CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) MIMAROPA continues to strengthen its iFWD PH or Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines Program, which aims to assist Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in establishing their own technology-based businesses.
The iFWD PH is designed to provide knowledge and support for OFWs who wish to return to the Philippines and start their own enterprises.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas of the Philippine Information Agency, DOST MIMAROPA Regional Director Ma. Josefina Abilay said that the program offers OFWs the opportunity to use their savings to establish businesses instead of staying abroad to work.
“We want them to use the money they have saved to start a business and come home…instead of remaining overseas for work,” Abilay said.
Since its inception in 2022, the program has already helped 21 OFWs, 15 of whom have successfully completed the program.
In partnership with the Entrepinoy Volunteers Foundation, Inc. (EVFI), the initiative has honed critical entrepreneurial skills for participating OFWs.
“These participants gained critical skills in entrepreneurship, business development and technology through a series of webinars on business modeling, finance and marketing,” she explained.
One of the program’s successes is the Farmwell– an agriculture-related project. With increasing demand within the Philippines and growing interest from countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and India, Farmwell showcases how iFWD PH program has effectively supported the creation of technology-driven businesses.
Through this initiative, DOST MIMAROPA hopes to empower more OFWs with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the growth of the technology and business sectors in the country. (JH-OJT/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
