ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOT, DMW unveil new tourism programs empowering returning OFWs

DOT, DMW unveil new tourism programs empowering returning OFWs

Published Dec 3, 2025 07:22 pm

At A Glance

  • DOT and DMW rolled out new tourism programs supporting the reintegration of returning OFWs.
  • IPON Tourism opens investment and ownership opportunities in tourism-related ventures.
  • Key private sector partners offer employment, mentorship, and business avenues for OFWs.
  • Tourism Livelihood Training expands nationwide after its successful pilot in Pangasinan.
  • Teach-it-Forward Program enables OFWs to share industry expertise in local tourism initiatives.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco sign the memorandum of understanding establishing new tourism livelihood and investment pathways for returning OFWs. (Photo courtesy of DOT)
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco sign the memorandum of understanding establishing new tourism livelihood and investment pathways for returning OFWs. (Photo courtesy of DOT)
The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) are opening structured pathways for returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to build livelihoods and participate in the country’s growing tourism sector.
“Our workers abroad sustain families and local communities, while tourism generates jobs, supports enterprises, and drives regional growth,” DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said during the ceremonial memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing at the DOT Multipurpose Hall in Makati City on Nov. 27.
Through the Investment in Philippine Opportunities for Nation’s Tourism (IPON Tourism) program, part of the Balik Bayani sa Turismo (BBST) initiative, returning OFWs can invest in and own tourism-related ventures.
These ventures cover accommodations, transportation, logistics, and sales.
Private sector partners, including Duty Free Philippines, Hotel 101 Global, Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation (FastCat), DOON Transport Technologies Inc., and 2GO Express, Inc., are providing opportunities for OFWs to work and gain hands-on experience in the tourism sector.
They can also participate as mentors, investors, or small-business owners.
Tourism Livelihood Training equips OFWs with practical skills in homestay management, culinary arts, farm tourism, tour-guiding, and micro-retail.
The program follows a successful pilot in Pangasinan in August 2024, with additional sessions planned in Isabela, Cebu, and Davao this December.
Another BBST component, the Teach-it-Forward Program, allows OFWs to mentor and share expertise as resource speakers.
“Tourism offers OFWs a way to extend their overseas experience into sustainable livelihood, create employment, and support national economic growth,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said.
Under the MOU, DOT provides tourism opportunities, DMW endorses qualified OFWs, and private partners present business and investment options.

Related Tags

DOT DMW OFWs tourism programs IPON tourism
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.