TESDA helps 8,882 returning OFWs, dependents

April 12, 2018

Up to 8,882 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents were given assistance by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in 2017.

TESDA Director General, Sec. Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong said that figures were based on the accomplishment report submitted by the Partnership and Linkages Office (PLO) of the agency in relation to the reintegration program for OFWs for 2017.

“For 2017, a total of 8,882 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents were provided assistance by TESDA,” the PLO Report stated.

Of this, 1,749 were given scholarship assistance such as training for work scholarship (TWSP) that included 189 beneficiaries from the TESDA Emergency Skills Training Program (TESTP); special training for employment program (STEP) 129;  bottom-up budgeting (BuB), 102; and private education financial assistance (PESFA), 35.

The TWSP had the most number of graduates graduates with 1,483 or (84 percent). It was followed by STEP, 129 (7.38 percent), BuB, 102 (5.83) percent and PESFA, 35 (2 percent).

Meanwhile, 2,216 OFWs and their dependents were given services; 1,373 were referred to TVIs for skills training; 622 were given information on services offered by TESDA; 175 were surveyed and profiled using training needs analysis; 18 were assessed and certified; 9 were referred to regional and provincial offices; and eight dependents were referred to TVIs for training.

Based on reports from regional offices, OFWs from Saudi Arabia topped with the most number of those sent home with 847.

On One-Stop Service Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (OSSCO) under the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, 4,917 people were given assistance.

Of this, 2,606 were provided training assistance and scholarship program; 971 were helped through the competency assessment; 89 on replacement of National Certificate (NC) and Certificate of Competency (COC); 73 were given the Certificate of Authentication and Verification (CAV); 51 on renewal of NC/COC; and 1,127 who inquired were given prompt assistance.

The Reintegration Program for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) is included in the 17-Point Reform Agenda of TESDA in support of the socio-economic agenda of the current administration.