How to Apply Balik Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay! for Female OFWs
In 2011, the Balik Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program was established to support female overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have returned to the Philippines in starting their own businesses and avoiding the need to go back to other countries to earn a living. This initiative is one of the various programs and services offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to assist OFWs in reintegrating into society and achieving financial stability for themselves and their families. The program provides training, investment opportunities, savings programs, and entrepreneurship initiatives.How to Apply Balik Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay! for Female OFWs
The Balik Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program encompasses livelihood skills training and offers designated starter kits to its participants. Women who have returned from working overseas are eligible to benefit from the program. Priority is given to those who have been displaced by conflicts or hostilities in their host countries, as well as victims of illegal recruitment, trafficking, or other distressing situations.
Qualified applicants are required to submit their requests to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office that corresponds to the location where they plan to establish their future business. Once the beneficiaries have completed the necessary training, they receive a business enterprise start-up kit tailored to their chosen field. All recipients of the Balik Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program must undergo skills training in their preferred area of business to ensure they are well-prepared to start their own small enterprise.
It’s important to note that the Balik Pinay! Program is distinct from the Balik Pinas! Program. For further information on how to apply for the OWWA Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program, please refer to the relevant resources.
Overview
The Balik Pinay Balik Hanapbuhay Program was expanded in 2013 through Administrative Order 333 to include women Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Resource Centers (MWOFRC) in Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs). Within just four years, the program has successfully reached over 4,000 beneficiaries. Many of these OFWs have utilized the program to start their own businesses or apply their newly acquired skills to find employment opportunities within the Philippines.
This program not only offers knowledge and training to support ex-OFWs in starting their own businesses, but it also provides Starting Kits to alleviate the concerns of new Filipina business owners.
The training for women under this program focuses on various sectors, including (a) agri-industry, (b) food processing, (c) retail trade, (d) home industry, and/or (e) other viable enterprises that will be identified through consultations with stakeholders.
Benefits
All eligible beneficiaries will be given P10,000 worth of:
- P7,500 (Starter Kit Cost)
- P2,500 (Training Cost)
Qualifications
This initiative aims to assist overseas Filipino women (OFW) who have been forcibly displaced as a result of conflicts and tensions in their host nation. The program specifically targets OFW women who have experienced abuse, illegal recruitment, trafficking, premature termination, or exploitation at the hands of their employers. Furthermore, it caters to distressed OFW women who are currently under the care of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Resource Center (MWOFRC).
Requirements
- Arrival Stamp (Last arrival date in the Philippines)
- Passport’s picture page copy
- Accomplished National Reintegration Center of OFWs (NRCO) Form
- Basic Business Plan
How to Process Balik Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay Application
Step 1: Gather and organize all the required documents, ensuring that you have everything mentioned above. Missing documents will result in the non-assessment of your application by OWWA, DOLE, and NRCO. It’s important to have all the necessary documents.
Step 2: The Philippines Labor Office (POLO) will assist you in preparing for your reintegration into the Philippines.
Step 3: POLO will provide training and preparation specific to your chosen livelihood project.
Step 4: As an applicant, you will undergo “Basic Entrepreneurship” training and engage in business planning. After completing the training, you will receive a certificate.
Please note that this process requires you to visit the DOLE, NRCO, or OWWA Office. All these government agencies are involved in the program. Visit one of these branches to inquire about the proper submission of your requirements.
Step 5: Wait for their response. The application process may take some time, so you need to be patient. They will inform you through a phone call about the acceptance or rejection of your application. Each agency involved in the program has its own internal process for reviewing applications, which can take several days.
Step 6: POLO will assign a suitable livelihood course for you. You will undergo the training and then be endorsed to the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO).
Step 7: NRCO will handle the funding for your Livelihood Starter Kits. They will also endorse you to either the OWWA Regional Welfare Office or the DOLE Regional Office.
Step 8: Finally, the OWWA Regional Welfare Office will deliver your Starter Kit to your doorstep.
Please note that the above steps have been paraphrased for clarity and should be cross-checked with the original source for complete and accurate information.
Balik Pinay! Program
! I can provide a summary of the video feature from the National Reintegration Center for OFWs about the Balik Pinay! livelihood assistance project. The video highlights the story of a Filipina who utilized the financial support from the project to establish her own small business, allowing her to generate income while in the Philippines.
The Balik Pinay! livelihood assistance project aims to provide support to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have returned to the Philippines by offering them financial aid to start their own businesses. The video showcases a specific Filipina who benefitted from this initiative and successfully utilized the funds to start her entrepreneurial venture.
Through the assistance received, the Filipina was able to establish a small business of her own. This enabled her to continue earning a livelihood while staying in the Philippines, rather than seeking employment abroad. The video likely highlights the positive impact of the project on her life, demonstrating how it empowered her to become self-sufficient and financially independent.
By featuring success stories like this, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs aims to inspire and encourage other Filipinos to pursue entrepreneurship and utilize the available resources to achieve economic stability. The Balik Pinay! livelihood assistance project serves as a valuable support system for OFWs seeking to establish sustainable businesses in their home country.
Please note that without the actual video, this summary is based on the information provided.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions and answers you may have about this project:
1. Can OFW men avail the Balik Pinay! program?
No, this is only intended for Filipina OFWs. There is a program called Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay livelihood project that both men and women can apply.
2. I’m a distressed Pinay OFW, and I already received my benefits from Balik Pinay Balik Hanapbuhay Program. Can I still avail the Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay Program?
you cannot participate in both programs because they have almost identical qualifications, with the only difference being that Balik Pinay is exclusively for women. Therefore, you can only apply for one of these programs.
3. Can I still avail and apply for this program even if I’m already in the Philippines?
Yes, you may try inquiring at the nearest OWWA or DOLE Regional Office near you to know the requirements and check if your length of stay in the Philippines is still covered by the said program.
Summary
Many Filipino women choose to travel abroad to work and support their families. Despite facing unfair and dangerous working conditions, they persevere and work harder in a foreign land, all for the sake of a brighter future for their loved ones.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Nearly 500,000 OFWs were displaced, and an additional 1.1 million have been unable to resume or begin working abroad since January 2020.
A significant reason why Pinay OFWs leave the country to work overseas is that their husbands’ income alone cannot support the expenses of their families, or they may be single mothers. For those Pinay OFWs who are experiencing abuse, mistreatment, or underpayment, it is important not to hesitate in reaching out to the appropriate authorities and raising your concerns.
Returning to the Philippines safely is possible, and the government offers various programs to assist OFWs. Although the benefits may not be substantial, you can still utilize them to establish your own business or find new job opportunities in the Philippines.
However, it is strongly recommended to consider starting your own business with the provided benefits. Who knows? That small Sari-Sari store you start could eventually grow into a mini grocery, and the homemade bread and pastries you sell might transform into a thriving bakery.
Here’s a word of advice: if you receive a small capital and generate a modest profit, avoid spending it on unnecessary material possessions. Instead, reinvest your earnings to expand your capital and increase your overall income.
Remember, with determination and wise financial choices, you have the potential to achieve greater success and provide a better future for yourself and your family.
