by Lito Dar

BAGUIO CITY, March 26 – The Overseas Worker Welfare Administration – Cordillera (OWWA-CAR) provided 26 scholarship grants to dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)dependents in 2010 under the new OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP).

The ODSP has five scholars in Abra, two in Apayao, 10 in the Baguio/Benguet area, four in Ifugao, four in Kainga, and one in Mountain Province.

This school year 2011-2012, OWWA-CAR OIC regional director Evelyn Laranang announced that 80 more slots are allocated for the region: 12 slots are allocated each for the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Baguio/Benguet, Ifugao, and Kalinga, while Mountain Province has 20 slots available.


According to Laranang, the ODSP is their newest scholarship program which aims to provide opportunities to deserving students who are dependents of low income OFWs,for them to have the opportunity to finish a college or baccalaureate degree.


The ODSP is offered to legal dependents of OFWs who are active OWWA members whose salary is not more than $400. Qualified beneficiary of the program is entitled to enroll in any four or five years baccalaureate or associate degree in any college or university.

Under the said scholarship program, qualified beneficiaries are legal dependents of an active OWWA member, either he or she is child (natural or adopted) of a married/single OFW or a brother or sister (half or full-blood) of single or childless married OFW.

Other qualifications needed for the applicants are: single and not more than 21 years old at the time of application; high school graduate or about to graduate from high school; physically, mentally and morally fit; and must pass the qualifying or entrance examination to be conducted by an OWWA-partner state college/university or any Commission on Higher Education -recognized and accredited educational institutions.
OWWA’s ODSP program provides an education assistance to qualified OFW dependents of P20,000 per year or P10,000 per semester. *(PIA CAR)