THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa 11) welcomed the P300-million budget allocated by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) for a livelihood program benefiting overseas workers who have returned home.

Dole, spearheaded by Secretary Silvestre Bello III, has allocated earlier a P300 million to support the livelihood of the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) organization through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong Puso) program.

Owwa Davao regional director Petrona Bergado said the program aims to provide OFW organizations for the formation, enhancement and restoration of livelihood projects in the form of raw materials, equipment, tools and other services.

She said that this one-time grant ranges from P250,000 up to P1 million relative to the requirements of the business project and the number of members of the OFW organization applying for the grant. She added that organizations with accreditation from Dole and Securities Exchange Commission (Sec) can submit a proposal.

Owwa administrator Hans Leo Cacdac earlier said the Tulong Puso is one of Dole-Owwa’s mechanisms to encourage OFW organizations to engage into viable and sustainable livelihood undertakings.

The Owwa, along with its partner agencies—Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture (DA), will conduct enterprise development trainings and other social preparation interventions to equip the OFW groups with the right knowledge and skills.

Bergado said the agency is optimistic that the Tulong Puso program will encourage OFW organizations to transcend from being social circles by venturing into productive, enterprising community-based endeavors that are aligned with the priority areas of the government in national and regional economic development and inclusive growth.