BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Dependents of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Cordillera region have a significant opportunity to pursue higher education with over 400 scholarship slots available this year, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) announced.
Dina Ponciano, OWWA-Cordillera’s officer-in-charge regional director, said Friday that 440 slots remain open under various programs until July 31, offering financial support to eligible students across the region’s provinces.
The Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) provides 36 slots—six per province—for college students in their second to fifth year who are working toward their degrees. Successful applicants will receive PHP60,000 annually to cover educational expenses.
The OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP) offers 310 slots for incoming first-year college students, with 35 slots allocated per province and an additional 41 for Apayao. “Apayao is given special consideration due to its economic challenges,” Ponciano noted, referencing the province’s historical status among the nation’s 20 poorest.
Additionally, 94 ODSP slots are available for second- to fifth-year college students, with 15 slots per province and 19 reserved for Apayao, further reflecting targeted support for the economically disadvantaged area.
To make the programs more accessible, OWWA has increased the income eligibility ceiling from USD600 to USD1,000, enabling more families to qualify. Applications are processed online on a first-come, first-served basis, with opportunities to reapply annually for those who miss the deadline or do not initially qualify.
The initiative underscores OWWA’s commitment to supporting the educational aspirations of OFW dependents, particularly in regions facing economic hardship. Interested applicants are urged to submit their applications promptly to secure a slot before the July 31 deadline.
