The Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program in Depth (CPDEP) is a live-in training program for domestic workers who plan to work as OFWs abroad. It lasts three (3) to six (6) days and focuses on language training, cultural familiarization, and stress management to prepare them for life in another country. Please be guided on the process of how you can apply for the CPDEP program, its benefits, requirements and procedures, as well as some important reminders in the guide below.
CPDEP is a mandatory orientation seminar designed to provide departing migrant workers with basic information that will be useful to OFWs, such as work standards, the general profile of the country of destination, stages of the OFW’s life abroad, health and safety, travel tips, airport procedure, and government programs and services. The orientation seminars are country-specific, as well as skill-specific in some cases.
Contents
Overview
The government keeps on improving its programs for OFWs, especially when it comes to pre-departure orientations and seminars. Since 1983, the Philippines has offered a Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), which provides relevant and tailored information to help them cope with new culture and work environment of their destination country. In 2009, PDOS was expanded into the Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) for Household Service Workers (HSWs).
CPDEP is an important component of OWWA’s knowledge and education policy. In addition to the government’s overall education program, as well as the government’s overall safety and welfare for OFWs.
Who is CPDEP for?
Household Service Workers are eligible for the Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP). This live-out training program is open to domestic workers (DWs).
What does CPDEP program offer:
Cultural Acquaintance
This addresses any potential cultural barriers that employees may encounter while working in another country. This includes culture shock, adjustment dealing with locals, and even familiarization of the basic language they use in your host country.
Basic Language Training
Arabic language classes are available through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Language and Culture Familiarization Course, which began in January 2007. This basic language course was improved in March 2009.
Stress Management
The seminar is a half-day program that educates participants on the causes and effects of stress and assists them in physically and mentally preparing for the challenges of working abroad. Furthermore, by sharing information on common coping strategies, household service workers are also encouraged to develop new coping mechanisms.
- Improves understanding of the causes and consequences of stress.
- Prepare employees, both physically and psychologically, for the demands of working in a foreign country.
- The current coping strategies of workers are validated, and new coping mechanisms are developed.
Qualifications
- Adults between ages 20 to 59
- Children aged 13 to 19 years old
- Filipinos who are leaving the Philippines (if you have been issued an immigrant visa)
Note: Minors under the age of 13 and adults over the age of 59 are not eligible to take CPDEP
Requirements
- Original Passport (Must be valid)
- Original Visa (Must be valid)
- One ID Card (Must be valid and has a picture)
- Payment- $25 (OWWA membership fee)
- CPDEP attendance
Note: There is no registration charge for CPDEP.
Documents specific to a Country
Here are some documents needed for CPDEP specific to a country depending on where the OFW will be working:
- Summary of immigrant data for US-bo\und emigrants (except K visa holders)
- Nulla Osta for emigrants heading to Italy
- Emigrants to Canada: Confirmation of Permanent Residence
- For emigrants heading to Australia, a letter of approval for a Work to Residence visa is required.
- For emigrants heading to New Zealand, a letter of approval for a Work to Residence visa is required.
- Certificate of Eligibility for Japanese Emigrants
Note: All of these country-specific documents must be presented in original form. You don’t need to provide a photocopy of these documents.
Benefits
- The orientation seminar provides country-specific and, in some cases, skill-specific information to provide OFWs with as much relevant and reliable information as possible.
- Aids in increasing responsiveness to this vulnerable population’s health and security needs.
- It helps OFWs adapt to their new job and environment
- It addresses the basic needs of OFWs for orientation
How to Join CPDEP Program
Please check out the steps below on how you can sign up for the CPDEP program:
1. Please refer to the public notice.
2. Visit www.cfo.gov.ph.
3. Fill out all preliminary questions to determine whether the PDOS or CPDEP is required. Enter your email address and click the submit button.
Below are the preliminary questions inluded in the page:
- How do you know your petitioner/sponsor?
- What is the name of your destination country?
- What is the type/category/classification of your visa?
4. Look for a confirmation letter in your inbox (including the SPAM folder). Click “Confirm Email” and fill out the “personal information” tab with your information.
5. The personal information tab will then ask you to provide the following information:
- Last Name
- First Name
- Middle Name
- Suffix
- Birthdate
- Sex
- Civil Status
6. Complete your online registration by clicking “proceed to registration”
7. Upload clear and most recent picture.
8. You can download or print your barcoded confirmation. If printed, you need to bring this along with your other requirements to CFO on your schedule date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out the FAQs about the CPDEP OWWA Program below:
1. Is PDOS and CPDEP the same?
Both serve the same purpose, but CPDEP is made exclusively for Household Service Workers (HSWs).
2. Where will this program take place, in the Philippines or in my host country?
As per the program name “Pre-Departure” it will be conducted in the Philippines before leaving the country.
3. How many days will the program last?
It is conducted for 3 to 6 days.
4. Is the CPDEP program free?
CPDEP is completely free, if there’s any fee, your agency should pay for it.
5. Can I get my CPDEP schedule online?
Yes, you can register and book your schedule online.
Summary
Adapting to a new culture, especially when moving abroad for work, can be difficult. Most people who live in a foreign country for an extended period go through an adjustment period known as “Culture Shock.” Once OFWs get enough knowledge about culture shock, its effects can reduce or manage well.
Six to twelve months after arriving in the host country, expatriates usually begin to adjust to their new surroundings and you as an OFW must know how to deal with it.
But if OFWs will receive proper orientation and seminars before heading to their host country, they will be able to communicate more freely with locals and manage the possible stress they will experience in the long run. When expatriates reach this point, the longer they stay in the host country, the more unique their experience will be.
This Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) also provides skill-focus information. It doesn’t just generalize the things that should be learned by domestic workers, the program considers the skills that each participant or aspiring OFW has. In this way, they will be able to come up with better assistance and supplementation of knowledge.