The next episode of OWWA at Your Service features an interview with an OWWA scholar. Uploaded on July 16, 2021, OWWA Deputy Administrator, Mocha Uson talked to Andrea, Bonifacio, an OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP) scholar where they discuss the scholarship and education benefits of the agency.
Andrea’s father is an OFW security officer from Kuwait who has been working in the Middle East for 15 years. She is lucky because her father is a member of OWWA and there are many benefits for the dependents who are studying in university.
While the previous episodes of OWWA At Your Service talked about the stories of different livelihood program beneficiaries, this is a refreshing episode because there are many OFWs who have children and dependents in the Philippines. It’s good to know that there are education projects that OFWs can avail themselves of from the agency. Please check out the feature below as OWWA hopes to inspire other potential recipients to gain from this program.
Contents
Image: screenshot from OWWA Official FB Page
Daughter of OFW Becomes OWWA Scholar and Graduates HRM Course
Andrea’s father had to go abroad because all his children were studying. However, his father’s income at the time was enough only for daily living expenses.
Through the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program, Andrea became a scholar, and she received PHP 20,000.00 per year because she is a qualified dependent of an active OWWA member – OFW whose salary does not exceed $600.00
Image: screenshot from OWWA Official FB Page
What is the ODSP Scholarship Program?
OFW Dependent Scholarship Program or ODSP is educational assistance of PHP 20,000.00 per school year to a qualified dependent of an active OWWA member-OFW whose salary is not more than US$600.00.
Andrea’s Application for OWWA ODSP
Andrea took a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology course at Aklan State University of Kalibu branch. She shares that OWWA was able to support her studies starting from her first year until she graduated. She’s very happy to become an OWWA scholar.
DA Bubsie asked Andrea if she had any difficulty in applying for the ODSP. She responded that it was not a hassle and she had no difficulty at all. She says that the document requirements she processed were also the same ones she needed during her application in her school.
What are the qualifications and requirements in applying for ODSP?
According to the official website of OWWA, these are the qualifications and requirements if you want to be an ODSP scholar:
Qualifications
- Child of an active OWWA member or sibling of an unmarried OWWA member, who is single and not more than 21 years old for incoming freshmen, and not more than 30 years old for those who are already enrolled or have been enrolled in college
- Should pass the entrance examination conducted by state college/university in OWWA Regional Welfare Offices where he/she wants to enroll
- Must not be an existing grant of any other scholarship programs
Image: screenshot from OWWA Official FB Page
Requirements
Per OWWA’s Official Website, here are the requirements that you need to submit once you qualify for the ODSP Program.
- Accomplished Application Form (2 copies)
- 2×2 ID Photos (2 copies)
- Proof of relationship to OWWA member (e.g., PSA or Local Civil Registry (LCR)-authenticated birth certificate and certificate of no marriage if OFW is single)
- Form 137 for incoming first-year college or Transcript of Records or Certificate of Grades for those already enrolled in college
- Medical certificate/clearance from any DOH-accredited hospital/center/clinic
- Certificate of good moral character issued by the principal/guidance counselor
- Accomplished original copy of the Scholarship Agreement
Finishing Her Studies
The ODSP had been a big help for Andrea, although her father was abroad, and the salary was not enough to support her and her three siblings, who were studying simultaneously. Because Andrea was a college student, she needed to provide her tuition by every semester. So, the ODSP helped her a lot to finish her studies.
“Papa, be careful there, always pray, and you can come home soon. I love you.” Andrea’s message to her father who is still working abroad.
Image: screenshot from OWWA Official FB Page
Summary
Many of us suffer from difficulties, especially because of the pandemic. And every Filipino needs support to survive their daily lives. We are glad that agencies like OWWA are truly open-hearted to those who need help and support.
In this episode, you can see how helpful the ODSP program is to OFWs who can’t support or don’t have enough income to support their children’s studies. OWWA has programs that support and willing to help those in need.
Again, a reminder to all OFW to renew your OWWA membership. You can use the OWWA mobile application, and your membership fees can be paid for by your loved ones here in the Philippines. There’s always a way to keep your membership active with OWWA so please take a portion of your time for this.
Image: screenshot from OWWA Official FB Page
Video: OFW Dependent Scholarship Program Experience
Kumusta Kabayan! Sa paglilibot ng OWWA AT YOUR SERVICE, nakapanayam namin ang ng isang anak ng OFW na si Andrea Bonifacio na isang OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP) availee. Alamin natin ang kanyang waging kwento.
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Mahigit kumulang 15 years na nagtatrabaho bilang security officer sa Kuwait ang ama ni Andrea. Kinailangan niyang mangibang bansa dahil sabay na sabay na nag-aaral ang anak niya. Ngunit saktuhan lang ang kanyang sinesweldo para sa pang-araw-arawa ng pamilya.
Sa pamamagitan ng OFW Dependent Scholarship Program, si Andrea ay naging scholar at nakakatanggap si Andrea ng Php 20,000.00 kada taon dahil isa siyang qualified na dependent ng isang active OWWA member OFW na ang sinesweldo ay hindi hihigit sa $600.00
Magmula ng siya ay nagkolehiyo isa na siyang scholar ng OWWA hanggang grumaduate siya. Isa na siyang ganap na propesyonal na nakagraduate ng Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology sa Aklan State University. Saludo kami sa iyo, Andrea.
Samahan muli kami sa mga waging kwento ng ating mga kababayang OFW dito lang sa OWWA AT YOUR SERVICE.
Transcription
Please check out the transcription below of the conversation between DA Mocha, DA Bubsie, and Andrea Bonifacio about her ODSP scholarship experience:
Mocha: Magandang araw po sa ating mga OFWs ako pa ang inyong lingkod DA Mocha Uson kasama po natin di DA Bubsie at ang anak ng isang OFW natin na sa Andrea Bonifacio. Andrea kamusta ka?
Andrea: Mabuti naman po super so good naman po kahit lockdown dito sa Boracay still may work pa den babalikan kahit papaano.
Mocha: Ang tatay mo ay OFW, anong trabaho nya at saan sya nagtrabaho abroad?
Andrea: Yung tatay ko po is security officer sa Kuwait almost 14-15 yrs na po syang nagtatrabaho doon, first po kasing ano nya don is sakto lang po yung sahod nya, nangimambansa na po sya kasi kailangan na po namin kasi sabay sabay na po kami nag aaral, then na avail ko po yung scholar binigyan po nila ako ng list ng mga requierments para makapasok po ako at makaavail.
Mocha: Anong Kurso ang kinuha mo?
Andrea: Bachelor of Science and Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology po sa Aklan State University po ng kalibu branch.
Mocha: At simula nung first year ka, scholar ka na ng OWWA.
Andrea: Opo until nung graduate po ako yun po yung na avail ko.
Bubsie: Alam mo nakakatuwa itong si Andrea Bonifacio sapagkat isa sya sa mapalad na mga studyante na under ng ODS PROGRAM ng OWWA. Maam Andrea during the time na binigyan ka ng mga requirments nahirapan kabang iprocess ang mga requirements para maavail mo ang aking programa?
Andrea: Hindi po sir, kasi lahat po ng requirements doon, required din po sa school namin kaya di po ako nahirapan na iavail iyon.
Bubsie: oh ayan nananawagan tayo sa mga OFW natin yung iba pa sa EAST PROGRAM natin DA mocha ito pala ay every sem meron syang 10,000 na marereceive hanggang sa makatapos sya ngayon.
Mocha: Naging malaking tulong ba itong programa ng OWWA itong ODSP para sa iyong pag aaral?
Andrea: Opo naging malaking tulong po ito kasi despite po na nasa abroad po yung tatay ko and yung kita nta po is sakto lang po talaga sa amin sa pang araw araw namin tsaka tatlo po kaming sabay sabay na nag aral that time then syempre college din po every sem may tuition po yon kaya malaking tulong po talaga ang binigay sakin ng ODS para matapos ko ang aking pag aaral.
Mocha: Kamusta naman ang tatay mo, nasa abroad parin ba sya ngayon?
Andrea: Yes po, doon pa din po sya nagtatrabaho
Mocha: Mensahe mo nalang kay tatay mo nanonood nasa kuwait
Andrea: Papa ingat ka jan, pray ka lang lagi makakauwi ka rin soon iloveyou.
Kaya paalala po sa ating mga OFW mag renew ng ating mga OWWA Membership pwede din pong gamitin ang OWWA mobile app at pwede nyong pabayaran sa mga kamag anak nyo na nass Pilipinas, dahil sa OWWA ang miyembro protektado!