Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families can now learn information technology (IT) to improve their competitiveness globally, thanks to a joint project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Microsoft Philippines.

At least 3,600 OFWs and their dependents will benefit from the project, according to DOLE Undersecretary for Special Concerns Susan Ople and Microsoft president for Asia-Pacific Sanjay Mirchandani who launched it Tuesday at the Manila Hotel.

Microsoft will provide $77,000 to cover the cost of computer hardware, software, training modules and salaries of trainors.

The project consists of two training courses that will be provided in Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

The first is for departing OFWs which will be primarily on the use of the Internet and e-mail with word processing and spreadsheets as an optional course, said Ople and Microsoft Regional Director for Community Affairs Lori Forman.

The second, which is for OFW dependents, dwells on basic word processing, Internet applications and other IT short courses.

"Short courses will run a maximum of three days while computer familiarization and Internet usage will be taught for a minimum of four hours," Ople said.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will handle the training site in Manila. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) will handle those in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

The Office of Ople and OWWA will spearhead the implementation of the project which will start as soon as the needed equipment have been purchased.