The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is mandated to promote the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families. Over the years, OWWA has granted OFWs and their families benefits, such as financial assistance for livelihood and education. One of these benefits is the Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), which aims to support beneficiaries of deceased or convicted OFWs to start a business or proceed with their schooling.
Also Read: OWWA SESP Skills for Employment Scholarship Program
Under this program, the families of deceased or convicted OFWs will receive two types of financial assistance. The surviving spouse or parents will receive P15,000 livelihood assistance to supplement the family’s income. In addition, one child of the deceased OFW, usually the eldest, will receive up to a P10,000 scholarship grant. So if you’re a parent, spouse, or child of a convicted or deceased OFW with active OWWA membership at the time of their death, read on to learn how to apply for OWWA ELAP.
What is OWWA ELAP?
ELAP stands for Education and Livelihood Assistance Program, designed for the surviving dependents of deceased OFWs with active OWWA membership status during their death. It is also for the families of OFWs convicted, imprisoned, or punished with the death penalty in their host country. This program aims to provide financial assistance worth P15,000 for livelihood purposes to surviving family members (spouse/parent) of the deceased or convicted OFWs to boost their family income.
Aside from that, ELAP offers educational assistance worth P5,000 to P10,000 to deceased OFWs qualified dependents. The financial support is only accessible to one child school-age dependent, normally the eldest child. But the next-born child can apply for educational assistance if the eldest child is not qualified. It offers financial allowance to dependents from primary, secondary, and tertiary education. Thus, ELAP supports the surviving families of deceased or convicted OFWs.
Benefits
The OWWA ELAP program serves as financial assistance to help convicted or deceased OFWs surviving family members’ livelihood and for qualified dependents to proceed with their schooling. Through this program, the beneficiaries of OFWs will receive the following:
- A livelihood assistance worth P15,00 can be availed by:
- For Single OFWs- the surviving parent
- For Married OFWs- the surviving spouse
- Only one child of the OFW, normally the eldest, will obtain a scholarship grant. The qualified dependent will receive the following financial support allowance annually:
- For Elementary- P5,000
- For High School- P8,000
- For College- P10,000
Qualifications
If you wish to apply for assistance, here are the following qualifications to avail of the ELAP program:
- Must be a Filipino citizen
- Must be an incoming Elementary, High School, or College Student
- Not a recipient of any OWWA or other government-funded scholarship grant
- Must be a parent or legal spouse of convicted or deceased OFW with active OWWA membership status at the time of their death certified by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
- Must be a child (dependent) of convicted or deceased OFW with active OWWA membership status at the time of their death certified by DOLE
- Must be a sibling (dependent) of convicted or deceased, unmarried OFW with active OWWA membership status at the time of their death certified by DOLE
- For incoming 1st year college, the dependent must be:
- Single and not over 21 years old
- General Weighted Average (GWA) of 80% in all academic and non-academic subjects in the previous school year attended in full load
- Grade 11 graduate (incoming/currently enrolled in Grade 12)
- If already in 2nd-year to 5th-year college, the dependent must be:
- Single and not over 30 years old
- General Weighted Average (GWA) of 80% in all academic and non-academic subjects in the previous school year attended full load.
- Dependent must be part of the top 20% of Elementary and High School Graduating Class
- Dependent should pass the qualifying examination conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI)
- Dependent should have good moral character and health
- Dependent should pass the university’s current admission and retention criteria and overall residence policy
Requirements
Since ELAP offers two types of support, the requirements will also vary if claiming Educational or Livelihood Assistance. Here are the following documents to secure to avail of the ELAP program:
Educational Assistance Requirements
- Duly accomplished ELAP Application Form (2 copies)
- 2×2 recent and identical photos of the applicant (2 copies)
- Death Certificate of OFW or equivalent document
- OFW Membership Record (avail at OWWA RWO)
- Official transmission record from the embassy or consulate
- Any proof of relationship to the OFW OWWA member:
- For OFWs child- Original PSA Birth Certificate of the applicant
- For OFWs siblings- PSA Birth Certificate of the applicant and OFW
- For unmarried OFW- Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) issued by PSA
- Any proof of enrollment receipt:
- Certificate of Enrollment (COE)
- Certificate of Registration (COR)
- Enrollment Assessment Form (EAF)
- Any enrollment document (Computerized Format):
- Admission Test Score
- Evaluation Form
- Any proof of OWWA membership:
- Official receipt of OWWA membership contribution
- OFW Verification Sheet (issued by MPC)
- School Record with GWA of 80%:
- Form 137/138
- Transcript of Record (TOR)
- For college level- Certificate of Grades
- Health Certificate
- Certificate of Good Moral Character (issued by guidance counselor/principal)
- Certificate proving the applicant is in the top 20% of Elementary and High School Graduating Class
- Certification that the applicant has not taken any post-secondary or undergraduate/college units
- Certification that the applicant did not receive any scholarship grant
- Certificate proving the applicant did not take the EDSP Qualifying Examination
- Sworn Statement that the applicant has no pending request for resident immigration status in other countries and does not have dual nationality signed by a parent or legal guardians
- Original copy of Scholarship Agreement
Economic Livelihood Assistance Requirements
- Duly accomplished ELAP Application Form (2-copies)
- Passport size ID photo (recent and identical, 2-copies)
- Any proof of OWWA membership:
- Official receipt of OWWA membership contribution
- OFW Information Sheet
- If not the intended beneficiary, the applicant should secure written consent from the legal spouse or parent that they are not interested in the program and authorize the applicant to assume the family responsibility.
- Business Plan
- Entrepreneurial Development Training Certificate (EDT) from OWWA RWO
How to Apply for ELAP Scholarship
To apply for the OWWA ELAP program, follow the steps below:
- Head to the OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) that covers your permanent address.
- Queue in the line or get a queuing number and wait for your turn.
- Submit the OFW Membership Record and duly accomplished Endorsement Form from Social Benefits Unit.
- Next, secure the ELAP requirements checklists and application forms.
- Present the filled-out form and documentary requirements to the Reintegration Unit.
- Get a schedule for Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT) for livelihood assistance.
- For qualified dependents availing of ELAP Educational Assistance, go to the Education and Training Unit and secure the requirements checklist.
- Submit your completed requirement for ELAP Educational Assistance and wait for the evaluation result.
- Attend the scheduled orientation or training at the designated venue.
- For Educational Assistance- Scholarship Orientation
- For Livelihood Assistance- Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT)
- Afterward, claim the Notice of Award (NOA) for the release of assistance from the Education or Training Unit or Reintegration Unit. Also, the dependent/claimant should bring at least two (2) valid IDS.
Keep in mind that the schedule for the training or orientation varies based on the RWO location, and applicant’s qualifications complexity, and compliance with the requirements. Also, contact the nearest OWWA RWO in your area to confirm if they accept walk-ins or book an appointment if necessary.
Reminders on OWWA ELAP
Please take note of the following reminders for those who plan to apply for OWWA ELAP:
- The application for ELAP and other OWWA programs is only processed if the applicant has completed the requirements.
- OWWA will notify the applicant via email or SMS if requirements are invalid or incomplete.
- Applicants approved for ELAP Educational Assistance will receive a copy of the Scholarship Agreement Form. They have to print and notarize the said form. Then, submit the document to OWWA RWO via a courier service.
- OWWA will send the list of approved beneficiaries to the DOLE Central Office. Afterward, the grantees will receive in their bank accounts the financial assistance within two (2) weeks after the application is approved.
- The approved beneficiaries of ELAP should have their bank account to receive Livelihood Assistance.
- The approved beneficiaries of ELAP Educational Assistance should also have an active bank account to receive financial support yearly. If not, open a savings account in the name of the approved beneficiary (OFWs child/sibling).
- The educational assistance intends to supplement expenses, like books and school supplies. So it’s not intended to cover the beneficiary’s full tuition fee.
- The applicant will only receive the Notice of Award (NOA) if their request is approved. Also, NOA only has 45 days of validity, so ensure to claim it or wait for another appointment to get another one.
Video: OWWA SCHOLARSHIP AND LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE: ELAP
To learn more about the Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), please watch the video below:
As stated in the video, the ELAP program has two parts, the Livelihood Assistance Program and Scholarship Program. It offers a scholarship grant to only one child of convicted or deceased OFWs annually and financial assistance for surviving family members (parent or legal spouse) to start their business and boost their income.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are qualified for OWWA ELAP?
The OWWA ELAP program is for the families of convicted or deceased OFWs with active OWWA membership status during their death. It is accessible by qualified beneficiaries, such as a parent, spouse, child, or sibling of unmarried OFWs.
How to apply for OWWA ELAP?
Before you apply for OWWA ELAP, you should secure the documentary requirements for Education or Livelihood Assistance. Then, visit OWWA RWO to submit your documentary requirements. You should also attend training or orientation to get the Notice of Award (NOA).
How much is ELAP assistance?
There are two types of support under ELAP, Educational, and Livelihood Assistance. The Livelihood Assistance is worth P15,000. For Educational Assistance, qualified dependents will receive P5,000 for Elementary, P8,000 for High School, and P10,000 for College per year.
Summary
The Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) from OWWA will benefit the surviving family members of deceased OFWs with active OWWA membership status during their death. Furthermore, families of convicted OFWs in their host country are encouraged to apply for ELAP, especially those with school-age dependents, to acquire financial assistance to help with school expenses.
Most of all, the parent or legal spouse of the deceased OFW should apply for ELAP to enhance their livelihood.
Contact Details
OWWA Central Office (
Address: OWWA Center Building, F.B. Harrison St, Pasay, Metro Manila
Hotline: 1348
NCR Hotline: 09666250016
Reintegration Unit: 8834-0719
Website: https://owwa.gov.ph/
Email: owwacares@owwa.gov.ph