An expanded and more transparent scholarship program for children or sibling of overseas Filipino workers will be rolled out by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) starting next school year.
OWWA today, July 7, announced that applications for
the two scholarship categories will be accepted from July 16-31.
OWWA Administrator PY Caunan told The SUN that she
has instructed her staff to make more transparent the number of slots that are
available as well as the process.
“We will be working in the long run in increasing
the number of slots,” said Administrator Caunan. “Hopefully Congress will
support.”
The scholarships on offer fall under two categories,
both of which are open to children of OFWs who are active members, or sibling
if the OFW member is single or married with no offspring.
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| Requirements for the higher-category EDSP scholarship which comes with P60k cash benefit |
Under the Education for Development Scholarship
Program (EDSP), the applicant must be enrolled in the second to fifth year in a
Philippine-based university or college, must not be over 30 years old, and must
have a general weighted average of at least 85% with no failing mark.
Only 600 EDSP scholars are chosen each year, and
they each get Php60,000 cash subsidy per year until they complete their course,
provided they continue to meet the academic requirement.
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| ODSP applicants must have at least a passing grade to qualify for the P20k annual grant |
The other program is the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP) which has two sub-categories: one is for incoming freshman students who must be no more than 21 years old, and the second is for those enrolled in the 2nd to 5th year in college, who should be no more than 30 years old and single.
In both categories, the applicant should have a
passing general weighted average (GWA) which means, at least 75%. Previously, the required GWA was at least
80%.
Each scholar will get Php20,000 each year until they
graduate, for as long as they meet the GWA requirement.
The applicants should have an OFW income of no more
than US$1,000 per month or its equivalent. .
The number of ODSP scholars that will be admitted
for the next school year is not indicated, but last year, a total of 5,000 grants
were awarded under this program.
The requirements for the scholar-applicants include
the following:
– PSA Birth
Certificate (for applicants whose parent is an OFW)
– Certificate of No
Marriage (for applicants whose sibling is an OFW)
- OFW Declaration of
no Child Dependent (For Married OFW but childless)
– 2 pcs. 2x2 Picture
with name tag and white background
– Copy of OFW Passport
ID
Application forms and all inquiries related to the OWWA scholarship program may be secured from the following website: https://scholarship.owwa.gov.ph/.
Please also check the official Facebook page of OWWA regularly for any updated announcements.
