OWWA for OFWs: What You Need to Know about this Agency

In a previous post, we shared about POEA, its mandate, and the key services this agency offers to OFWs. Apparently, POEA cannot work alone. It needs another arm in ensuring that the rights and welfare of Filipino migrant workers are prioritized.

This is where OWWA or the Overseas Welfare Workers Administration comes into the picture.

Whether you are an existing Overseas Filipino Worker or an aspiring one, here’s what you need to know about OWWA and find out how they can help you.

Who is OWWA? 

Similar to POEA, OWWA is also an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment. The agency’s primary role is to protect and promote the welfare and well-being of OFWs and their respective families.

OWWA has two-fold mandate:

  • Delivery of welfare services and benefits
  • Ensure capital build-up and fund viability

Its main difference with POEA is that OWWA handles OFW concerns who are already working abroad.

What are the programs and services do OWWA offer? 

Social Benefits (can be availed during the duration of the contract)

  • Disability and dismemberment benefits up to P100,000 for injuries sustained overseas
  • Death benefits up to P100,000 for natural death and P200,000 if death is caused by accident

Education and Training Assistance 

  • Country-specific Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS), a mandatory seminar for all departing migrant workers,
  • Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP), which is for Household Service Workers
  • Seafarers Upgrading Program (SUP)
  • Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), which is a scholarship grant for qualified OFW beneficiaries or dependents who plans to enroll in a four- or five-year course in any preferred college or university.
  • OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (OFWDSP), which is a scholarship grant for qualified OFW beneficiaries or dependents who plans to enroll in a four- or five-year course in a state college or university.
  • Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP) for either the migrant worker or immediate descendants who want to enroll in any Science and Technology course.
  • Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), which is in the form of allowance. This is given in case of death of OFW-OWWA member.
  • Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) for technical or vocational courses
  • Information Technology (IT) Training Program

Workers Welfare Assistance Program

  • On-site assistance and services such as airport assistance, psycho-social counselling, mediation or conciliation with employer, and providing legal assistance among others.
  • In-country assistance extended to OFW families
  • Post-repatriation assistance such as temporary shelter, stress debriefing, transportation allowance, and referral.

Social Services and Family Welfare Services

  • Repatriation Assistance Program for distressed, physically or mentally ill, and of human remains of the migrant worker.
  • Reintegration Program or popularly known as OWWA Loan. The purpose of this program is to help OFWs find the most appropriate and sustainable business so you will no longer have to leave the country. Click here to know more about OWWA Loan.

Take note that OWWA membership is imperative to make sure you enjoy these programs and benefits. To become a member, you must pay a membership fee worth $25 (or its peso equivalent) once you apply as OFW.

Are you still curious about OWWA benefits? You can check this site to learn more about your benefits as OFWs.

33 Replies to “OWWA for OFWs: What You Need to Know about this Agency”

    1. Hi Emy! You may qualify for death benefits from OWWA. Please check this link for the list of requirements. Thanks and our sincerest condolences.

  1. hello.. ask lang po my owwa certificate na ako pa hongkong noon, now gusto ko bumalik ng hongkong mag owwa pa rin ba ako or renew nalang po yong owwa certficate ko

  2. hello po tanung ko lng ang father ko kc since 1988 to 2017 ofw sya ngayon po retired na sya ano ba ang benefits na makukuha nya never pa po sya naka avail ng kahit ano sa owwa

    1. Hi Jayrald! Active member po kayo kung nakapagbayad kayo ng membership fee with OWWA. You can contact them directly to know the status of your membership at (02) 834-01-24. Salamat!

  3. Hello po, umuwi po kc ako ng pinas at after 8 months babalik uli ako sa same employer ko. Need ko pa ba kumuha ng owwa. At paano po kumuha, kailangan pb ng appointment o pwede na walk in?

    1. Hi Maricel, no need na po for OEC since same employer naman. Please make sure to get an OEC exemption by logging in to your BM Online account.

  4. Hi. Gusto ko sanang i-apply sa EDSP ung bunso kong anak na irregular 2nd year college. Anong mga requirements at saka may age limit din ba? Thanks

  5. Hello po good day,
    Meron na po ako refferal para sa balikbayan pangkabuhay galing sa owwa sa singapore paano po ang processing nito

    1. Hi Mary Ann! Apologies but we are not aware of that kind of service from OWWA. Please call OWWA directly regarding this since they are more aware of the pangkabuhayan benefit. Salamat po!

  6. Hello po required po ba sa immigration ang renewal ng owwa membership pabalik po kasi ako from 1 month vacation leave pero plan ko sana dun nlng mgbayad sa sa phil embassy ng abu dhabi and may OEC exemption na rin po ako. Thaks for the promot response.

    1. Hi Sheena! Please present po your passport, working visa, airline ticket, and OEC exemption sa immigration. Hindi naman po ata required ang OWWA membership, although maganda din na updated para maka-enjoy din po kayo ng OWWA benefits. Thanks!

  7. hello po ask ko lang kung ano po ba mga kelangan na documents at kelangan q gawin para makauwi ng pinas galing d2 ng cyprus, gus2 q na po umuwi pero ndi pa tapos un contrata q..

    1. Hi Cherry! What grounds po? If due to unfair labor practices, you may contact the Philippine Embassy to find out your options so you can go home. Thanks!

  8. Hello po tanong ko lang po kung member po ako ng owwa 5yrs na po ako sa malaysia, meron po akong OEC balik manggagawa, gusto ko po kasing ilapit sa owwa scholarship ang anak ko, magcocollage pa lang po sya. Salamat po!

  9. Hindi po ako nakabayad ng owwa contribution ng bumalik ako abroad. 1 yr & 3 months na akong nag wo-work. Ask ko po kailangan at papaano ko mababayaran ang natitirang 9 na buwan? Thank you po.

  10. Gud ev po ask ko po sna kung ang 1 ofw po aii wla png 3 mons. S abroad pwd po b syang umuwi s kdahilanan pong my sakit ??
    Wla po ba syang babayaran sa agency
    Sana po masagot nyo salamat po

    1. Hi Brenda! Please confirm this with the agency niyo po. Baka po kasi may policy or arrangement sila with your employer overseas regarding this. Salamat.

  11. Ask ko lang po kung ano po ang dapat gawin. Yung friend ko po kasi nawala po yung documents nya like passport po dito sa pinas tapos following day po eh flight na po nya pa abroad para sa work nya po. Gawa nag bakasyon lang po sya dito sa pinas. Thank you po

    1. Hi Alexa. You need to get another set of documents to ensure na documented siya as OFW. Hindi din naman po papaalisin ng Pilipinas kung walang documents gaya ng passport. Salamat.

  12. good afternoon mam/sir..mam may mKuha parin po ba ang mother ko na benefits sa owwa?kasi po namatay na po ang tatay ko..member po ang father ko hnggang 2013 lng mam kc ngkasakit po sya sa kidney and namatay po sya nong april 2017 mam..please reply mam..thank u and God bless u all

    1. Hi Cris! We can’t provide you with a definite answer regarding this since we’re not aware po sa policy ng OWWA regarding this. You may coordinate po with OWWA since sila po ang mas nakakaalam. Salamat po.

  13. Paano po malalaman na OWWA active member ka po?I’m working in Malaysia for 5years n po at gusto ko magapply ng Business loan.thanks po

    1. Hi Myrna. You can call OWWA through these numbers to check your membership – 834-0717 / 804-0658 / 0927-613-9769

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