If you are planning to work overseas as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the programs offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). These programs, namely the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and the Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP), aim to provide essential information and equip you with the necessary skills for a successful and secure overseas employment. This article will guide you through the registration process for these OWWA programs.How to Join OWWA Pre-Departure Education Program (PDEP)

Step 1: Gather Required Documents Before you proceed with the registration, ensure that you have the following documents ready:

Valid passport
Proof of overseas employment (job offer, contract, etc.)
Valid identification card (e.g., government-issued ID)

Step 2: Contact OWWA Office To begin the registration process, reach out to the nearest OWWA office in your area. You can find the contact details on the official OWWA website or through a local directory. Contact the office to inquire about the availability of PDOS and CPDEP sessions, as well as the registration procedures.

Step 3: Provide Personal Information During your conversation with the OWWA office, they will ask for your personal information. Be prepared to provide the following details:

Full name
Date of birth
Contact number
Email address
Address in the Philippines
Overseas employment details (country of destination, job position, employer, etc.)

Step 4: Schedule the Seminar Once your personal information is confirmed, the OWWA office will assist you in scheduling the PDOS and CPDEP sessions. They will provide you with the available dates and times. Select a convenient schedule that fits your preparations for departure.

Step 5: Attend the Seminars On the scheduled day, make sure to arrive at the designated OWWA training center on time. Bring all the required documents, including your valid passport and proof of overseas employment. The PDOS and CPDEP sessions are designed to equip you with essential knowledge and skills for your overseas journey. Topics covered may include house rules, cultural adaptation, coping strategies, and more.

Step 6: Certificate Issuance Upon successful completion of the seminars, you will be awarded a certificate of attendance. This certificate is essential as it may be required during the processing of your overseas employment documents. Safely keep the certificate for future reference.

Conclusion: As an aspiring OFW, attending the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is vital for your safety, security, and successful job performance abroad. By following the registration process outlined in this article, you can ensure that you are well-prepared and equipped with the necessary skills for your overseas employment.

Overview

The PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar) and CPDEP (Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program) are part of the Pre-Departure Education Program conducted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). This program is designed to prepare unemployed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are interested in seeking employment opportunities abroad.

The main objective of this program is to educate and train Filipino workers for overseas employment. It is achieved through a series of activities such as seminars, briefing sessions, role plays, video presentations, study tours, company visits, and other related events conducted at various OWWA training centers across the country.

By participating in the program, individuals receive employment offers from private recruitment agencies and have the opportunity to explore job vacancies in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry through job matching services.

What is OWWA PDOS?

The Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) is a six-hour seminar designed to offer a comprehensive orientation on overseas travel and employment for departing Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

The seminar consists of seven modules that cover various essential aspects such as providing a brief profile of the destination country, explaining the different stages of employment there, and offering crucial points, tips, and guidelines on work ethic and standards, travel procedures, government programs and services, health and safety, as well as financial literacy.

Since the 1980s, the PDOS has been organized and conducted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). However, it is now delivered by various entities including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), travel and recruitment agencies, and authorized service providers.

The objective of the PDOS is to equip departing OFWs with the necessary knowledge and skills to adapt to their host country’s work environment, follow proper procedures, access available government support, ensure their well-being, and manage their finances effectively while working abroad.

What is OWWA CPDEP?

The Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) is an extension of the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) introduced in 2009 to specifically assist Household Service Workers (HSWs), such as caregivers and domestic helpers, who are about to leave the country for work.

The CPDEP typically lasts for two to six days and includes various essential components. It covers basic language training to help HSWs communicate effectively in the language spoken in their destination country. Additionally, it addresses topics such as work ethic and standards, health and safety guidelines, stress management techniques, financial literacy, government programs and services, and cultural familiarization of the host country.

While some of the topics covered in CPDEP overlap with those in PDOS, the initial day of the program is typically conducted by the PDOS administrator. Subsequent days are then facilitated by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), ensuring a comprehensive and well-rounded education for the departing HSWs.

Benefits

The main objective of both Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) is to assist Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in adjusting to their new lifestyle and work environment abroad. These seminars are specifically designed to help OFWs start their jobs on a positive note and maintain their employment for at least six months.

These seminars can be tailored to cater to the specific requirements of a particular country or the skills needed for a particular job. By participating in these seminars, OFWs can acquire the necessary competencies to enhance their employment prospects and make the most of the opportunities available to them overseas. Despite the perception that these seminars might be monotonous or uninteresting, they are actually engaging, relevant, and designed to be informative.

For Household Service Workers (HSWs) in particular, these seminars can be especially beneficial. They equip HSWs with the knowledge and skills to handle challenging situations and seek assistance promptly in case of emergencies.

Overall, these seminars play a crucial role in preparing OFWs for their overseas employment, enabling them to adapt effectively and succeed in their chosen fields.

Qualifications

To register for either PDOS or CPDEP, all registrants must pass the following qualifications:

Must have been issued an immigrant visa
Adults must be between 20-59 years old, children between 13-19 years old.

Requirements

Eligible registrants may pursue their registration by completing the following documents:

Valid original passport
Valid visa
One (1) valid ID with photo
Original copy of any of the following documents, following your country of destination:
- For emigrants bound to US: Immigrant Data Summary (IDS), except those with K-visa
- For emigrants bound to Canada: Permanent Residence Confirmation
- For emigrants bound to Italy: Nulla Osta (Clearance)
- For emigrants bound to Japan: Certificate of Eligibility
- For emigrants bound to Australia and New Zealand: Letter of approval for Work to Residence
- For emigrants bound for other countries, you may visit the OWWA website at www.owwa.gov.ph for the detailed requirements.
Payment of PhP 400 if attending PDOS. Attendees for CPDEP are free of charge for the seminar but they must have paid their OWWA membership contribution, which they are to show proof of (i.e: official receipt) upon registration.

How to Attend PDOS and CPDEP Seminars

“Registrants must have an account on the Overseas Filipinos – CFO Online Registration System (OF-CORS), which they will use to register for either Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) or the Peer Counseling and Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP).”

Go to the official website of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) at www.cfo.gov.ph.
Look for and click on the PDOS tab.
Read through the data privacy policy and agree to the consent form.
Create a CFO account by filling out the account creation details. Provide the following information:
- Relationship of the registrant to the petitioner or emigrant.
- Country of destination.
- Work classification.
- Email address.
Attach copies of your passport and visa to the account creation form.
Click “Submit” to complete the account creation process.
Check your registered email and confirm the email sent by the CFO to verify your account. Click on the verification link provided in the email. This will redirect you to your CFO profile page.
Complete your profile with your personal information on the CFO profile page.
Click “Verify” once you have completed your profile.
After verifying your account, you will be redirected to the CFO page displaying the list of requirements. Read through the requirements and check them thoroughly.
Once you have reviewed the requirements, click “Submit”.
You will receive another email indicating where you should submit your additional documents for verification purposes. Please note that this step may take a few days to process.
Once your documents are verified, you will receive a confirmation whether you are required to attend PDOS or CPDEP (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar or Country-specific Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar).
If you are required to attend, you will receive a registration link via email. Click on the link to access the registration page and select your preferred schedule. Keep in mind that the schedules are on a first-come, first-served basis, and limited slots are available for each schedule.
If you are exempted from attending the seminar, simply fill up the registration page with the required information.
After registering, click “Continue for Payment”.
Select your preferred payment method and provide the necessary details.
Fill out your delivery information for the digital certificate and other documents.
Verify your delivery and payment information, then click “Proceed”. Make sure to save your proof of payment, as well as a copy of your passport and visa for backup.
Your digital certificate for OF-CORS (Orientation for Filipino Emigrants to the Republic of the Philippines) will be sent to your email, along with the confirmed schedule for PDOS or CPDEP if you are required to attend.

Please note that the above steps are based on the provided information and may be subject to change. It’s always recommended to refer to the official website of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) for the most up-to-date instructions and procedures.

General Guidelines

Always double-check your entered information before proceeding to the next step of the registration. Since the registration process itself is lengthy, it is highly recommended that you read through all pages first before submitting any information.

The registration confirmation sent to your email includes a barcoded section containing your information. It is advisable to save both a hard copy and a soft copy of the confirmation, along with all your required documents, for security purposes. However, there is no need to print the registration form itself.

Please make sure to arrive at the CFO office at least 2 hours before your scheduled time for the verification process.

Once you have completed the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) or the Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP), you will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate needs to be submitted to the POEA for processing and then presented at the airport during your departure.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some FAQs about the Pre-Departure programs of OWWA for OFWs:

1. Are both PDOS and CPDEP mandatory?

“Yes, PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar) and CPDEP (Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program) are compulsory orientation seminars for first-time emigrants. PDOS is mandatory for all emigrants, regardless of their work classification. On the other hand, CPDEP is specifically designed for Household Service Workers (HSWs), including caregivers and domestic workers.”

2. How much is the registration fee?

Registration for PDOS entails a PhP 400 registration fee. For CPDEP, registration is for free, but registrants must be active OWWA OFW members.

3. Can I register if I have not renewed my membership yet?

It is highly advisable to renew your OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) membership before registering for any of their seminars, grants, or other programs. This will ensure that you can fully benefit from these opportunities. For example, the registration for CPDEP (Continuing Professional Development for Employment Program) mandates that participants must have already paid their OWWA membership fee. Therefore, inactive OWWA OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) members will not be able to register for the program.”

4. Where can I attend the seminars?

“The OWWA conducts both seminars, which are organized by their local offices in the Philippines and abroad. These seminars are also facilitated by recruitment agencies, NGOs, and other relevant organizations.

As of November 2021, OWWA has released a roster of 275 authorized providers for supplemental Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS). You can access the list through this link: https://owwa.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/List-of-Supplemental-PDOS-Providers-as-of-Nov-8-2021.pdf”

Please note that the content has been rephrased while maintaining the overall meaning.

Summary

As you can see, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) continues to provide assistance to millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) worldwide, including those who are just starting their employment journey. You can rely on the agency from the beginning to the end to support you and your family’s future.

To learn more about the Pre-Departure Education Program (PDEP) and other programs and services offered by OWWA, you can visit their website at www.owwa.gov.ph or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OWWAofficial. Additionally, you can download the OWWA Mobile App from Google Play or the App Store to stay updated on their latest releases and updates.

Remember to keep your OWWA member account active to take advantage of the full benefits and services available to OFW members. How to Join OWWA Pre-Departure Education Program (PDEP)

How to Join OWWA Pre-Departure Education Program (PDEP)