship program, called Education for Development Scholarship Program, is open to all high school graduating students in the Philippines who are children or dependents of active OWWA members.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said that the scholarship program provides an educational grant of P60,000 per year to every OWWA scholar enrolled in any four or five year course in colleges and universities in the Philippines. OWWA allots a total of P240,000 to P300,000 for each scholar for the entire duration of the scholarship.

Dimzon also said that the EDSP aims to help OWWA members to send their qualified children and dependents to first-rate schools and receive quality college education without having to worry about where to get the money to pay for their tuition fees. Under the program, OWWA will pay the tuition fee of the scholar directly to the school. Any remaining amount in the financial grant after the payment of tuition fee will be released to the scholar.

Labor attaché Luzviminda Padilla, who heads the Philippine Overseas Labor Office of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., is encouraging OFWs in the United States to avail of this program.

“The Filipino workers in U.S. should not miss this opportunity being offered to OWWA members. The financial grant that could be availed of under the program would certainly help their children in achieving their educational aspirations and realizing their dreams,” she said.

Meanwhile, Welfare Officer Saul de Vries, the newly designated OWWA representative in Washington, D.C., advised OFWs in the U.S. to inform their high school graduating children or dependents to file their application with the OWWA Regional Welfare Office nearest to their place of residence in the Philippines. The deadline for submission of application is on Sept. 30, 2011. Qualified applicants will undergo a competitive examination to be administered by the Department of Science and Technology on Nov. 20, 2011.

To be eligible to apply, the applicant must be: (1) a child of an OWWA member or brother/sister of an unmarried OWWA member; (2) below 21 years old; (3) a Filipino citizen; (4) in good health and of good moral character; (5) in the upper 20% of the high school graduating class; (6) has not earned units in any post-secondary/undergraduate course; and (7) not be a recipient of any scholarship award. OFWs interested in the program may call de Vries at telephone number 202-467-9425 or e-mail him at owwa_washingtondc@yahoo.com. (PR)