Duterte to CHEd: Provide scholarships to qualified dependents of displaced OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to provide scholarship programs to qualified dependents of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday, Duterte also ordered the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to come up with a program to “retool” the displaced OFWs to help them find employment.

“I ask TESDA to come up with a special training program to retool our OFWs so they can find employment opportunities here and at home,” Duterte said.

“I’m also calling on the CHEd for scholarship programs for the qualified dependents of OFWs. I direct the Department of Agriculture and DTI to come up with an agri-business and entrepreneurship projects to help displaced OFWs rebuild their livelihood,” he added.

Further, the President also asked Landbank and other government financial institutions to continue providing low-interest loans to our OFWs.

“Sa mga kababayan ko na nagihirap sa ibang bansa, nandito na ang inyong gobyerno para matulungan kayo at ang inyong mga pamilya lalo na sa panahong ito,” Duterte said.

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