20 slots slated for MP OWWA scholarships

By Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mountain Province-- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said it is now accepting applications for the Overseas Filipino Worker  Dependents Scholarship Program for Overseas Filipino Worker dependents in  the province for school year 2012-2013.

            OWWA-Cordillera regional director Manuela Pena  in her letter to the Office of the Provincial Governor here through  the  Public Employment Service Office stated  that  interested applicants are advised to submit duly accomplished application forms and report personally before the Office of the OWWA regional director for simplified validation test on any of the following schedules: April 23 at 8:30a.m. and April 30 at 1 p.m. 

            Application forms are available at the provincial governor’s office.

            Dina Ponciano of OWWA-Cordillera said there are 20  scholarship slots available for Mt. Province OFW dependents.

            OFWDSP reportedly is one of the programs and services offered by the OWWA to OFW dependents which offers financial assistance to qualified dependents of OFWs who are earning a monthly salary of not more than US$400, and who shall enroll in any four-year or five-year course or associate degree in a state college or university.

            This scholarship program provides a maximum of P20,000.00 assistance per school year leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree in a state college of university.

            Qualified to avail of the program are beneficiaries or dependents of an active OWWA member who is a child (natural or adopted) of married or single OFW, a brother or sister (half or full-blood) of single or childless married OFW, must be single and not more than 21 years old, must be high school graduate but never been enrolled in college or about to graduate from high school,  must be physically and mentally and morally fit, and must not be a recipient of any scholarship award from any government or private institution..

            This scholarship program does not require qualifying examination but qualified dependents must pass the entrance examination conducted by an OWWA-partner state college/university or any Commission on High Education recognized and accredited educational institution located in the region/province.

            Requirements include one  set of accomplished application form; two   pieces passport size pictures; proof of relationship to member (birth certificate certified by the Local Civil Registrar or a National Statistics Office); proof of OWWA membership of the OWWA-member (official receipt of OWWA contribution and certification of membership issued by OWWA Membership Processing Center); school record (Form 137); medical certificate from any Department of Health (DOH)-accredited hospital or clinic; certification of good moral character issued by the school principal/guidance counselor; and original copy of the scholarship agreement.

            Ponciano said Mt. Province is allotted with 20 slots because it is one of the ten  identified poorest provinces. OWWA is also allotting an annual scholarship slots of 12 to each of the five other Cordillera provinces namely: Abra, Apayao, Benguet including Baguio City, Ifugao and Kalinga.

            During the one-day Pre-Employment Orientation seminar here, Ponciano who presented the programs and services of their agency, said with a membership fee of US$25.00, an OFW is entitled to the benefits and services provided by the OWWA.