The pandemic has significantly exacerbated the challenges faced by people all around the world, including Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)owwa-tabang-ofw-program who work diligently abroad to secure a better future for their children and families. Recognizing the plight of OFWs, government agencies have made efforts to provide assistance and protection to them, particularly during these trying times. This includes implementing programs and creating opportunities for the dependents and families of OFWs;

One notable program aimed at supporting the educational needs of OFW dependents is the “Tabang OFW Program.” This initiative is offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The Tabang OFW Program was developed in response to the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (UNIFAST) and focuses on providing educational grants to college students who are dependents of OFWs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring they can continue their studies.

If you would like to learn more about this program, please read the full article below. It will also serve as a comprehensive guide if you are interested in applying for the scholarship grant.

Benefits

The Tabang OFW Program is a Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) designed to provide financial assistance to dependents of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible beneficiaries of this program are entitled to receive educational financial assistance amounting to Php 30,000. The assistance aims to support the continuation of their college education during these challenging times.

It is important to note that the Tabang OFW Program provides a one-time cash assistance to OFW dependents affected by the pandemic, and it is not an OWWA loan. Instead, it is a form of cash aid intended to assist OFWs by offering scholarship support for their dependents.

This program acknowledges the impact of the pandemic on the education of OFW dependents and aims to alleviate the financial burden they may be facing. By providing financial assistance, the Tabang OFW Program strives to enable these students to pursue their tertiary education and contribute to their future success.

Qualifications

The following is the list of qualification requirements that the OFW and interested applicants of the said program must meet to be qualified to get the scholarship grant.

OFWs Qualifications

For married OFWs, their dependents must be unmarried or single children below 30 years old.
For single OFWs, their dependents can be their child (if they are a single parent), siblings, or niece that is 30 years old and below.

Qualifications of OFW Dependents

The individuals applying must hold Filipino citizenship.
They should be dependents of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been repatriated, displaced, deceased, or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
They must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program approved by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
They need to have successfully passed the admission test of the university.
They should not have been expelled from the university.

They must not be receiving any other government scholarships or awards.

Requirements

OWWA Requirements: a. OWWA membership verification/certification b. Valid OWWA membership identification card (ID) c. Certificate of attendance in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) d. Certificate of completion from the Entrepreneurship Development Training (EDT) or the Information Technology (IT) Training Program, if applicable e. Latest two (2)x2 ID picture (at least two copies) f. Accomplished OWWA Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) Application Form
UNIFAST Requirements: a. Duly accomplished UNIFAST Application Form b. Latest two (2)x2 ID picture (at least two copies) c. Photocopy of the applicant’s birth certificate d. Photocopy of the applicant’s grades from the previous semester/term (certified true copy) e. Photocopy of the applicant’s parents’ or guardian’s latest Income Tax Return (ITR) or Certificate of Tax Exemption, whichever is applicable f. Photocopy of the applicant’s parents’ or guardian’s Certificate of Employment (if employed) or any proof of income g. Certificate of Good Moral Character from the previous school attended h. Proof of admission to a recognized college or university i. Certificate of indigency (issued by the Barangay or Social Welfare Office), if applicable

Please note that these requirements are subject to change and it is advisable to visit the official websites of OWWA and UNIFAST or contact their respective offices for any updates or additional documents required.

UNIFAST Requirements

Receipt of Enrollment
Enrollment Assessment Form (EAF)
Certificate of Registration (COR)
Certificate of Enrollment (COE)

Enrollment Document (Electronic Format)
Evaluation Form
Admission Test Score

Note: This is proof of evidence that the OFW dependents are currently and duly enrolled in any college course

OWWA Requirements

OFW travel documents, such as the passport, are required.
OFW returnees must provide proof of arrival documents.
Proof of relationship to the dependent should be presented, which can include birth certificates or an OFW marriage contract/CENOMAR.
Proof of displacement should be provided, which includes an affidavit, POLO letter, and company certification.
An official transmission from the embassy is necessary.
In the case of the deceased OFW, aspiring applicants must submit the death certificate of the deceased OFW.

An affidavit stating that the aspiring applicants of the program do not hold any government scholarship or award is required.

Procedure in Applying for Tabang OFW Assistance

Step 1: Visit the nearest OWWA office in your area or access their online portal at https://ease.owwa.gov.ph/ to obtain an application form. If you have any inquiries, you can also visit the OWWA website at www.owwa.gov.ph, their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OWWAofficial, or contact their OWWA hotline at 1348.

Step 2: Gather and complete all the necessary documentary requirements as specified by the program.

Step 3: Fill out the application form with all the required information and attach the supporting documents.

Step 4: Process and submit your application either online through the OWWA portal or by visiting the local OWWA office. If feasible, you may also use courier services to send or submit your application.

Step 5: Wait for a response from an authorized OWWA or DOLE representative. This response can be in the form of a call, text message, or email, and it will confirm your slot in the program.

Step 6: Once your application is approved, you will receive an SMS or email with instructions on how to claim the cash grant.

Step 7: Visit the assigned Money Exchange Center, such as Kwarta Padala via Palawan Express or MLhuillier, to claim your cash grant.

Important Reminders

Attached here are the essential things that you must remember when you will be applying for the Tabang OFW Program.

Please ensure that you carefully read and understand the qualification requirements before applying for the scholarship grant. This will help you identify if you are eligible and avoid any mistakes during the application process. Only applicants who submit all the necessary documentary requirements will be considered for the scholarship and given a slot, so it’s important to gather all the required documents before applying.

If you want to check the status of your application, you can use the Tabang OFW tracker online. Simply click on the link https://tabangtracker.owwa.gov.ph, fill in your details in the tracker, and click the search button to verify the status of your application.

Before your application is forwarded to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Offices, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and its Regional Welfare Offices will review and verify your application.

Once the list of authorized beneficiaries is finalized, the DOLE Regional Office will send it to the DOLE Central Office. The DOLE Central Office will then scan and compile the list for the verification process, and a verified master list of Tabang OFW Program beneficiaries will be sent to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST).

Afterward, the DOLE’s financial and management service will prepare the necessary documents for the DOLE Regional Offices to receive funds via Cash Advance. The DOLE Regional Offices will then prepare documents such as Budget Utilization Request and Status (BURS) and Disbursement Vouchers (DVs) to provide financial assistance directly to the beneficiaries.

Within two (2) weeks of your application being accepted, the funds will be transferred directly to the bank account of the OFW applicant or their designated beneficiary through a bank transfer or electronic payment facility.

What is the Tabang OFW Program and how to apply?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo1XCDhoIKw

Aside from that, it tackles the financial benefits that the awardees or grantees may expect to receive when they qualify for the said scholarship program as well as the eligibility requirements for the said scholarship program as well as the other important things you might need to know. Additionally, this video may also address some of your questions left unanswered. Hence, it is also recommended for you watch the video for you to learn more about the Tabang OFW Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I apply for more than one child as my dependent in the scholarship program?

The scholarship program mandates that a single child dependent, who is below 30 years old, is required for eligibility. In the case of married overseas Filipino workers, they need to choose one child to be a beneficiary of the program. They have the option to apply for the educational scholarship grant by meeting the necessary qualifications and submitting all the required application documents.

2. Once I apply and pass all the requirements needed, is it guaranteed that I will be a scholar of the Tabang OFW Program?

Every applicant goes through a pre-assessment and screening process. Therefore, it is not assured that obtaining the scholarship program will be easy when you apply. All applications undergo a comprehensive verification procedure to ensure your eligibility as a potential recipient of the scholarship award.”

Please note that the rephrased version conveys the same meaning as the original statement while using different sentence structures and vocabulary.

3. Until when can I apply for the scholarship program?

The Tabang OFW program does not have a specific deadline for application. The program will continue accepting applications until all allocated funds have been utilized or exhausted. Therefore, there is no fixed date or guarantee as to when the program will come to an end.

4. If I did not qualify to be one of the grantees of this program, are there any OWWA grants that I can apply for?

There are several scholarship grants available for active members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and their dependents. If you are interested, you can consider applying for the Educational Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), the Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP), and the Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP). Additionally, being a member of OWWA comes with various benefits, so it is advisable to renew your membership when it expires.

5. I have more questions and concerns about the scholarship program to whom do I need to contact?

If you have any further questions, need clarification, or have concerns regarding the scholarship program, you can get in touch using the following contact information:

OWWA Hotline: You can dial 1348 to reach the OWWA Hotline.

DOLE Command Center: You can email them at commandcenter@dole.gov.ph.

Mobile phone contact numbers:

Smart: 09615958438
Globe: 09052535680

Landline numbers:

(02) 8568 0986
(02) 8568 0984
(02) 8527 3525
(02) 8527 2115
(02) 5309 6605
(02) 8353 8067

DOLE Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) contact number:

(02) 8527 253

6. How to check the status of your application?

There are two steps to check the status of the application process.

Step 1: Go to the OWWA website and access the application status checker for the Tabang OFW Program. You can find the website link at https://tabangtracker.owwa.gov.ph/.

Step 2: Enter your personal information, including your LAST NAME, GIVEN NAME, MIDDLE NAME, and any other required details. Afterward, click the search button to proceed and verify the status of your application.

Please note that the information provided is based on the details you provided and may not reflect any recent changes to the OWWA website or application process.

Summary

Thus, this is the process of applying for the OWWA Tabang OFW Program – How to Apply Tabang OFW Program, which aims to assist the dependents of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with their educational finances. In summary, this program is a collaboration between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST). Qualified applicants can receive a one-time grant of cash assistance amounting to Php 30,000. This program provides significant support to the educational finances of OFW dependents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We hope you find this article helpful. If you wish to apply for this program, please review the eligibility requirements and the mentioned documentary requirements. You can also visit the official website of the Overseas Workers Welfare Association at https://owwa.gov.ph/ to explore other scholarship programs they offer. Furthermore, you can visit their official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/OWWAofficial.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change, so it is advisable to refer to the official sources for the most up-to-date details.

OWWA Tabang OFW Program – How to Apply

Benefits