Losing one’s job is difficult and losing it while you are alone and miles away from your family is more difficult, especially for breadwinners. With the pandemic we all experienced and the war that is happening in other countries, our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were forced to leave their job in their host country and go back to the Philippines with not enough money or even a plan. Luckily, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) created a program to help Filipino workers who were displaced from their host country called the Reintegration Program.
The Reintegration Program is offered to all active OWWA members to help them get back on their feet. This program provides various training such as Value Formation, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurial Development, and Techno-Skills and Capacity Building. They also give Livelihood Assistance and Services to OFWs and Education Program Scholarships for their dependents.
Reintegration Preparedness On-Site
The Reintegration Preparedness Program aims to prepare OFWs by providing them various training such as:
- Value Formation Training. This training aims to develop and improve the OFWs’ behavior, attitude, and perspective in life.
- Financial Literacy Training. This training aims to give wider understanding and develop OFWs financial skills. With the help of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), trainees will gain more knowledge on financial management, budgeting, and investing.
- Entrepreneurial Development Training. This training aims to help OFWs turn their business ideas to business plans. In this training, they will learn entrepreneurial roles, business planning, and business management.
- Techno-Skills and Capacity Building Training. This training will equip you with ever evolving technology. This training will help adapt easily by enhancing your skills, knowledge, and by giving you the equipment you need for the job.
Reintegration Preparedness In-Country
- Job Referrals. All OFWs under the Reintegration Program who still wish to work back in the Philippines will be given job referrals to get a better opportunity on getting hired.
- Business Counseling. OFWs will be given a chance to build their business by giving them free business development services that include consultation, productivity advice, and business network to help them get started.
- Community Organizing. This training will help them become a well-rounded person and improve their social skills.
- Skills and Entrepreneurship (OFW-RISE) Program. With the help of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), and Coca-Cola Philippines, this program will give OFWs access to new business and livelihood opportunities.
Livelihood Assistance Services
The OWWA offers a wide-range of livelihood assistance for OFWs. OFWs can choose the program that suits them best.
- Balik-Pinas, Balik-Hanapbuhay Program. This program is for OFWs, whether active OWWA members or not, who don’t want to work abroad and just want to work and stay in the Philippines. It consists of a non-cash livelihood package for OFWs who were displaced, victims of illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and other disturbing circumstances.
- Balik-Pinay, Balik-Hanapbuhay Program. This program focuses on women OFWs. OWWA provides livelihood training and starter kits for women who were displaced and abused.
- Financial Literacy Seminar and Small Business Management Training. This training assists OFWs and their family to become self-reliant by developing and improving their knowledge on financial literacy.
- Livelihood Development Assistance Program. With the help of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), this program provides skills training and start kits for undocumented OFWs.
- Education and Livelihood Assistance Program. This program grants financial assistance worth Php 5,000 for primary school, Php 8,000 for high school, Php 10,000 for college dependents of the deceased OFWs. It also gives livelihood assistance worth Php 15,000 to the spouse of the married OFWs or parents of unmarried OFWs.
Requirements
- Application Form
- Certificate of Entrepreneurial Development Training
- Business Proposal (must be approved by RWO Director)
- Proof of repatriation (passport, travel documents, airline tickets)
Overseas Filipino Workers – Enterprise Development and Loan Program (OFW-EDLP)
The OFW-EDLP focuses on supporting and providing business opportunities for OFWs with the help of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
The DBP and LBP offers business loans worth Php 100,000 to Php 5,000,000 to eligible borrowers with 7.5% interest rate per year and can be paid for five (5) years. Borrowers must be OWWA members and able to complete the capacity-building training.
OFW-EDLP Projects
- Franchising business
- Contract tie-up with top 1,000 corporations
- Agri- and non-agri production/manufacturing with identified market lineage and raw material sources
- construction/rental business
- Transport service
Project Cost Sharing
- Borrower’s Equity – minimum of 20% of the Total Project Cost
- Loan – Maximum of 80% of the Total Project Cost
Loan Amount
The amount that the borrower can receive depends on the project’s need and equity of the borrower.
- Individual Loan Borrower (single proprietorship)
- Php 100,000 to Php 2,000,000
- Group Loan Borrower (partnership, corporations, cooperatives)
- Php 100,000 to Php 5,000,000
Loan Repayment
Short-Term loans can be paid up to one (1) year but the Term Loan depends on the cash flow but must not exceed seven (7) years. Collateral must also be expected such as the object of financing and other collaterals or securities.
Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong PUSO)
The Tulong PUSO grants a maximum of Php 1,000,000 in the form of raw materials, equipment, tools and jigs, other supplies needed for OFW organizations. The organization must have at least fifty-one (51) members before applying to this program.
Requirements
- Application Form
- Certificate of Entrepreneurial Development Training
- SEC/DOLE/CDA Registration
- Certificate of genuinity of the OFW group from the OWWA Regional Welfare Office Director
- Beneficiary Prole
- Business Permit
- Business Proposal
- Board Resolution
Video: DMW Reintegration Program for OFWs
“Bagong buhay, bagong pag-asa”. This is the slogan of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to help returning OFWs get the help they need to get back on track. Watch the interview of Venecio Legaspi, migrant workers assistant secretary for Reintegration, with CNN Philippines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjLShEZeI9E
Summary
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and other Philippine government agencies collaborated to make sure that the returning OFWs will not go back to the Philippines with nothing to expect. They are making sure that every OFWs in distress will return safely and will get back on their feet and add to the workforce of the society.