OWWA, BDO push OFW reintegration drive

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and BDO Unibank are strengthening efforts to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) prepare for life after employment abroad, focusing on financial literacy, skills development, and entrepreneurship as part of long-term reintegration programs.

OFWs continue to leave the country in search of higher-paying jobs overseas, enabling them to support their families’ basic needs, education, and housing. However, officials noted that many returning workers remain uncertain about their future once their contracts end.

The initiative, highlighted during the National Migrant Workers’ Day at the SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia complex, seeks to address this gap by helping OFWs shift from short-term employment to long-term financial stability.

OWWA and BDO Unibank presented the OFW Kabuhayan Expo 2027 as a platform to encourage returning workers to plan beyond overseas employment and explore sustainable livelihood opportunities.

OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan said successful reintegration requires collaboration between government and the private sector, particularly in equipping returning OFWs with new skills or entrepreneurial capabilities.

The bank, for its part, underscored its role in supporting OFWs not only through remittance services but also through broader financial tools designed to help them manage and grow their earnings.

According to Genie Gloria, BDO senior vice president and remittance head, the institution aims to guide OFWs toward long-term financial security.

“The bank also gives these modern-day heroes ‘access to financial tools that help them save, manage their finances, and help them navigate their way toward a secure future when they get home for good,’” Gloria said.

She added that reintegration goes beyond physical return, emphasizing the importance of financial planning, entrepreneurship, and skills upgrading to ensure sustainable income sources for returning workers.

BDO remittance partner Xoom also stressed that properly managed remittances can help fund education, home ownership, and business ventures, supporting OFWs’ transition to stable livelihoods in the Philippines.

The event also featured stories of OFWs who are already preparing for or transitioning into post-overseas careers. Cruise ship waiter Carlo Cascaño shared plans to establish a rice distribution franchise or water refilling business with his wife, while former overseas worker Aldrin Cardehas has shifted to agribusiness after 18 years of working abroad.

Officials said these experiences reflect a broader goal of transforming overseas employment gains into long-term economic opportunities at home.

“Our goal is to help them transform their years of sacrifice into lasting opportunities through savings and long-term financial planning, skills training, and entrepreneurship,” Gloria said.