List of Perks to Thank Each Overseas Filipino Workers for their Hard Work and Heroism

Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs in our country are regarded as modern heroes. It is because of their sacrifices in leaving their family and loved ones in order to improve their financial status and make their family's lives better. 

Other than that, our OFWs also boost the Philippines' dollar reserves every time they send remittances or money back to our country, which in return is suitable for our country's economic condition.

And since our national government acknowledges how hard they work and sacrifice to build a better life for their family. It is no wonder why our government offers many chances and special perks, as gratitude for their perseverance and contributions to our economic growth.

Some of the perks that our OFWs can enjoy are:

1. Benefits from OWWA

One of the primary functions of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration or OWWA is to safeguard and promote the well-being of OFWs and their families. That's why they provide a range of services such as on-site help, job skills development, financial aid to family members in need of higher education, counseling, and legal representation.

For Social Benefits, OWWA offers services such as Disability and Dismemberment, Death and Burial, Supplemental Medical Assistance for OFWs or Medplus, and Welfare Assistance Program.

OWWA also offers Education and Training Benefits that include a pre-departure education program, training programs for Filipino Seafarers, scholarships for OFW dependents, and special projects like the Project EASE and Tabang OFW.

They also have Welfare Programs that include on-site assistance and services for OFWs at their job sites and in-country assistance for OFWs and Families at the Home Front.

For their Reintegration Program, OWWA offers benefits such as reintegrations preparedness for both on-site and in-country, Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program (BPBHP), Overseas Filipino Workers – Enterprise Development Loan Program (OFW-EDLP), and Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-Unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong PUSO).

Last but not least, OWWA also offers Repatriation Assistance Benefits to our OFWs that provide them airport assistance, temporary shelter at the OWWA Halfway Home, psychosocial counseling, stress debriefing, and transport services to their respective provinces.

To know more about these OWWA benefits, you can visit their OWWA Member Community.

2. TESDA's free language training

TESDA Language Skills Institute provides free language courses in Spanish, English, Japanese, Mandarin, and Arabic to assist Overseas Filipinos Workers in becoming more fluent in these languages. A Filipino being able to speak one or more foreign languages will come in helpful if you want to go to any of the nations where these languages are spoken.

Ensure you register as early as possible if you want to participate in these training since the slots are limited. Although OFWs are given priority, it's still better if you can book your spot as soon as possible. You can learn more and seek further details about this program by visiting the TESDA website.

3. Shop tax-free at Duty-Free

Duty Free Philippines can assist you if you need to stock up on souvenirs before returning home. You can shop tax-free for 15 days from the time you land in our country so that you can buy some pasalubongs for your loved ones.

4. Fees exemption

You can exempt fees if you have an Overseas Employment Certificate or OEC. An OFW, particularly a legitimate one, can be free from several costs, including the airport terminal charge, documentary stamp tax, and travel taxes. But in case you already paid for your airport terminal fees as you purchased your flight tickets online, no worries as you can still apply for a refund at the airport terminal.

5. Bank housing loan

Meanwhile, if you are looking for an OFW house for sale or an OFW housing loan, you can easily apply for a bank housing loan for your retirement house or income-generating real estate investment.

It's easy to apply for a bank housing loan as there is no compulsory membership, contributions, or even a savings account. You are just required to be employed for a minimum of 2 years with a specified gross monthly income before you can apply for this type of loan.

For its interest rates, bank housing loans usually have adjustable rates between a range of 5% to 12% annual interest rate, depending on economic conditions. It also has fixed payment terms within 5 to 20 years based on your financial capacity. This is an excellent offer, especially if you prefer to balance your finances over time.

OFWs bank home loan with Lumina Homes

Lumina Homes, a housing segment from Vista Land, offers quality homes to OFWs through bank financing. It already established its name in the Philippines real estate market with its over 50 community projects nationwide including the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, and Davao del Norte. All of the houses for sale in these provinces are located in key cities and municipalities, ensuring the accessibility and economic stability of the area.

If you're planning to buy a bank house for sale from Lumina Homes, the usual requirements for a bank home loan for OFWs are the following:

• Two valid IDs
• Certificate of employment with compensation or latest contract
• Latest three months payslips
• Marriage certificate or birth certificate
• Latest ITR
• Personal details and contact number of Attorney-In-Fact
• Special Power of Attorney
• Notarized if executed in the Philippines (Passport entry and exit stamps)
• Consularized if executed abroad

Choose from their larger and better living spaces home model units such as their OFW house for sale townhouses, namely:

• Angeli Townhouse
• Angelique Townhouse
• Adriana Townhouse
• Bettina Townhouse

They also offer OFW housing loans in their duplexes home model units like:

• Angeli Duplex
• Angelique Duplex
• Armina Duplex
• Athena Duplex

Meanwhile, for home loans perfect for bigger families, they also have single firewall home model units:

• Angeli Single Firewall
• Armina Single Firewall
• Athena Single Firewall

Lumina Homes also serenades its viewers in their recently concluded Level Up 2022 event with the song Bato sa Buhangin, a touching serenade for our hardworking OFWs. This was sung by Peniel Roxas, the 20-year-old grand champion in the Wishcovery Originals contest.

Listen to more music by Peniel Roxas:

• Fireworks

• Poet's Path

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Being one of the top community providers in the Philippines, Lumina Homes values Filipino talents and supports OPM since the company is dedicated to offering quality housing services to every Filipino family, especially to the OFWs. Follow Lumina Homes' official social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber, and Telegram.