Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) now have a single place in Manila to retrain, earn certification, look for work, or prepare to start a business as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) opened its first OWWA Kasanayan at Kabuhayan Center (OKKC) in Intramuros on October 26, 2026.
The facility, run with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), combines skills training, assessment, certification, job referrals, and livelihood support for OFWs and their families.
TESDA will handle the training, assessment, and certification. OWWA will provide the venue and endorse qualified beneficiaries. Qualified trainees may also receive an allowance under Alagang OWWA Step UP–BOOST, though OWWA has not released the amount or full eligibility rules.
What Courses Are Offered?
The OKKC operates as a satellite office and training facility of the TESDA Manila Training and Assessment Center. Initial offerings include barista training and language courses; authorities have also identified Japanese A1, e-commerce, ICT, housekeeping, caregiving, and bartending.
Other courses being prepared include:
- Caregiving and housekeeping
- Bartending and bookkeeping
- Food processing and packaging
- E-commerce and online selling
- Virtual assistance
- Artificial intelligence and programming
Interest has been strong. In the comments section of the OWWA’s announcement, several prospective trainees asked about housekeeping, caregiving, Japanese classes, Housekeeping NC II, and massage therapy. These remain requests, not confirmed courses; OWWA has not listed massage therapy among its planned programs.
Can OFWs Apply From Abroad?
OWWA has not said whether workers still overseas can pre-register, reserve slots, or attend classes remotely before returning. It said registration links for open courses would be posted on the OWWA and TESDA websites and social media pages.
Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan said applicants may also walk in at the Intramuros center or seek endorsement through OWWA regional offices. But an inquiry or endorsement is not the same as a confirmed training slot. As of the launch, OWWA had not published course-specific deadlines or available slots.
Who Can Enroll?
The center is intended for OFWs and their families, including those who have already returned permanently. OWWA has not issued detailed eligibility rules for each group, and questions remain about older applicants, persons with disabilities, and relatives of OFWs.
One earlier report said even non-OWWA members may access the free training. However, free training does not automatically mean allowance eligibility; that benefit remains separate.
Support for Provincial Trainees
For OFWs based outside Metro Manila, training in Intramuros may require travel and lodging expenses. Commenters raised concerns about regional locations, accommodation, and access for applicants far from Manila.
OWWA said it plans to open regional OKKCs, but has not named locations or given opening dates. It has also not announced travel or accommodation assistance. The training allowance is meant for qualified participants, but its amount and payment schedule remain unclear.
Will Training Guarantee Work?
The National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) will set up JobsConnect at the center, working with government and private-sector partners.
Qualified applicants may be referred to:
- Vacancies under Department of Migrant Workers government-to-government arrangements
- Job orders from private recruitment agencies
- Opportunities through Public Employment Service Offices
These are referrals, not guaranteed employment. For OFWs planning a return, the details to confirm before making travel or work decisions are the course schedule, admission requirements, training duration, allowance eligibility, and whether a slot has actually been secured.