The turnover ceremony for the beneficiaries of this year’s Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) Tuloy Aral Project, which provides financial aid to the children of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), was recently held at the head office of the Sterling Bank of Asia in San Juan.

Officials of the Bank, who have been patrons of the program for the last three years, were joined by members of the board of trustees of KAMPI (Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino) and Kabalikat ng OFW Inc., who spearheaded the project, along with the representatives of i-Remit, Philhealth, Pioneer Insurance, COL Financial, OWWA, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the ceremony.

“We, at Sterling Bank of Asia, know well the importance of education to our children’s future. We value the sacrifices and hard work of OFW parents in order to provide for their kids. Through Tuloy Aral, we are able to extend a helping hand to the children of our countrymen who did not fare well abroad,” said Paul San Pedro, Sterling Bank of Asia President and CEO.

Aside from sponsoring the children of OFW beneficiaries, the Bank has also been actively participating in pre-departure orientation seminars (PDOS) in identified centers and international roadshows organized by KAMPI and Kabalikat ng OFW, which aims to provide an informative program and tangible support system for the OFW community.

The Bank further supports the OFW community by developing products and forging partnerships with organizations that can assist OFWs on their financial needs, such as the Bayani OFW Savings (BOS) Account which aims to help develop the habit of saving and improve financial literacy among OFWs and their families.

Tuloy Aral Project, giving aid to OFW children

This year’s thirty-five beneficiaries come from different regions in the country and are children of distressed OFWs who are members of Kabalikat ng OFW, Inc. Distressed OFWs are overseas workers who have experienced employment violations, were discontinued from their contracts, or were not able to finish their contracts due to war, sickness, or other reasons.

The funds given by the donors will help send the children through elementary and high school, and in some special instances through college. It also helps cover expenses for books, school supplies, transportation and allowances for the whole school year.

According to Luther Calderon, President of KAMPI and Kabalikat ng OFW, as much as possible they choose donor companies that are already engaged with OFWs in some ways. “These are companies that are working for the OFWs. They are always more than willing to help because they know how difficult it is to be an OFW,” Calderon explained.

“Like Sterling Bank of Asia, they have the heart for OFWs, we know they will help us in sending these kids through school,” he added.

Tuloy Aral Project which was started in 2004 is the brainchild of former DOLE secretary Marianito D. Roque, KAMPI and Kabalikat ng OFWhas then taken the lead for the project since 2011.

Roque, who was present during the turnover ceremony, urged the recipients to work hard on their studies. “You are fortunate to have people who are very willing to help you. The gift of education is something that can never be taken away from you, let us all be thankful to the donors because they have helped in shaping your future,” he said.

Since it began, the Tuloy Aral Project has sponsored the schooling of over 300 children.