Business proposals of about fifteen organized groups of COVID19-affected Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are currently being assessed after submitting their business proposal for the Tulong Puso financial assistance under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Guesting in the One Davao Virtual Presser, OWWA XI Officer-in-Charge Carmelo Elaya bared that the business proposals of these OFW organizations are being deliberated, fine-tuned, and re-modeled to suit the requirements in order to be granted with a Tulong Puso grant.
“Naa na kitay duha hangtud tulo nga na-aprubar na, ang uban niini about to be approved pa,” Elaya said.
Tulong PUSO or Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs is a livelihood support program for OFWs whose jobs are may have been lost or they may have been displaced or repatriated due to the pandemic.
This program is only for groups who have a business livelihood project in the Philippines.
Micro-size groups with 11 to 15 members may be granted with P250,000 while groups with 31 members and up may be granted as much as P1 million.
Elaya bared that the types of business proposed include bakery, frozen tuna products, glassware, and even softdrink production.
“We advise those who want to avail of this assistance to first organize themselves. At least 80 percent of the members should be registered by OWWA while 20 percent may be undocumented OFWs,” he added.
The OWWA provides online or face-to-face orientation to organizations which are interested to avail. Those who wish to apply online must visit tulongpuso.owwa.gov.ph.
The OWWA official, however, clarified that in areas with no access to the internet may still avail by informing the nearest OWWA office about their intent. OWWA personnel will visit the area to conduct on-site orientation.
It is also important for would-be applicants to register first their business since a business registration certificate is part of the requirements.
Also included in the set of requirements is for applicants to secure 20 percent of the equity depending on the amount of the grant to be given. This means that applicants will come up with 20 percent of the total project cost.
However, this equity requirement does not have to be cash; it can be in the form of equipment or lot property.
After the submission of requirements to the OWWA, evaluators from the same office will assess the business plan where they will check the submitted requirements.
The business plan will be reviewed by the Regional Review Committee composed of representatives from the Department of Agriculture for agribusiness projects, DTI, Model OFW Family of the Year winner, chief of the program, and chief of the administrative finance. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)
