Many Filipinos try their hand in working abroad, in hopes of finding a good job that would make their lives better so that their families can live more comfortably. Sadly, not everyone who goes abroad finds greener pastures. Many end up in deeper debt and with more problems than what they had started with.
Thanks to the many livelihood programs of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are able to come back home and own a business to support their families.
Mr. Florentino Bahan, Jr. of Brgy. Poblacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur, is among the recipients of OWWA’s “Balik-Pinas, Balik-Hanapbuhay Program” (BPBH). Bahan’s overseas employment did not prove to be fruitful; thus, he went back home and applied for the BPBH program.
Photo credit: Pinoy OFW
In a talk with Agusan del Sur Family Welfare Officer Ronilo Maningo and OWWA Caraga’s Programs and Services Division OIC Ma. Ireen C. Cambaling, the former OFW signified his proposal to go into vegetable trading as this would be the perfect complement to his existing ‘sari-sari’ store.
Later on, however, Bahan realized that this would be very difficult to pursue because of the transportation problems to their locality plus the minimal supply of vegetables in the area. But with the help of OWWA’s livelihood program personally delivered by Maningo and Cambaling, Bahan’s dream finally came true.
Bahan was in awe of how the OWWA officials had personally delivered the starter kit to his sari-sari store, despite the distance of their home from the city. Through the livelihood program by OWWA, this former OFW was able to open a vegetable stall beside his sari-sari store – and there’s ample supply for him to sell in the coming weeks.
As his business grows, it is expected that Bahan would be able to bring more vegetables to his neighborhood. This is all thanks to the help he received from the BPBH program.
