BACOLOD CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here has given free entrepreneurship and business planning trainings to 64 Overseas Filipino Workers in Negros Occidental.
Rachel Nufable, chief industry trade and development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the trainings were aimed at engaging OWFs in business while they were home in the province.
The activity, held at the Negosyo Center in Bacolod City on Tuesday, is being implemented through the DTI’s Entrepreneurship Development Program for OFW in partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Nufable said these returning OFWs were mostly repatriated maybe due to employer issues, economic crisis, or existence of war in their host country, among others.
“We want to help them start a business and put their money in the right investment so that they will have a source of income in case they opt to retire,” she added.
In 2012, DTI entered into an agreement with the OWWA for the implementation of the training.
Since then, the agency had already covered thousands of Negrense OWFs, who were equipped with the knowledge and skills on starting an enterprise as well as on how to plan their desired businesses.
Nufable said OFWs, specifically those repatriated and being assisted by the OWWA were entitled to receive financial assistance from the DTI.
Part of the requirements in availing of the fund was attending the entrepreneurship and business planning trainings, she said.
After which, participating OFWs will have to decide what kind of enterprise to venture in and submit a business plan or proposal to OWWA.
“The latter really wanted them to engage even in small scale business thus, orientation on appreciating entrepreneurship is being provided,” Nufable said.
The entrepreneurship and business planning trainings are conducted every other Tuesday of the month. (Erwin Nicavera/PNA)
