By Dang Samson Garcia
MARINO Party-list Representative Sandro Gonzalez filed a measure that seeks to establish an educational scholarship program for the immediate dependents of land-based and sea-based overseas Filipino workers who died or suffered permanent disabilities while working abroad.
Under House Bill 8490, the scholarship will cover immediate dependents of OFWs, whether documented or undocumented, who died or suffered total and permanent disabilities while working abroad.
The immediate dependents will be qualified to pursue a course or training primarily in the field of science and technology.
Gonzalez said OFWs are unsung modern-day heroes who contributed greatly to the growth of the country’s economy.
He cited a report from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that personal cash remittances from OFWs reached $36.14 in 2022, which accounted for 8.9 percent of the Philippines’ gross domestic product.
“While we recognize our OFW contributions, it is but timely to give back to them by giving their dependents a scholarship program in case the uncertainty of working abroad incapacitates them to provide for their families and dependents,” Gonzalez said in the explanatory note of the bill.