Tapping a potent force! MinDA, DOLE-OWWA OFFER OFW LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM

Mindanao’s Overseas Filipino Workers, including those who have already returned home for good, will soon be organised into associations or cooperatives which would be involved in livelihood projects partly funded by government.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday accepted a proposal from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) which seeks to tap the potentials of the OFWs in contributing to the economic growth of Mindanao.

MinDA submitted the proposal during the meeting of government agencies called by DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III to prepare for the feared adverse impact of the Middle East crisis on OFWs in the region.

During the presentation, MinDA emphasised that OFWs, not only from Mindanao, have long been seeking out livelihood and economic programs where they could invest their hard-earned money in.

There were unconfirmed reports that many of the OFWs were victimised by financial scams which offered them huge returns on their investments.

Among the livelihood activities enumerated by MinDA were:

– Cattle Fattening for Halal Meat Production;

– Cooperative Egg Production Projects;

– Sorghum and Feed Grains growing project;

– Cooperative Hog Raising Projects (for Christian OFWs);

– Aquaculture, Shrimps and Fish Cage Farming;

– Cooperative Goat Raising and Fattening;

– Agricultural and Fisheries Products Processing and Value Adding;

– Direct and Indirect Participation in the MinDA Tienda Market Supply and Procurement Program of the Mindanao Development Authority;

DOLE Secretary Bello has accepted the proposal describing it as very timely.

He said that for every OFW who will participate in the program, DOLE through the OWWA will provide a seed fund as a counterpart to whatever investments the workers will make.

Sec. Bello directed OWWA Administrator Hanz Leo Cacdac to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the MinDA for the immediate implementation of the program.

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!

(MinDA PowerPoint images prepared by MinDA OC while the photos of the MinDA meeting with DOLE and OWWA were taken by Mayette Tudlas, MinDA OC)