The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration upgrades the Balik-Pilipinas, Balik-Hanapbuhay livelihood program to better serve returning Overseas Filipino Workers. The livelihood program enables qualified OFW returnees to be entrepreneurs by providing training, a starter kit and now, cash assistance for their chosen business.
The program is focused on returning OFWs who plan to manage their own business. The previous BPBH initially consisted of non-monetary support like entrepreneurship training and a starter kit amounting to P10,000. Recently, OWWA upgraded the BPBH and threw in P20,000 as part of the assistance package.
The qualified beneficiaries are active or inactive OWWA OFW-members who were displaced by hostilities or wars/political conflict/policy reform, victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment and other distressful situations. The program must be availed not later than 3 years upon arrival in the Philippines.
BPBH, according to OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac, aims for OFWs to learn the value of “self-reliance” and “self-confidence” since they have been working for their employers overseas, whereas in their own business, they can be in control and be their own bosses.
OWWA-ARMM Regional Director Amy B. Crisostomo said, “The BPBH program can provide a good start for OFWs who experienced difficulties during their employment.”
“Finally, earning profit while being with one’s family can be possible,” she added.
As of press time, OWWA-ARMM already released an aggregated amount of P16.5M to 860 beneficiaries in the Autonomous Region.