Filipino expat workers: Ignore OWWA, then face dire consequences

WELFARE AGENCY: OWWA stands for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). It is an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and a membership institution. It protects and promotes the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents. It was formerly known as Welfare and Training Fund for Overseas Workers and was organized in 1977.

WHO CAN SIGN UP: Those who are eligible for OWWA membership enrolment/renewal under the On-Site Membership Program (OSMP) are: OFWs of legal age, who enroll as first-time members, provided they are gainfully employed overseas at the time of registration; OFWs whose OWWA membership had expired; OFWs who have acquired regular/permanent residency status in the foreign country of work, but who have remained Filipino citizens; and, OFWs who left the country without proper documentation as OFW from the POEA and who have obtained gainful employment in the destination country.

PAYMENT VIA APP: Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) can pay their Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) membership fee through their smartphones. The OWWA payment service accepts payments for the biannual (once every two years) membership fee of $25 for OFWs in countries without an OWWA office. OFWs may also use the app to check their employment contract information, membership status, payment history and member beneficiaries.

AN OWWA OFFICE: Every Overseas Filipino Worker is mandated to sign up with OWWA — either through the compulsory or voluntary program. Coverage starts upon payment of membership contribution up until expiration of the employment contract. The member is covered for a maximum of two years after which the membership has to be renewed.

On December 29, 2019, Arlyn P. Nucos, a Filipina expat worker died in the tragic accident in Singapore. Being an active OWWA member during her untimely demise, Arlyn’s family was given her social benefits entitlements from OWWA — such as death insurance amounting to P200,000, burial assistance of P20,000, scholarship assistance to any of her siblings and livelihood assistance of P15,000. OWWA Regional Welfare Office I Supervising Administrative Officer Emmanuel Santiago C. Diaz, Social Benefit Unit Head Marissa C. Naboye, and Family Welfare Officer Khristian Paul M. Maglaya personally went to their residence in San Carlos, Caba, La Union to hand in the death and burial assistance check amounting to Php 220,000 to the OFW’s bereaved family Reynaldo P. Nucos and Alice P. Nucos-Austria.

The OFW e-Card. OWWA’s fund is a single trust fund pooled from the $25.00 membership contributions. It also includes contributions of foreign employers, investment and interest income, and income from other sources. OWWA is administered by the Board of Trustees through the Secretariat. It is headed by the Administrator and Deputy Administrator.

OWWA is present in 31 overseas posts in 27 countries. It also has its regional presence in all the seventeen regions. OWWA runs an insurance type of service for expat Filipino workers. In addition, it also runs a welfare system, including funding for repatriation and burial services.

OWWA members are entitled to avail of loans, acquire TESDA scholarship, and avail of livelihood and entrepreneurship seminars and other reintegration programs upon their return.

OWWA focuses on the welfare of the OFWs and their families. It is present in all three stages of migration: pre-departure, on-site, and upon arrival. Before the first-time workers leave, OWWA educates them on the realities of overseas work. They also undergo basic language training. Abroad, OWWA assists the OFWs whenever they encounter concerns with their employers. OWWA also has livelihood trainings and programs for the OFWs’ reintegration.

FILIPINO OVERSEAS WORKERS: OWWA is a state-run agency vested with the special function of developing and implementing welfare programs and services that respond to the needs of its member-OFWs and their families. It is endowed with powers to administer a trust fund to be called the OWWA Fund.

MEMBERSHIP: Membership — either through the compulsory or voluntary coverage — kicks in upon payment of membership contribution up until expiration of the employment contract. The member is covered for a maximum of two years after which the membership has to be renewed.

DEATH BENEFIT: An active OWWA member is covered for the duration of his employment contract. The coverage includes Php100,000 for death due to natural cause and Php200,000.00 for death due to accident.

DISABILITY BENEFITS: A member is entitled to disability/dismemberment benefits of PhP50,000 for partial disability and Php100,000 in case of total permanent disability.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES: An OWWA member may avail for himself/herself or his/her duly designated beneficiary any of the following scholarship programs, subject to a selection process and accreditation of participating institutions.

EDUCATION FOR DEVELOPMENT: The Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) is an educational assistance offered to qualified dependents/beneficiaries of member-OFWs. The scholarship consists of a maximum of Php60,000.00 per school year leading to a four-to-five year baccalaureate course in any college or university.

DEPENDENTS: There's also an OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFW DSP). This educational assistance consists of a maximum of Php20,000 per school year leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree in a state college or university for dependents whose active OFW-member parents receive a monthly salary of not more than $400.

SEAFARERS’ UPGRADING PROGRAM: This is designed to upgrade the skills and develop the expertise of Filipino seafarers. First tranche consists of a maximum of Php7, 500.00 training assistance. Another training course can be available of every after three (3) recorded membership.

FOR SURVIVORS OF DECEASED OFW: Education assistance for survivors of a deceased OFW consisting of PhP5,000 for elementary, PhP8,000.00 for high school and Php10,000.00 for college per school year and livelihood assistance amounting to Php15,000 is given to the surviving spouse.

REPATRIATION SERVICE: Repatriation meaning bringing distressed workers back to the Philippines. This includes airport assistance, temporary shelter at the OWWA Halfway House, and provision for their travel back to their provinces.

REINTEGRATION: The Reintegration covers two major components — (1) economic and (2) psycho-social. The economic component includes social preparation programs for livelihood projects or community-based income generating projects, skills training and credit facilitation and lending. The psycho-social components includes community organizing program or organizing of OFW family circles and services like social counseling, family counseling, stress debriefing, and training on capacity building, value formation, etc.