By Mary Jane R. Amarado
ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 31 - - The Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA) has released P140,000 worth of checks to 14 OFW
returnees as recipients of the P10,000 Livelihood Assistance on July 25, 2012 at the OWWA 9 office.
The Livelihood Assistance is intended to finance various livelihood projects that will
generate community employment and source of income for the beneficiaries and aims
to enhance the entrepreneurial and technical/production skills of distressed
and displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Jennifer Romera, a former OFW was one of the 14 OFWs who sought the assistance of OWWA so that she could buy a pedicab to start her mini-transportation business.
Meriam Midel, also a former OFW and a
resident of Pagadian City asked the help of OWWA to assist her in her small “puto-cheese”,
basket and rags business, as she finds it difficult to find another job abroad.
Regional Director Hassan Gabra Jumdain
said that since the implementation of OWWA & NRCO Livelihood Assistance,
countless OFW groups and individuals have been given the opportunity to venture
into small-scale but viable businesses and provide them with alternate
livelihood in their respective areas.
"These business enterprises have not only directly benefited the recipients, but also their families and their communities", Jumdain said.
The beneficiaries are OFW returnees who
were repatriated due to some causes, some were terminated from their work due
to unforeseen events while others finished their work contract abroad and
decided to stay in the Philippines.(Mary
Jane R. Amarado/OWWA9/PIA9/alt)