The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has allocated P300 million to finance its livelihood program of overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) organizations.
In a news statement issued on Monday, the OWWA announced it has launched its Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-Unlad ng Samahang-OFWs (Tulong Puso) program to provide qualified beneficiaries raw materials, equipment, tools and jigs, and other support services to start or restore their enterprises.
“The livelihood assistance is a one-time grant that ranges from P250,000 to P1 million relative to the requirements of the business project, and the number of members of the OFW organization applying for the grant,” OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said.
Cacdac explained the program aims to “encourage” OFW organizations not to be just “social circles” but also community-based business endeavors.
He said they have partnered with the departments of Trade (DTI) and Agriculture (DA) to provide the necessary technical aid to those who will avail themselves of the program.
“We will be conducting enterprise development training and other social preparation interventions to equip the OFW groups with the right knowledge and skills to ensure the success of their chosen livelihood projects,” Cacdac said.
To qualify for the program, the OWWA said, OFW organizations should be accredited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Applicants will be required to submit the following documents: certificate of entrepreneurship development training (for start-up/formation); copy of DOLE/SEC/CDA registration, organizational profile with individual personal information; business permit issued by local government unit; business project (indicating or showing proponent capacity to put up an equity equivalent to at least 20 percent of the total project cost) and sketch of project site; and board resolution designating a business manager (on behalf of the group/organization) authorized to file a notarized application for Tulong Puso program.
“They can submit a project proposal together with the documentary requirements to any of OWWA’s 17 Regional Welfare Offices nationwide for evaluation,” Cacdac said.