Working abroad is not an easy place to work in. Everything is new and everyone is a stranger but Filipino workers still choose to work away from home to give their families a better life. But this dream comes to an end when unfortunate circumstances such as death come to us. When sudden death comes, sudden changes to our lives will also pour down. This is why the Philippine government needed to come up with programs and services that will help OFWs and their families in their time of need.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has set up another scholarship program to help Overseas Filipino Workers and their families. This time, OWWA offers a scholarship program called the Educational Livelihood Assistance Program or ELAP which serves as an educational grant and a livelihood grant.
The Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) aims to help the dependents of the OFWs who were deceased or were sentenced to the death penalty in their host country. This program will help the OFWs’ child finish their studies and help their spouse or parents set up a business.
Benefits
The Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) is divided into two parts. The educational assistance is usually given to the eldest child of the OFW and the livelihood assistance is given to the spouse if the OFW is married or parents if the OFW is unmarried.
Educational Assistance
- Php 5,000 for primary school student
- Php 8,000 for high school student
- Php 10,000 for college student
Livelihood Assistance
- Php 15,000
The Education Assistance is not meant to be used to pay for the student’s tuition fees but rather to provide them with the things they need in school such as books, school supplies, etc. The Livelihood financial grant will be used to set up a business.
Qualifications
The Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) is open to all active and inactive OWWA OFW members. Whether you are land-based or sea-based OFW, your family can apply for this program. Before applying for the ELAP, make sure you are eligible first. Check the list here and see if you meet the qualifications set by OWWA.
Spouse or parent of OFW
- Spouse must be legal
- Parents of OFW
Child of OFW
- Must be a Filipino citizen
- A child of the active OWWA member
- Single
- Must be below 21 years old for freshmen
- Must not receive any scholarship award
- Must have a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 80% and included in the upper 20% of the graduating class
- Must be in good health and have good moral character
- Must pass the qualifying examination by the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institution (DOST-SEI)
- Must meet the school’s current admission and retention criteria.
- Must not have met the University’s maximum residency policy.
Students who are incoming freshmen must be a graduate of Grade 11 or currently enrolled in Grade 12 and must not be older than 21 years old. If the students are in 2nd year to 5th year in college, they must be below 30 years old and have no failing grades.
Requirements
The Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) requires two sets of requirements for educational and livelihood assistance. If you are eligible for this program, check the list of documentary requirements here.
For OFW
- Photocopy of passport
- Proof of OWWA membership
- Official receipt of OWWA contribution
- OFW Verification Sheet
- Death Certificate or certificate of the same nature if the OFW is already deceased
- Official transmission from the embassy or consulate
- Birth Certificate issued by PSA
- Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) if the OFW is unmarried
Educational Assistance Requirements
- 2 copies of application forms
- 2 copies of 2×2 picture
- Proof of relationship to the OFW
- Original copy of the birth certificate issued by PSA
- Proof of enrollment
- Enrollment Assessment Form (EAF)
- Certificate of Registration (COR)
- Certificate of Enrollment (COE)
- Enrollment document
- Evaluation Form
- Admission Test Score
- Health Certificate
- Certificate of good moral character
- Proof of school grades
- School certification indicating that the applicant has the General Weighted Average (GWA) of 80% and is included in the upper 20% of the graduating class
- Form 137
- Transcript of Record (TOR)
- Certificate of Grades (college level)
- Sworn Statement that the applicant:
- Did not take any post-secondary courses or EDSP-qualifying examination
- Did not receive any government scholarship program
- Is not a dual citizen or did not apply for migration
- Scholarship Agreement Form
Livelihood Assistance Requirements
- Application Form
- 2 copies of the passport-size picture
- Proof of relationship to the OFW
- Marriage certificate
- Local Civil Registry
- Certificate of receipt of the livelihood package
- Business plan
- Entrepreneurial Development Training Certificate (EDT) from OWWA Regional Welfare Offices
If the applicant is not the intended beneficiary, he or she must give a written consent letter from the legal spouse or parents stating that they are not interested in the financial grant and will authorize the applicant to receive it instead.
Make sure to double-check all the requirements before submitting them because incomplete requirements won’t be processed. The OWWA will send a notification via SMS or email if there are some discrepancies with their documents.
Application Process
Some OWWA Regional Offices (RWOs) might require the applicants to book an appointment before going to their office. It is better to call the office to make sure you follow their process. But other than that, you may follow these simple steps to apply for ELAP.
Step 1: Visit the OWWA Regional Offices (RWOs) near you and get an application form.
Step 2: Verify the OWWA membership status.
Step 3: Fill out the application form and attach all the documentary requirements.
Step 4: Secure a schedule for the Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT) for livelihood assistance and Scholarship Orientation.
Step 5: Submit all the forms and requirements and wait for the evaluation result.
Step 6: Attend the scheduled orientation and training.
- Scholarship Orientation (Educational Assistance)
- Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT) (Livelihood Assistance)
Step 7: Applicants will be notified if their application is granted. Applicants must claim the Notice of Award (NOA) in OWWA RWOs.
Applicants can send their documentary requirements and application forms through courier services such as LBC. Applicants also need to prepare their personal bank account to receive the financial grant from ELAP. Applicants will receive their grants within two (2) weeks after the approval of the application.
The Notice of Award (NOA) has 45 days validity. If the applicant fails to claim and use it within 45 days, he or she needs to make another appointment to get another one.
Video: OWWA XI scholarship ODSP Scholar ELAP Scholar, Tabang EASE Scholar availment
Watch these testimonials from ELAP scholars by OWWA DAVAO REGION OFFICIAL. These testimonies from real people are proof that OWWAS was able to help OFWs’ families in need through the Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Educational Livelihood Assistance Program cover my tuition fee?
Unfortunately, no, The ELAP can not cover the tuition fee but can be used to buy books, school supplies, and other things that the student will need.
How can I track my application status in ELAP?
Applicants will be given a serial reference/tracking number via SMS or email. They can use it to track their application.
How many children of an OFW can apply for the Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP)?
The scholarship grant will only be given to one of the children of the OFW.
Is OWWA going to process my application right away?
Your application will be processed once all your documents are complete. So make sure all your documents are complete and ready.
How will I know if my documents are incomplete?
The OWWA will send a notification to the applicant if the documents are incomplete via email or text message. All applications will be reviewed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Offices and OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs).
How will I receive the grant once it’s approved?
The OWWA will ask all the applicants to submit their personal bank account where they can deposit the financial grant from ELAP. It will be given two (2) weeks after they approve your application. If you don’t have a personal account yet, better to open one before you apply.
How much is ELAP financial assistance?
The Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) offers two types of financial grants. The first one is the Educational financial grants which eligible dependents will receive Php 5,000 for primary students, Php 8,000 for high school students, and Php 10,000 for college students. The second is Livelihood Assistance which eligible applicants will receive Php 15,000.
How long is the validity of NOA?
The Notice of Award is only valid for forty-five (45) days upon receiving it. If you were not able to get it within the time limit, you have to wait for the next schedule.
Where can I submit my application for ELAP?
The application for the Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) must be submitted to the nearest OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) from where the applicant’s permanent address is.
Is there another way to apply if the OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) is too far?
Yes. You can send your application form together with your documentary requirements via courier services such as LBC, J^T, JRS, etc.
Summary
As a breadwinner, one of the most scary things that will happen is for us to die or to be sentenced to death without any savings or any business we can pass down to our family. The family that they will leave behind will suffer the most.
The Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) was created only to help students with their educational expenses but also to help families build a source of income that will give them a chance to get back on their feet. The OWWA made sure that the families of the deceased OFWs would be taken care of. This program wanted the children of the OFWs to continue their education just like what their parents wanted them to have and to spouses and parents to start earning money for their own families.