By Leslie Ann Aquino
“Saan ka man naroroon ngayon, Saudi, Japan, o Hong Kong... Babalik ka rin, babalik ka rin, babalik ka rin.”
WARM WELCOME – A balikbayan gets a warm welcome upon arrival in the country.
So goes the popular song of Filipino artist Gary Valenciano entitled “Babalik Ka Rin.”
The song is close to the hearts of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as it reflects their desire to return home for good and be reunited with their families.
The Philippine government is aware of this sentiment, making the repatriation of OFWs one of the ultimate goals of the Duterte administration.
“The final target of the President is to repatriate all our OFWs. That’s why he went into this ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program to provide alternative employment to our overseas workers for them to come back,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an interview.
Different programs for different needs
To help facilitate the reintegration of returning Filipino migrants into mainstream Philippine society, the government, through the Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs are implementing different reintegration programs and services on employment, business and entrepreneurship, livelihood, skills training, and financial awareness seminars which our “balikbayans” may avail of.
Among them is the “Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay,” a livelihood grant intervention which consists of skills training and provision of starter kits based on project proposal for returning women OFWs.
According to NCRO, the program prioritizes distressed returning women OFWs who are victims of illegal recruitment and trafficking, exploitation, sexual and physical abuse, and those whose contract were pre-terminated.
There is also the “Byaheng Agripreneur” (from the words Agriculture and Entrepreneur) which aims to discover agriculture as a sustainable enterprise in the country. It was piloted in 2015 to provide returning Filipino migrant workers opportunities for exposure visits for them to acquire first hand information in handling agriculture as a form of business.
Another is the Livelihood Development Assistance Program, a livelihood grant intervention which consists of financial literacy and small business management training intended to bring about improved socio-economic well-being for returning and undocumented OFWs.
There is also the NRCO-ISP (Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines) Business Plan Competition, a special project for active and inactive seafarers and their families. It aims to encourage Filipino seafarers intending to venture into social entrepreneurship and also support the growth of livelihood and employment in their respective hometowns. The winner will win the grand prize amounting to ₱500,000.
Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir (SPIMS) is an employment reintegration program which provides opportunities to OFWs who are also Licensure Examinations for Teachers (LET) passers to practice their profession as Teacher 1 for elementary and junior high school in various public schools in the country.
To qualify, one should be an OFW, a LET passer, still abroad or have already arrived home for not more than three years.
Meanwhile, the reintegration program of OWWA consists of the Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! Program, the Overseas Filipino Workers Enterprise Development and Loan Program (OFW-EDLP) and Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs.
The Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! Program is a package of livelihood support or assistance intended to provide immediate relief to returning member OFWs (distressed or displaced), active or non-active, amounting to ₱20,000 as start up or additional capital for the livelihood project.
As for the OFW-EDLP, it is an enterprise development intervention and loan facility of OWWA, in partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) intended to support enterprise development among OFWs and their families.
Eligible borrowers are OFWs who are certified OWWA members, active or non-active, and have completed Enhanced Entrepreneurial Development Training (EEDT). The Tulong PUSO is a one-time grant assistance in the form of raw materials, equipment, tools, and other support services that aims to support the formation, enhancement, or restoration of livelihood projects and undertakings of OFW organizations. The amount of grant shall be based on the project requirement of up to a maximum of ₱1 million for OFW organizations with more than 51 members.
Of the different programs mentioned, Roel B. Martin, OIC-Director of the NRCO, said livelihood assistance is the most availed of by OFWs. However, he admitted that not all those who engaged in business became successful in their venture.
“Those who became successful is not that many based on our initial assessment... Last year, it did not even reach 10 percent,” said Martin.
“There were instances wherein former OFWs were unable to sustain their business because one of their children got sick or they need to pay tuition,” he added.
But there are also OFWs, Martin said, who opted to start a business here while they are still working abroad as a way of “testing the waters.”
“While they work there, their family takes care of the business here. Let’s say they put up a water refilling station, when they see that it’s doing well, then that’s the time that they return,” he said.
Martin explained that their different reintegration programs and services are “options” for OFWs but the decision to eventually return or not is still up to them.
“We provide you with options. You test the waters of the business conditions here, and then, decide if it’s about time for you to come home and live permanently here in the Philippines,” he said.
Some OFWs who found local employment have difficulty adjusting, particularly in the amount of salary that they receive, Martin said.
“It’s really difficult for some because if you compare their salary there, it’s around ₱20,000 ($400) while here, they earn way below that,” he said.
Martin said this was one of the reasons why many OFWs eventually go back abroad to work, an observation supported by the DOLE Bureau of Local Employment.
“They would still prefer to work overseas. The reasons: They earn higher; the skills acquired abroad especially in the Middle and higher skills) are not compatible/applicable in industries; and also to maintain their lifestyle,” BLE Director Dominique Tutay said.
“Even if there are opportunities in the Philippines, they cannot maintain the lifestyle that they are used to because their salary is much lower than what they earn abroad,” she added.
This is true for “Melissa” who used to work as a household service worker in Saudi Arabia.
“I was planning to stay here for good, I even applied as a household help in Manila but the salary is only ₱5,000. That’s not enough since the construction of our house is still unfinished and our sari-sari store is not doing well. I also need to save up for the future of my daughter, who is still in elementary,” she said.
Mel left last month to work again as HSW in the Middle East.
Martin said OFWs would always sacrifice for their families.
“They would always prioritize the needs of their family. Due to the difficulty in finding work, sustaining a business, it has become a necessity for many to still work abroad,” he said.
On the part of the government, Martin said they will continue to provide assistance and develop more programs for OFWs.
“I’m aware that our existing programs and services are not enough that’s why we continue to improve them by getting suggestions and recommendations from them. The government will continue to work hard so as to give them a better future when they return here,” he said.
WARM WELCOME – A balikbayan gets a warm welcome upon arrival in the country.
So goes the popular song of Filipino artist Gary Valenciano entitled “Babalik Ka Rin.”
The song is close to the hearts of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as it reflects their desire to return home for good and be reunited with their families.
The Philippine government is aware of this sentiment, making the repatriation of OFWs one of the ultimate goals of the Duterte administration.
“The final target of the President is to repatriate all our OFWs. That’s why he went into this ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program to provide alternative employment to our overseas workers for them to come back,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an interview.
Different programs for different needs
To help facilitate the reintegration of returning Filipino migrants into mainstream Philippine society, the government, through the Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs are implementing different reintegration programs and services on employment, business and entrepreneurship, livelihood, skills training, and financial awareness seminars which our “balikbayans” may avail of.
Among them is the “Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay,” a livelihood grant intervention which consists of skills training and provision of starter kits based on project proposal for returning women OFWs.
According to NCRO, the program prioritizes distressed returning women OFWs who are victims of illegal recruitment and trafficking, exploitation, sexual and physical abuse, and those whose contract were pre-terminated.
There is also the “Byaheng Agripreneur” (from the words Agriculture and Entrepreneur) which aims to discover agriculture as a sustainable enterprise in the country. It was piloted in 2015 to provide returning Filipino migrant workers opportunities for exposure visits for them to acquire first hand information in handling agriculture as a form of business.
Another is the Livelihood Development Assistance Program, a livelihood grant intervention which consists of financial literacy and small business management training intended to bring about improved socio-economic well-being for returning and undocumented OFWs.
There is also the NRCO-ISP (Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines) Business Plan Competition, a special project for active and inactive seafarers and their families. It aims to encourage Filipino seafarers intending to venture into social entrepreneurship and also support the growth of livelihood and employment in their respective hometowns. The winner will win the grand prize amounting to ₱500,000.
Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir (SPIMS) is an employment reintegration program which provides opportunities to OFWs who are also Licensure Examinations for Teachers (LET) passers to practice their profession as Teacher 1 for elementary and junior high school in various public schools in the country.
To qualify, one should be an OFW, a LET passer, still abroad or have already arrived home for not more than three years.
Meanwhile, the reintegration program of OWWA consists of the Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! Program, the Overseas Filipino Workers Enterprise Development and Loan Program (OFW-EDLP) and Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs.
The Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! Program is a package of livelihood support or assistance intended to provide immediate relief to returning member OFWs (distressed or displaced), active or non-active, amounting to ₱20,000 as start up or additional capital for the livelihood project.
As for the OFW-EDLP, it is an enterprise development intervention and loan facility of OWWA, in partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) intended to support enterprise development among OFWs and their families.
Eligible borrowers are OFWs who are certified OWWA members, active or non-active, and have completed Enhanced Entrepreneurial Development Training (EEDT). The Tulong PUSO is a one-time grant assistance in the form of raw materials, equipment, tools, and other support services that aims to support the formation, enhancement, or restoration of livelihood projects and undertakings of OFW organizations. The amount of grant shall be based on the project requirement of up to a maximum of ₱1 million for OFW organizations with more than 51 members.
Of the different programs mentioned, Roel B. Martin, OIC-Director of the NRCO, said livelihood assistance is the most availed of by OFWs. However, he admitted that not all those who engaged in business became successful in their venture.
“Those who became successful is not that many based on our initial assessment... Last year, it did not even reach 10 percent,” said Martin.
“There were instances wherein former OFWs were unable to sustain their business because one of their children got sick or they need to pay tuition,” he added.
But there are also OFWs, Martin said, who opted to start a business here while they are still working abroad as a way of “testing the waters.”
“While they work there, their family takes care of the business here. Let’s say they put up a water refilling station, when they see that it’s doing well, then that’s the time that they return,” he said.
Martin explained that their different reintegration programs and services are “options” for OFWs but the decision to eventually return or not is still up to them.
“We provide you with options. You test the waters of the business conditions here, and then, decide if it’s about time for you to come home and live permanently here in the Philippines,” he said.
Some OFWs who found local employment have difficulty adjusting, particularly in the amount of salary that they receive, Martin said.
“It’s really difficult for some because if you compare their salary there, it’s around ₱20,000 ($400) while here, they earn way below that,” he said.
Martin said this was one of the reasons why many OFWs eventually go back abroad to work, an observation supported by the DOLE Bureau of Local Employment.
“They would still prefer to work overseas. The reasons: They earn higher; the skills acquired abroad especially in the Middle and higher skills) are not compatible/applicable in industries; and also to maintain their lifestyle,” BLE Director Dominique Tutay said.
“Even if there are opportunities in the Philippines, they cannot maintain the lifestyle that they are used to because their salary is much lower than what they earn abroad,” she added.
This is true for “Melissa” who used to work as a household service worker in Saudi Arabia.
“I was planning to stay here for good, I even applied as a household help in Manila but the salary is only ₱5,000. That’s not enough since the construction of our house is still unfinished and our sari-sari store is not doing well. I also need to save up for the future of my daughter, who is still in elementary,” she said.
Mel left last month to work again as HSW in the Middle East.
Martin said OFWs would always sacrifice for their families.
“They would always prioritize the needs of their family. Due to the difficulty in finding work, sustaining a business, it has become a necessity for many to still work abroad,” he said.
On the part of the government, Martin said they will continue to provide assistance and develop more programs for OFWs.
“I’m aware that our existing programs and services are not enough that’s why we continue to improve them by getting suggestions and recommendations from them. The government will continue to work hard so as to give them a better future when they return here,” he said.