UAE: Covid-hit Filipino expats may still get Dh2,100 aid for education

Dubai - Thousands of Filipinos stand to benefit from the scholarship programme once the additional fund is released

Around 25,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from across the globe have received one-time cash assistance of Php30,000 (Dh2,100) for their children in college, the Philippines’ labour authorities said on Monday. With fresh funds eyed for this pandemic programme, more expats may still be able to avail themselves of the grant.

The initiative, called Tabang OFW, was launched last year as part of the relief programmes for Filipino expats whose livelihoods were affected by the Covid-19 situation.

Among those eligible are OFWs who were repatriated, lost their jobs, or died amid the pandemic. For every expat in need, one dependent in college could be given Dh2,100.

“Over a month ago, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered that an additional Php 3 billion (Dh217 million) be allocated to the scholarship programme,” Philippine Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello III said as he met Filipino expats in the UAE at a town hall meeting in Dubai on Monday night.

An initial fund of Php1 billion (Dh72 million) was allotted to the project in 2020.

Out of the target beneficiaries of over 32,000, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) —led by Hans Leo Cacdac — has given cash assistance to nearly 25,000 college students.

The project was a big boost to the regular scholarships that Owwa provides every year, Cacdac said.

He added, “I’m proud to report that the number of Owwa scholars has doubled as compared to pre-Covid years. Before the pandemic, we usually have 10,000 college-level scholars annually. This number reached 20,000. On top of that, we have the Tabang OFW scholars, bringing the total to 45,000 in one year — that’s four times the annual average before Covid.”

How to avail of the Dh2,100 financial aid for dependents in college

> An OFW must submit his/her application on ease.owwa.gov.ph

> The application will be evaluated and verified by Owwa offices and the Department of Labour and Employment

> The cash aid will be given directly to the OFW or his/her designated beneficiary via bank transfer within two weeks after the application has been approved

Requirements (which can be submitted online)

> Proof of enrolment of the dependent

> Passport or other travel documents of the OFW

> Proof of arrival (if repatriated)

> Proof of displacement (POLO/Company certification, affidavit)

> Death certificate (for OFWs who died)

> Embassy/consulate official transmission

More than half a million OFWs, who lost their jobs to Covid-19, also received cash assistance of Php10,000 (Dh720). Some 40,000 benefitted from livelihood projects, allowing them to start afresh back home.