A technology skills program is providing new skills to thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and also giving them opportunities to address some of the problems while working away from home.

 

“Tulay,” provides OFWs and their families back home with access to technology and technology training to broaden career opportunities for migrants, facilitate communication within families and help re-integrate OFWs into the economy upon return to the Philippines.

 

“Tulay shows us the far-reaching, real-life possibilities that IT [information technology] can bring about. We are not only giving Filipinos access to these tools but we are also introducing them to an environment where new opportunities await them,” said Microsoft Philippines Managing Director Rafael Rollan.

 

Tulay is a Microsoft Unlimited Potential Community Skills Program implemented in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Blas F. Ople Policy Center.

 

Since its launch in 2004, Tulay has trained more than 14,000 Filipino migrants and their beneficiaries. The graduates have been able to explore new job opportunities with their new skills.

 

“Beyond this, we see Tulay as a catalyst for opening up better economic opportunities for OFWs and their beneficiaries. By receiving technology training, participants are able to do more than just communicate through e-mail or chat. They become armed with skills that boost their confidence and equip them in exploring alternative employment prospects,” Rollan said.

 

The program has 14 Community Technology Learning Centers serving OFWs based in Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. 

 

Local trainings for OFW dependents are found at the OWWA headquarters in Pasay City, Bicol, Cagayan de Oro, cebu, Iloilo, La Union and Zamboanga.

 

 

To further cater to more OFWs, Microsoft has turned over to the Blas F. Ople Policy Center a total of US$633,000 worth of cash and software grants to facilitate the expansion of the program. The expansion would cover the openings of additional10 local facilities and a center in Taipei, and additional new computers and software for the center in Hong Kong.

 

“Tulay has gotten bigger. We intend to reach more than 40,000 OFWs and their families,” Rollan said.

 

Participants will be taught with the Unlimited Potential curriculum of Microsoft which us being used in 30 countries; basic computer fundamentals, word processing, spreadsheet, power point, internet use and database fundamentals.

 

The Tulay expansion program would offer advance courses in Web site design, blogging and social networking tools.

 

Given the close family ties of Filipinos the lack of communication between the migrants and their families often bring anxiety and homesickness because of the separation.

 

 

“Tulay brings the Filipino family together. The Tulay program cuts the distance between an OFW and his or her family while expanding the employment horizons of both through IT training,” Susan Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center.

 

Ople said all the courses are offered free of charge to all OFWs and their families.

 

She also mentioned a Tulay participant named “Ka Ramon.”

 

“Hindi ko na babanggitin ang edad nya. Ka Ramon was challenged to learn the new technology kahit pa kinakantiyawan siya. He would wake up around 5:30 a.m. to travel from Taytay to the OWWA Center in Manila,” she said.

 

Now, Ka Ramon uses the Internet to regularly send email to his grandchildren in Canada.