CAMARINES Sur 3rd District Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. filed a measure that will provide overseas Filipino workers and their dependents abroad access to Higher Education and Skills Trainings.

House Bill 4996 or the OFW Higher Education and Skills Training Act of 2022 aims to give OFWs and their dependents continuing education, whether in the nature of college, graduate studies or technical training through the use of embassies and consulates abroad.

“OFWs are hailed as the country’s new-age heroes, contributing significantly to our overall economic growth through their remittance and their unparalleled efforts,” Bordado said in his explanatory note.

The measure mandates all embassies and consulates abroad to work with Philippine-based academic degree-granting institutions, preferably with online class offerings, duly recognized by the Commission on Higher Education or technical education institutions recognized by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to make available courses or program offerings for OFWs and their dependents abroad.

Also under the measure, Philippine embassies and consulates abroad will be used as venues for the provision of education programs, whether for college or graduate studies or skills training.

The existing personnel of embassies and consulates may also be tapped as instructor for the programs.

Participating schools who send faculty members from the Philippines to teach in the said embassies and consulates shall receive a reasonable subsidy from the government.