The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is giving away capital to overseas Filipino domestic workers and “distressed” OFWs who want to do business back home through its "Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay!" (BPBH) program, DOLE and its attached agency National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) provides livelihood skills training and starter kits to distressed women-OFWs to help them start their own enterprise.According to DOLE 71 OFWs have already benefited from the livelihood program in Region VII.
“We coordinated with Cebu City’s Department of Manpower Placement and Development or DMDP for the conduct of the livelihood skills training on cookery afforded to the OFWs affected, in partnership with the local government unit of Barangay Cogon Central Ramos,” NRCO 7 Regional Coordinator Dexter F. Paro said.
In Region IX, The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office (OWWA RWO-IX) recently awarded livelihood kits to twelve (12) distressed OFW through the "Balik-Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay" Program. The program beneficiaries received utensils and equipments for putting up a carinderia, a burger stand, or a bakery, whichever business they want to start for their livelihood.
“We coordinated with Cebu City’s Department of Manpower Placement and Development or DMDP for the conduct of the livelihood skills training on cookery afforded to the OFWs affected, in partnership with the local government unit of Barangay Cogon Central Ramos,” NRCO 7 Regional Coordinator Dexter F. Paro said.
What is “Balik Pinas, Balik Hanap Buhay” Program?
“Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay!” Program is one-time-availment of non-cash, livelihood assistance intended to provide immediate help to returning OFWs who were displaced from their jobs overseas caused by political conflicts/wars in their host countries, OFWs who suffered maltreatment, or victimized by human trafficking or similar distressful circumstances.
The livelihood assistance amounting to P10,000 which includes of techno-skills and/or entrepreneurship trainings, starter kits and other services that will enable beneficiaries to quickly start an income generating business.
The program aims to enable the beneficiaries to gain and develop skills through access to training services and programs from the agencies like TESDA, DTI, and NGOs.
It also equipts the beneficiaries with skills that are highly in demand in the local labor market and enables them to plan, set-up, start and maintain a livelihood by providing them with ready-to-go rollout self-employment package of services, consisting of short courses, start-up kits, business counseling and technical and marketing assistance.
However, OWWA members with finished employment contracts shall not be entitled to this Program. The Program can be availed only once by eligible beneficiaries and within one year after return to the country.
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