The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) yesterday said that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who came from the war-torn Lebanon were awarded a President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) scholarship certificates.

Labor Secretary Arturo D. Brion said that the distribution of the scholarship certificates under the PGMA-training for work scholarship project (TWSP) dubbed “Balik-Buhay, Bagong Pagasa for OFWs,” is a component of the government’s reintegration program and mainstreaming of OFWs returning from Lebanon.

He said that the DoLE, through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), distributed scholarship certificates to repatriates who are now in Manila.

“The other OFWs who just arrived in Manila via chartered flights will be awarded the same,” the labor chief said. “The vouchers or scholarship certificates will be used for livelihood skills training and retooling for entrepreneurship and enterprise development activities of OFWs.

The other returnees have been profiled to determine the kind of assistance they wanted under the reintegration program,” Brion said.

“The scholarship certificate valued at R5,000 can be used by a returning OFW or one of his/her dependent (child, spouse, brother/sister) as full or partial tuition fee for any skills training course that also covers entrepreneurship development modules being offered by technology institutions under the supervision of TESDA.

The courses have been designed to help the OFWs start a livelihood undertaking,” he said. The courses include processed food and beverage, garments, health and services, restaurant operations, agri-fishery like slaughtering operations, welding, driving, automotive, masonry, plumbing and building wiring installation, Brion said.

The labor chief also said that loans will be made available by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to the OFWs wanting to set up livelihood projects from R50,000 (without collateral) to R200,000 (with collateral).

“The DoLE regional offices will also train them on business planning,” Brion said. He reminded the returnees to accomplish the forms given by OWWA to ensure that they will be assisted depending on their needs.

“Other assistance being made available to the returnees also include employment facilitation services,” the labor chief said. “The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will facilitate overseas work for displaced OFWs, while the Bureau of Local Employment, DoLE regional offices, and Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) will be facilitating local jobs,” Brion said.

He said that other assistance being extended to the returnees include the provision of temporary shelter, counseling, medical services and transportation from Manila to their respective provinces. “The relatives of OFWs still in Lebanon can also call on their kin free of charge. They can also seek the assistance of the 24/7 OWWA operation center in looking for the whereabouts of their kin in Lebanon,” Brion said.

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