OWWA Reintegration Programs for OFWs

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Reintegration Programs was developed and put into action to assist individuals, particularly Filipinos working overseas, in becoming capable and productive citizens after they return home. This initiative intends to help OFWs who lose their existing jobs as a result of hostility and conflict in their host nation, war or political unrest in the host nation, changes in host government policy, or who become victims of unlawful recruiting, human trafficking, or other upsetting circumstances.

Members of the OFW OWWA will receive the training they need to get ready and start over in the nation through the program’s return to activity.

Here are the three Reintegration Programs offered by OWWA:

Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program

A package of livelihood support / assistance intended to provide immediate relief to returning member-OFWs ( distressed / displaced ) amounting to a maximum Php 20,000.00 as start up or additional capital for the livelihood project.

Who are qualified?

Repatriated Distress OFW Member.

What are the requirements?

How to avail the service?

• Visit the OWWA Regional Welfare Office that covers the permanent address of the OFW
• Get queuing number or queue in the line
• Present and submit requirements
• Attend the scheduled Enterprise Development Training (EDT) session at the OWWA RWO
• After the EDT session, submit the application forms and complete requirements
• Prepare for the Business Site Inspection by the OWWA RWO
• For approved applications, claim the financial assistance

Overseas Filipino Workers – Enterprise Development and Loan Program (OFW-EDLP)

Formerly known as OFW-Reintegration Program (ORP), OFW-EDLP is an enterprise development intervention and loan facility of OWWA, in partnership with 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 Projects
  • Franchising business
  • Contract tie-up with top 1000 corporations
  • Agri- and non-agri production/manufacturing with identified market linkage and raw material sources;
  • Construction/rental business;
  • Service/trading business;
  • Transport service; or
  • Any viable project whether existing or new, that should generate a net cash flow sufficient to pay the projected amortization of the loan (or resulting into debt service ratio of at least 1).
• Eligible Loan Purposes
  • Working Capital; or
  • Fixed  Asses Acquisition.
• Project Cost Sharing
  • Borrower’s Equity – Minumum of 20% of the Total Project Cost (TPC).
  • Loan – Maximum of 80% of the TPC.
• Loan Amount – The loan amount shall depend on project needs and amount of equity participation of the borrower:
  • For Individual Loan Borrowers (single proprietorship)
    • Minimum – Php 100,000.00
    • Maximum – Php 2,000,000.00
  • Group Loan Borrowers (partnerships, corporations, cooperatives)
    • Minimum- Php 100,000.00
    • Maximum – Php 5,000,000.00
• Interest Rate: 7.5% per annum for the entire duration of the loan
• Loan Repayment:
  • Short-Term- max of one (1) year;
  • Term Loan: based on cash flow but not to exceed 7 years, inclusive of maximum of 2 years grace period
• Loan Security/Collateral
  • Object of financing
  • Mortgage able project assets (machines or equipment) and other assets of the borrower

Who are qualified?

• An OFW who is a certified OWWA Member, active or non-active, and has completed the Enhanced Entrepreneurial Development Training (EEDT).
• OFWs who are abroad or are about to leave the Philippines may be represented by the following:
  • If the OFW is single, widow or widower; or separated-in-fact, by:
    • Parents who are not more than sixty (60) years old upon maturity of load; or
    • Children who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of loan availment.
  • If the OFW is married, by the legal spouse.
    • OFWs who are currently employed overseas shall execute a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) duly authenticated by the appropriate Philippine Embassy / Consulate. OFWs who are about to leave the Philippines may execute a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) prior to their departure from the Philippines. The Attorney-in-fact shall transact with LBP or DBP on behalf of the borrowing OFW by virtue of the SPA.
• If the OFW or his / her Attorney-in-fact is more than 60 years old upon loan maturity, a co-maker of the loan shall be required. The co-maker may be the sibling or the children (of legal age) of the borrowing OFW with the capacity to pay and whose age should not be more than 60 years old upon loan maturity.
• OFW returnees may avail of the loan program within three (3) years from the date of arrival to the Philippines, except in cases where the OFW-applicant has an on-going business prior to the time of application.
• Only one (1) OFW per family, within the first degree of consanguinity or affinity (parent, spouse, child) shall be eligible to apply under the program.
• Group of OFWs who formed themselves into a business entity, either as partnerships/stockholders /directors/officers /members are OFWs who have been certified as OWWA Members and have completed the EEDT

How to avail the service?

• Visit the OWWA Regional Welfare Office that covers the permanent address of the OFW and undergo orientation/eligibility screening and processing/necessary training
• Secure the required OWWA certification for submission to LANDBANK
• Visit the LANDBANK Lending Center/Lending Unit nearest to your place of residence or business for more information and evaluation of project proposal.

Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong – PUSO)

The DOLE-OWWA Tulong-PUSO Program is a one-time livelihood financial grant that supports the proposed business plan for both start-up and expansion of the OFW Groups, duly recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and  the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Program shall be made available to the following:

• Livelihood Start-up – formation and start of business undertaking.
• Livelihood Expansion – enhancement of existing business undertakings, to grow into viable and sustainable enterprise.
• Livelihood Restoration – enabling the re-establishment of lost or damaged business enterprise.

It shall support the following categories:

This program aims to guide and focus on the livelihood endeavors towards viable, sustainable and with immediate income-generation potential projects.

Who are qualified?

Eligible beneficiaries are OFW groups duly registered with DOLE, CDA, and SEC.

The OFW group must have at least eighty percent (80%) of its members considered as OWWA members and/or their families. The remaining twenty percent (20%) may compromise of undocumented/irregular OFWs and/or their families. Those who have been previously awarded Tulong Puso grants pursuant to Memorandum of Instruction No. 006, series of 2018 otherwise known as the Guidelines and Procedures in the Implementation of the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-Unlad ng Samahang – OFWs (Tulong Puso) shall no longer be qualified to avail of this program.

Listed below are the preferred livelihood projects, but not limited to:

• Product or services with viability and marketability (e.g processing of food and other consumer products)
• Environment-friendly; preferably ‘green” products (e.g production of herbal food and drugs, organic fertilizer and  other agricultural-based products)
• Usage of local/indigenous resources/materials (e.g handicraft, specialty and souvenir items)
• Supports generation of local employment (farming, bamboo propagation, livestock, aquaculture, and manufacturing)
• Franchise (food, wellness, medical, health and sanitary related business)
• Online selling and delivery service
• Industries identified as key employment generators (i.e. agribusiness, information technology, health and wellness, wholesale and retail trade, tourism, etc.)
• DTI priority products (i.e. food processing, cacao, coffee, coco coir, wearable and home styles)

What are the requirements?

• Accomplished Application Form
• A copy of their registration certificate issued by DOLE, CDA, or SEC
• OFW Group Profile and Members’ Profile indicating at least 80% thereof are OWWA members and/or their families
• Audited Financial Statements certified by the Association/Group Treasurer and Auditor, when applicable
• A certification signed by the OFW Group President indicating the names of duly authorized representatives to deal with the concerned RWO in the entire program phases (maximum of three)
• Affidavit or Undertaking by the OFW Group How to Manage and Grow the Business
• Business Proposal and Feasibility Study with proof of equity of at least 20% comprising of available and/or existing capital assests, bank accounts/statements, and other similar proof.

How to avail the service?

1. Start of application via Online Appointment System (appointment.owwa.gov.ph)
2. Pre-Orientation and Pre-Social Preparation through webinar
3. Evaluation and review of submitted documents
4. Assessment of the Business Proposal
5. Committee Review
6. Release of the Grant
7. Monitoring and Evaluation