Business Ideas: Want to go home for good? Check out DMW’s Reintegration Program

 

DMW ASec Francis Ron De Guzman explains Reintegration Plan Roadmap 

By Leo A. Deocadiz

Inaul, a fabric native to Maguindanao, is now one of the country’s emerging exports as its production has increased to meet buyers’ need for bigger quantities, with the help of former OFWs who have gone home for good and joined a cooperative that makes it.

In Aklan, a group of former OFWs are producing barong and export-quality products such as placemats made of nito fabrics which they now sell abroad.

These are just some of the ex-OFWs who have found new livelihoods under the Reintegration Program of the Department of Migrant Workers, according to Francis Ron de Guzman, DMW assistant secretary for reintegration services.

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The program includes financial literacy  and business development training. “When you finish the two-day training, and you have chosen what you want to finance, we will give you P10,000 to start with.  It’s a small amount but it’s a big help,” he said.

De Guzman, who spoke in an orientation for a group of OFWs recently at the City University of Hong Kong, said the Maguindanao OFWs got into their new trade after being introduced by the DMW Region 12 office to a cooperative whose members have woven inaul for decades.

The OFWs were given training and became members of the cooperative. Now, with government help and bigger production, the inaul weavers have found buyers abroad.

“In Aklan, the PESO (Public Employment Service Office) introduced us to makers of barong and products made of nito fiber, who were beneficiaries of DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and DOST (Department of Science and Technology) export engagement program,” he said. “So we helped ex-OFWs there to train in producing those products and join the export enterprise as suppliers.”

Ex-OFWs show their checks to serve as starting capital after completing their training

De Guzman said DMW’s reintegration program has evolved over the last decade to become a part of OFWs' life even before they leave for abroad.

It starts in the pre-departure orientation seminar that OFWs are required to take online before they leave; it now includes financial literacy, which shows them how to manage their finances so they can  save for their return home.

Various government offices are also cooperating with DMW to offer programs for returning OFWs.

“In Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, we are piloting programs with the Department of Agriculture on backyard gardening, to provide access to all DA services to improve the quality of their land to make even a small plot of land more productive.”

A joint project with the Department of Tourism in Nueva Ecija is Kulinaria, which aims to introduce OFWs to the food business by training them in cooking, basic food handling and safety, and then giving them a small capital to start a home canteen business.

One of the graduates cooked a really delicious laing (gabi leaves cooked in coconut milk) and would always bring food to sell in the DMW office. “We realized she already had a small canteen. So what we did was to get her as caterer for events in the office. We then urged her to register with the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) so she can bid as a supplier to other government agencies.”

He said catering for government functions is big business.

“For example, in one big event at DMW, the catering can cost about P400,000 to P500,000.  If you can meet that demand, then you would have an edge over commercial caterers simply because you are an OFW catering at a DMW event,” he added.

Beginning next year, he said, reintegration programs that target OFWs’ families will be implemented through local government units in all provinces in the country, with the help of the Department of Interior and Local Government. He said DMW and DILG signed a memorandum of agreement for the project last June.

He said his group refers to DOST those who need to improve their products. “If you are an OFW with a product, reach out to us," he advised. “We will network you with DOST which will provide you with an entire menu of free training, product and packaging design. They will even will help you print your initial packaging for your product.”