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My struggles and success as an OFW dependent

I have been living away from my mother who is an OFW in Japan since high school. As a Computer Science undergraduate of USEP, I wanted to prove to her that I can achieve some degree of self-reliance even before completing my bachelor's degree.

I first heard of medical transcription during an in-campus orientation. We were told that it would take several months only to complete and that a medical background was not necessary. I had some hesitation being a non-medical undergraduate and with no knowledge of medical terminologies. I had fears of not meeting the standards for becoming a good transcriber.

Still, I went ahead and enrolled relying purely on my computer literacy and determination. I encountered many difficulties while studying. Most of my classmates had allied health backgrounds, many were far older than me and I was having difficulty with medical terms. I realized that I needed to be a quick learner because the pace of the lectures is fast.

I finished the program in 8 months. I was offered a chance to join a local transcription team and have started to earn from the part-time work that's given me. With the OJT exposure I received, aside from medical transcription, I can now do legal and business transcription.

I feel grateful and lucky to be part of the BPO Industry at such a young age. Having proven that Ican earn even without a college degree, I feel more confident now that I am no longer part of the unemployed population of Davao City. My mother in Japan was happy to receive news of my new skill and has promised to extend more support so I can continue to pursue my college degree while working as a part-time transcriber.

Chester Von Ferrer

Undergraduate

OFW Dependent

Independent Contractor

Transcriptionist

RN na, transcriber pa!

Until several months ago, I was part of the 2.7 million jobless Filipinos and nursing graduates who are still financially dependent on their parents and generous relatives.

My friends had expressed keen interest in it so I went along, took the exam and fortunately, passed the assessment. I attended a FREE Career Orientation in December of 2008. Listening to the presentation, I was amazed at the multitude of opportunities to both the physically competent as well as the physically impaired. Who knew that this simple “go-with-the-flow” attitude would lead me to become part of a transcription team called ZipIT Solutions after less than 2 months of training.

My nursing background was a distinct advantage and well into the MT program, I realized that I can get updated with the new medical practices in the US, enhance my English proficiency and familiarity with foreign accents and familiarize myself with US drug terms skills that are essential to my dream of working abroad.

Having finished the MT program, I have now become a home-based, independent contractor. And that's an entirely different experience……I get to “go to work” without having to worry about what to wear, what perfume to put on, how to style my hair and worry about jeepney/taxi fare. I am now on my way to financial independence while working consistently on giving quality service through nearly perfect files submitted on time, all the time.

I definitely feel that I have the distinct advantage over others as the MT skills that I now possessed have further enhanced my overall capability to be a competent member of the health management industry both here and in the US.

Scott Philip Carmen

Registered Nurse

San Pedro College

Medical Transcriptionist

ZipIT Solutions, Inc.

Scholarships for BPO skills of OFW Dependents Brings Hope for Displaced Workers

In a recent visit by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Davao City last February 19, 2009, Davaoenos welcomed the good news that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has continued to offer scholarships for skills training for OFW’s dependents. The scholarship called, “Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)” enables a qualified applicant to avail of either a one-year or a six-month technical vocational course with financial assistance of P14,500.00 paid directly to the training provider. OWWA beneficiaries, to include the spouse of a married OFW, children not older than 21 years old, or a sibling not older than 21 years of a single OFW, may now qualify for application to the SESP.

While the OWWA scholarship may be used for any technical training program, the ICT & IT-BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry of Davao City through TADI (Transcription Alliance of Davao, Inc.) has emphasized the need for qualified transcription manpower as the demand for trained transcribers continues to rise. The 2008 projection for number of transcription jobs is seen to grow by at least 35% over previous year.

Since 2007, MTC Academy, a transcription training service provider, has trained and graduated 8 number of OWWA scholars. Many of these scholars have been extended job placement assistance and have been deployed in various transcription service companies operating of Davao City. Some OWWA scholar/graduates have also successfully transitioned to become home-based transcription service providers. MTC Academy will continue to accept OWWA-SESP scholars for training in business, legal or medical transcriptions.

Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need for the workforce to build BPO-related skills to cope with the projected robust growth of the non-voice sector (transcriptions, data entry, web & graphics development and animation). With the increasing number of displaced OFW workers, the IT-BPO industry is seen as a bright spot that can cushion the impact of the global crisis to the Philippine economy.

5.66 Billion of PGSP Subsidy in 2009 Up for Grabs for Davaoeños

Since 2006 the government has aggressively pursued the goal of 1 Million jobs by 2010 through the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP). For the year 2009, a total of 809,800 scholarship slots are up for grabs under the PGSP or the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship Program administered by the Technical Educational Skills and Development Authority (TESDA). The announcement was made by Regional Director Elmer K. Talavera during a meeting with technical vocational schools last February 9, 2009 at the Korea-Philippines Training Center in Buhisan, Tibungco, Davao City.

RD Talavera also mentioned that Davao del Sur including Davao City will be awarding a total of 14,000 scholarships. "The scholar is also given a daily allowance of P60 to cover for transportation and food while in attendance to the program," Talavera said.

Included in the TESDA list of programs which can qualify under the PGSP program is the Finishing Course in Medical Transcription NCII (160 hours) and Finishing Course in Legal Transcription NCII (160 hours). Since 2006, MTC Academy, a transcription training provider has accepted to its transcription training program over 100 TESDA scholars. The visually impaired (VIs) are among the recipients of the scholarship and several graduates are now working with local transcription companies in Davao City.

The IT-BPO industry in Davao City through its prime mover, ICT Davao Inc. welcomes the PGSP implementation as it gears up to encourage broad participation for BPO careers which is seen to grow by 35% in 2008. BPO employment is expected to contribute positively to improving the quality of life among Davaoenos as more ICT and IT-BPO investments is expected to flow into the City especially after the highly successful participation in the e-Services, an annual ICT event, where the Davao delegation sat in numerous business matching meetings.