Building bridges with Owwa-11 scholars

DESPITE the occurrence of severe tropical storm Vinta, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) scholars from Davao City and the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley Province attended the two-day scholars’ congress conducted by Owwa-RWO 11 last December 22-23, 2017 at the Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City. A total of 110 scholars attended the activity.

Dubbed as “Building Bridges with the Owwa 11 Scholars,” the activity aims to gather the grantees of the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP), OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (ODSP), Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), scholars who already graduated, and some members of the Kapatiran ng mga Anak Migranteng Manggagawa Sa Mindanao (Kammmi), an advocacy group composed of sons and daughters of land-based and sea-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) based in Davao.

It also aims to draw up specific roles on how the graduates can contribute in strengthening the implementation of Owwa programs and services and to stir the consciousness of Owwa scholarship grantees toward the spirit of volunteerism.

In his welcome message, Programs and Services Division Chief Carmelo T. Elaya expressed his gratitude to all the scholars who positively respond to the invitation of the office despite their busy schedules. He likewise stressed that scholars were gathered to build strong relationship and connectivity with their fellows. Maricel T. Sarabillo, LCO, OWWARWO XI