DOLE, stakeholders ink MOU to alleviate poverty, help OFW-moms

By Vinson F. Concepcion

Thursday 14th of June 2012

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, June 14 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and various stakeholders inked an agreement to alleviate poverty by helping Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)-mothers start a small business.

DOLE’s National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), Federation of Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Managers of the Philippines (PESOPhil), and Micro Ventures Foundation (MVF), inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) as one of the major highlights in the recently concluded 114th Philippine Independence Day held at the historic Barasoin Church in Malolos City, Bulacan.

With this year’s theme, “Pananagutan sa Bayan, Tuwid na Daan,” DOLE was one with the nation in providing its various social programs and services to further improve the living condition of every Filipino.

“This MOU was forged on Independence Day as a partnership arrangement between concerned stakeholders wherein the DOLE-NRCO beneficiaries of the Balik Pinay, Balik Hanap Buhay Program for returning OFWs could avail of the PESOPhil-MVF’s Kayang Kaya Kumita sa Hapinoy (KKK) training program, more particularly, its Sari-Sari Store Program, with the objectives of providing a community of support through organized business networks of sari-sari stores and other micro enterprise, and have sustainable businesses, increase their self-esteem, and attain for them a higher level of happiness,” said DOLE regional director Raymundo G. Agravante.

Acting Labor secretary Lourdes M. Trasmonte, DOLE-3 regional director Raymundo G. Agravante, DOLE-NRCO director Vivian F. Tornea, PESOPHil president Elizabeth Alonzo, MVF president Paulo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, IV, led the forging of the MOU.

Barangay Training and Employment Coordinators (BTECs) of Bulacan and the entrepreneur-mom beneficiaries from the different cities and municipalities of Bulacan, who are initial beneficiaries of the program, witnessed and supported the ceremonial signing of the MOU.

Trasmonte, in an interview by local media, expressed high enthusiasm for the said program, which is intended to benefit returning OFW mom to venture into small and micro businesses upon finishing their tour of duty abroad.

“We already have started our cooperation among stakeholders to be able to benefit our target OFW-mother beneficiaries by capacitating those who are just about to start their businesses and those who already have existing businesses,” said Trasmonte.

Meanwhile, Director Tornea of the DOLE-NRCO said that in Central Luzon, 200 OFW-mother beneficiaries are targeted to benefit from the program.

“The convergence of the PESOPhil-MVF’s Hapinoy Program and DOLE-NRCO’s Balik Pinay, Balik Pinoy Program is an effort to strengthen the capacity building of our target beneficiaries in order to ensure that they will be successful in their respective businesses,” said Tornea.

The DOLE-NRCO, PESOPhil, and the MVF will be working on a plan of action, which will define the exact initiatives to be undertaken along with their respective outcomes, which shall be reviewed and renewed on regular intervals. (CLJD/VFC-PIA3 with reports from Jerry Borja-DOLE3)