The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration on Monday announced the addition of 10,000 scholarship slots for qualified dependents of overseas Filipino workers and seafarers. The expansion aims to give more children of OFWs access to higher education.
OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the move was possible after the agency’s trust fund reached Php 21.3 billion, marking the highest balance in over 40 years of operation.
Before the expansion, OWWA offered about 15,000 scholarship slots. Following a directive from the President, the agency increased the number to accommodate more beneficiaries this year.
The agency manages three main scholarship programs. The Education for Development Scholarship Program grants up to Php 60,000 per school year for students pursuing a college degree. Incoming freshmen are chosen through qualifying exams conducted by the Department of Science and Technology.
The OFW Dependent Scholarship Program provides Php 20,000 per year to qualified dependents enrolled or planning to enroll in Philippine colleges and universities. Eligibility considers the OFW parent’s monthly salary, according to OWWA guidelines.
The Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program targets deserving migrant workers and their immediate descendants pursuing priority degrees, particularly in science and technology fields.
Caunan said the additional slots will expand educational opportunities and maximize the use of the agency’s record trust fund. She added that OWWA remains committed to supporting the families of overseas workers.
The agency encouraged qualified applicants to apply during the current enrollment period, stressing that scholarships will be awarded based on merit and eligibility criteria under each program.