PROGRAM & BENEFITS OF OFW FROM OWWA

MEDICAL / HEALTHCARE, DISABILITY & DEATH BENEFITS

For a US$25 membership contribution, an OWWA member and/or his family is entitled
to the following benefits and services:

Health Program for OFWs (HEALTHPRO).

Subsidized medical and hospitalization services for OFWs in response to the medical
assistance needs of distressed OFWs, whether local or abroad.

1.1 OFW Medical Rehabilitation Program

A special health package to extend sustainable medical rehabilitation
services for returning OFWs who are either suffering from any form of mental
disorder/illness or physical disability.
1.2 Disability and Dismemberment Benefit.
A member is entitled to disability/dismemberment benefit of up to Php 50,000.
1.3 Total Disability Benefit.
A member is entitled to Php 100,000.00 in case of total permanent disability.
1.4 Death Benefit.
A member is entitled to a benefit of Php 100,000.00 for the duration of his
employment contract for death due to natural cause, and Php 200,000.00 for
death due to accident.
1.5 Burial Benefit.
A burial benefit of Php 20,000.00 shall be provided as a rider in case of the
member’s death.

The OWWA Medical Rehabilitation Program

Per Memorandum Of Instructions NO. 006, Series of 2009, the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration has established an OFWs Medical Rehabilitation Program for
eligible mentally ill and physically disabled OFW members.

The Medical Rehabilitation Program is in line with the OWWA Board of Trustee’s
directive to come-up with a responsive health program for medically challenged OWWA
members, particularly those afflicted with mental illness and/or suffering from physical
impairment that require appropriate medical intervention.
1. Nature of the Program
The OFWs Medical Rehabilitation Program is designed to extend
limited but sustainable medical rehabilitation assistance for returning or
repatriated OFWs who manifested either symptom(s) of mental illness or are
suffering from any form of physical disability resulting from injury or illness
contracted at job sites, to facilitate gradual but resolute medical progress to
regain functional capacity.
2. General Objective
 The program aims to provide medically challenged OFWs with a support system
of clinical programs to enable them to regain at the very least minimal functional
capacity if not maximum level of functional independence.
2.1 Other Objectives
2.1.1 To provide free access to rehabilitation services and benefit after
the Philhealth benefits have been exhausted;
1.1.2 To enable families of concerned OFWs cope with costly
rehabilitation expenses;
3. Program Components
The Program has four distinct components.
3.1 Pre-Evaluation Examination – to be undertaken by a competent medical
practitioner specialized in his field of discipline to determine client’s eligibility
for rehabilitation and similar services. The OFW has either to proceed to the
next stages of the program or be declared ineligible to the program because
he can not be rehabilitated anymore.
3.2 Rehabilitation Services – this includes necessary confinement (for cases of
mental illness) in identified Philhealth-accredited medical center/hospital/clinic
with the end purpose of undergoing physical and/or mental therapy as
required. It shall also cover corrective surgery and giving away appropriate
medical appliances or braces, splints/orthopedic shoes or supplies, and
counseling services as a follow through therapy of his/her rehabilitation.
3.3 OFW Family Value Reorientation – the focus of intervention shall be on
enhancing the OFW family acceptance and coping to sustain the gains of the
rehabilitation component. The earning potential of the family shall also be
harnessed to replace the income loss of the OFW.
3.4 Referral Services – this shall be utilized in case the client manifested
intention to be referred to other institutions for further assistance or is seeking
local or overseas employment.

4. Medical Coverage

The following mental disorder/illness, disabilities, paralysis, etc. are covered under
the program:
4.1 All forms of mental disorder/illness (e.g. acute reactive psychosis and others),
regardless of degree of severity requiring medical attention and/or
rehabilitation;
4.2 Physical disability – temporary or permanent – requiring therapy/braces,
under the following categories:
4.2.1 Back pain, all forms of fractures
4.2.2 Slip disc and other spinal disorder
4.2.3 Other forms of dislocation of the bones
4.3 All cases of paralysis, numbness, speech disorder and the like, whether as a
result of heart attack or stroke, accidents, and other illnesses and injuries
causing temporary physical incapacity.

1. Eligibility and Requirements

 To be qualified under the program, the OFW applicant:
1.1 Must be an active OWWA member at the time of application to the program;
1.2 Must be medically repatriated OFW whose mental illness or physical
disability was sustained at the post;
1.3 For those already in the country, OFW must have sustained his/her
illness/disability within six (6) months upon arrival from overseas
employment;
1.4 Must be medically diagnosed to be needing rehabilitation services and/or
has clear prospect of regaining, at the very least, minimum functional
capacity, if not entire recovery, through regular therapy and rehabilitation as
may be determined by competent medical practitioners (program
component 3.1);
1.5 If currently undergoing therapy, must be personally defraying all attendant
rehabilitation expenses, and is not a recipient of free medical/financial
assistance benefit from his company, Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (PHIC), any medical insurance or from other sources.
2. Documentary Requirements
2.1 Proof of at least one OWWA contribution;
2.2 Proof that the OFW applicant was medically repatriated;
2.3 Copy of Doctor’s medical conclusion/findings with recommendation that
OFW need to undergo rehabilitation and/or therapy program;
2.4 Copy of passport with stamped arrival date in the country;
2.5 Notarized Affidavit certifying that the OFW has been defraying personal
rehab/therapy expenses (for those currently undergoing medications at own
expenses) and not a recipient of free medical insurance from any sources;
and
2.6 Copy of medical/police report from the post (with English translation, in case
report is written in local language).

EDUCATION AND TRAINING BENEFITS

A. Pre-Departure Education Program (PDEP) –

A mandatory orientation / training for all departing OFWs. It consists of the
following:
1. Country Specific Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) - A
whole day orientation to OFWs consisting of a comprehensive module on
employment contract familiarization, profile of the country of destination, stages
of the OFWs life, health and safety, airport procedures, government programs
and services.
2. Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) - A
3 to 6-day live-out training for Household Service Workers (HSWs) consisting of
language training, culture familiarization and stress management to prepare them
for life overseas.
B. Scholarships, Training and Incentive Programs
B1. Scholarship and Incentive Programs for OFWs /
Seafarers
a) Seafarers' Upgrading Program (SUP) - Scholarships for
attendance to short-term upgrading courses for seafarers.
First availment consists of Php 7,500.00 Health
Programtraining assistance. Availment in another training
course every after 3 recorded membership.
b) Mariners' Dugtong-Aral (MDA) - Scholarships for
qualified graduates of BS Mechanical Engineering and BS
Electrical Engineering, consisting of a maximum of Php
38,120.00 plus Php 15,000.00 for 3-month stipend, leading to a BS Marine
Engineering degree. These are for those who wish to board an ocean vessel
as qualified Marine Officers.
c) Incentive Program for Top 200 Maritime Cadets (Cadetship Program) - A
financial incentive to top 100 students of BS Marine Transportation and top
100 students of BS Marine Engineering who passed the Maritime School
Assessment Program, consisting of a maximum of Php 30,000.00 per cadet
to be used in processing documentary requirements needed in boarding an
international vessel.
d) Marine Educational Development Loan Program (MEDLOP) - A "Study
Now, Pay Later" program. MEDLOP is an interest-free financial assistance to
defray the cost of tertiary education of prospective Marine Officers and
Engineers with guaranteed International Onboard Employment.

B2. Scholarship for Dependents

B.2. 1. Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) -
a) for qualified dependents of OFWs consisting of a
maximum of Php 60,000.00 per school year, leading
to a four-to-five year baccalaureate course in any
college or university.
b) OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFWDSP)
- Scholarships consisting of a maximum of Php 20,000.00
assistance per school year leading to a baccalaureate or
associate degree in a state college or university. OFW
parents must have a monthly salary of not more than
$400.00
c) Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) -
Scholarships for survivors of deceased OFWs consisting of Php
5,000.00 for elementary, Php 8,000.00 for high school, Php 10,000.00
for college (per school year) and livelihood assistance of Php
15,000.00 for the surviving spouse.
d) Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP) - An educational assistance consisting of
US$ 100.00 financial support solicited from sponsors to augment the
school needs of less fortunate elementary and high school children of
former OFWs.
 e) Tuloy-Kolehiyo - An extension of the TAP to pursue the tertiary level
of education of the TAP scholars leading to either an associate or
baccalaureate degree.

B.3 Short-Term Training Programs for OFWs and

Dependents
a) Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)
- Scholarships for attendance to short-term training
program consisting of a maximum of Php 14,500.00 per
course leading to the completion of a vocational or
technical course in any school accredited by TESDA.

b) OWWA-Microsoft Tulay - A joint undertaking with

Microsoft Corporation providing OFWs and their
families free information and communication technology
(ICT) skills training.

REPATRIATION PROGRAM

Repatriation includes bringing distressed OFWs back to the country or bringing back of
human remains. Emergency repatriation is carried out in the even of any of political
unrest or natural calamities.

Repatriated OFWs are accorded with airport

assistance, temporary shelter at the Halfway
Home, psycho-social counseling, stress
debriefing, and provision of transport services
or fares for their on-ward travel to their
provinces.

REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE for OFW :

Requirements:
1. Passport, Employment Contract
2. Membership Verification Sheet (MVS)
3. Accomplished Case Intake Sheet
Schedule of Availability of Service : *am to 5 pm Mon to Friday
Address where to Avail: Repatriation Assistance Division (RAD)
Room 202, 2nd Flr. OWWA Center
 7th St., cor. F. B. Harrison St., Pasay City
Or the nearest regional OWWA office

Fees: None / Total Processing Time: Variable( depends on nature of

OFW case

How to avail of the service: Get the assistance of an NGO , submit it to

Repatriation division via referral

REINTEGRATION PROGRAM

Reintegration is a way of mainstreaming returning OFWs into the Philippine Society.

Reintegration Preparedness (On-Site)

Includes
trainings on value formation, financial literacy, entrepreneurial development training
(EDT), techno-skills and capacity building trainings.
B. Reintegration (In-Country)
Implemented under the auspices of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs
(NRCO) and OWWA Regional Welfare Offices, consisting of job referral (local and
overseas employment), business counseling, community organizing, financial
literacy seminar, networking with support institutions, and social preparation
programs.

A 2 Billion-Peso Reintegration Fund for enterprise development is a loan facility, in

cooperation with the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of
the Philippines, where a member or their legal dependent can avail of Php
300,000.00 to Php 2 million.

The OWWA-NLDC Livelihood Development Program for OFWs is another loan

facility, where an OFW can avail of Php 200,000.00 or Php 1 million pesos for
group borrowers.
A. What is the OFW Reintegration Program (OFW RP - 2 Billion Reintegration
Fund)? - The OFW Reintegration Program (OFW-RP) is a special loan program
of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in partnership with the
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the
Philippines (LandBank). It is intended to support enterprises development
among OFWs and their families.
B. Who are eligible under the OFW-RP? - OFWs who have complied with the
following requirements are eligible under the OFW-RP;
1. Active or former members of OWWA; and
2. Completed the Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT) conducted by
NRCO and OWWA RWOs in cooperation with the Department of Trade and
Industry / Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) / Bureau of Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED).
C. What are the eligible projects under the OFW-RP?
Viable projects that will generate a net monthly income of not less that PHP
10,000.00 are eligible under OFW-RP.
D. How much is the loanable amount? - The loanable amount is from a
minimum of PHP 300,000.00 to a maximum amount of PHP 2 million.
E. What is the interest rate? - The interest rate is 7.5% per annum, fixed for the
term of the loan based on diminishing balance.
F. What are the schedules of loan repayment and loan maturity? - Monthly,
quarterly, or annual payment depending on the project cash flow. For short term
loan, maturity is for a maximum of one (1) year. For long term loan, the maturity
is up to seven (7) years inclusive of two (2) year grace period on principal.
G. What is the project cost sharing of the OFW borrower? The borrower's
equity should be 20% of the total project cost. Maximum loan is 80% of the total
project cost.
H. What will the banks require for loan security purposes? - Banks will require
the borrower to submit proof of confirmed market purchase / service order or a
list of mortgageable assets, if any, for loan security purposes.
I. What are the basic documentary requirements that may be required by the
bank from the borrower? - The following documentary requirements maybe
required by the bank from the borrower:
1. Bio-data of applicant;
2. OWWA certification from OWWA-RWOs that the borrower is/was a bonafide
member of OWWA and has completed the EDT at the NRCO or at OWWA-
RWOs;
3. Business plan;
4. Statement of Assets and Liabilities
a. For Start-Up Business
a.1 Certificate of Registration from DTI
a.2 Mayor's permit
b. For Existing Business
b.1. Certificate of Registration from DTI
b.2. Mayor's permit
b.3. Income Tax Return, if applicable, (for the last 3 years)
b.4 Financial Statements, if applicable, (last 3 years, BIR filed)
b.5. Latest Interim Financial Statement
J. Where does an interested OFW borrower proceed to avail of the OFW-
RP? - Interested OFW borrowers should proceed first to the nearest OWWA-
Regional Welfare Offices to attend orientation on the program and for certification
of their OWWA membership and Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT)
completed.