OWWA, Microsoft bridge digital divide among overseas workers

i.t. matters
feb 10, 2006

OWWA, Microsoft bridge digital divide among overseas workers

Alfonso Mirabueno, 45, never thought that at his age, he would be at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) training center for a month now tapping at the computer.

After 16 years of working abroad, he has enrolled in OWWA’s "Tulay: An Unlimited Potential Program for Overseas Filipino," an information technology (IT) training module where overseas workers take computer lessons on internet skills and basic applications in between jobs.

Tulay is an IT training program funded by a grant from software giant Microsoft Philippines as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

"I need basic knowledge of computers for [the] documentation [work] in my next office, which is an offshore rig off the Gulf of Mexico. Having computer skills is important with the level of technology nowadaysÖ it will make our work easier if we know computer [skills]," the radio operator said.

Mr. Mirabueno is one of the almost 19,000 overseas workers and their beneficiaries targeted in eight of Tulay’s training centers and three planned sites this year, OWWA administrator Marianito D. Roque told BusinessWorld.

"The free training gives [overseas workers] and their families improved level of communication other than SMS [short messaging system] or phone calls. By teaching them how use computers they will have a cheaper and longer communication alternative, imagine three SMS’s is almost equal to an hour of online chat and they can even see each other [through the webcam]," he added.

The overseas workers and their families also receive training for computer applications like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel for simple accounting and budgeting and Web skills, including Web design through a training module accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Those who finish the program are given a TESDA training certificate.

Tulay’s initial phase involved the opening of training centers at the Filipino Workers Center in Malaysia and Bayanihan Center in Singapore, as well as similar community technology learning centers at the OWWA main office in Pasay City.

In 2004, three more centers were set up in Hong Kong, Taichung in Taiwan and in Cebu through a P4-million cash grant and P3 million worth of software provided by Microsoft.

"The project envisions that [overseas workers] will have a better peace of mind and thus promote and maximize their productivity at the job sites with the assurance that they have direct contact and can monitor family activities on a day-to-day basis," Mr. Roque said during the launch of Tulay’s third phase.

New training sites in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, La Union Cagayan de Oro City and at the OWWA satellite office at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration head-quarters in Mandaluyong City were launched last week. Microsoft provided a P5.6-million grant for the centers.

Antonio Javier, Jr., Microsoft’s managing director, told Business-World that Tulay is part of the firm’s commitment to "bridge the digital divide for under-served sectors of society [by] providing real solutions unique challenges that face [overseas workers]."

He added that additional training sites would be set up soon in the Middle East and Italy.

"We hope by the end of five years there would be a network for [overseas workers]."