IN THE bid to provide opportunities for “balikbayans” in Kabankalan City, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in partnership with the Public Employment Services Office (Peso) has conducted an employment, business and livelihood forum for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) recently.

Dubbed "Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan,” the forum held at the Kabankalan City Function Hall was attended by 44 OFWs in the city.

Councilor Miguel Zayco, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Trade and Industry, urged participating OFWs to actively participate and get involved in the different recovery programs of the government.

For her part, City Peso Officer Elma Bachita said the city government actually has programs for returning OFWs.

This included the “Balikabankalan,” a program exclusively for city residents that aims to provide P20,000 livelihood assistance to returning OFWs.

These OFWs were sent home because of maltreatment of their employers and victims of illegal recruitment, Bachita said.

Another program is the Welfare Case Instake, which provides assistance to OFWs with distress cases.

During the forum, DTI Trade and Industry Analyst Mia Ojero conducted a seminar on entrepreneurship, business planning and the different requirements of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) to avail the grants.

Victor Alamon, representative of the DTI in Kabankalan City, said the forum is one of the programs of Mayor Pedro Zayco Jr. to address the need of returning OFW residents.

The forum is in coordination with Owwa, Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, he added.