The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will open 10,000 additional scholarship slots this year for children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), following a record-high trust fund of $368 million for 2026.
OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the amount marks the highest level of the agency’s trust fund since 1982.
“Ang OWWA Trust Fund ay protektado, at hindi lamang protektado, lalong lumalago,” Caunan said, noting that the fund stood at $350 million in December 2024.
“Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa kasaysayan ng OWWA, ito ang pinakamalaking increase sa loob ng 43 taon,” she added.
With the increase, OWWA will expand its scholarship program, which currently has 15,000 scholars, by adding 10,000 more slots for qualified OFW dependents.
The agency also launched the Alagang OWWA Fund, which will support various welfare programs for OFWs, including health and livelihood assistance both in the Philippines and overseas.
“Habang tumataas ang pondo at tiwala sa OWWA, tumataas din ang expectations ng ating mga OFWs – at handa kaming tugunan iyon. Ibalik sa OFW ang pondo, ibalik ang benepisyo nang maramdaman nila ang tunay na alaga mula sa pamahalaan,” Caunan said.
She assured members that the agency will safeguard the $25 membership contributions collected from OFWs.
As of December 2025, OWWA recorded 2.6 million active members, up by 600,000 from the two million members logged in December 2024.
