OWWA provides up to Php1 million business capital to OFW families

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has given business funding to the family members of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in this nation in an effort to improve the lives of OFWs who are employed abroad.

The government would provide funding up to P1 million to OFW family members under the OWWA’s “Tulong PUSO” Program to be used for business investments so they are not only dependent on the remittances of their loved ones.

What is Tulong – PUSO?

Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs

The DOLE-OWWA Tulong-PUSO Program is a one-time livelihood financial grant that supports the proposed business plan for both start-up and expansion of the OFW Groups, duly recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and  the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Program shall be made available to the following:

• Livelihood Start-up – formation and start of business undertaking.
• Livelihood Expansion – enhancement of existing business undertakings, to grow into viable and sustainable enterprise.
• Livelihood Restoration – enabling the re-establishment of lost or damaged business enterprise.

It shall support the following categories:

Category	No. of Members	Maximum Grant
Micro-sized OFW groups	5 to 10 members	may avail up to maximum of Php 150,000.00 grant
Small-sized OFW groups	11 to 15 members	may avail up to maximum of Php 250,000.00 grant
Medium-sized OFW groups	16 to 30 members	may avail up to maximum of Php 500,000.00 grant
Large-sized OFW groups	31 or more members	may avail up to maximum of Php 1,000,000.00 grant

This program aims to guide and focus on the livelihood endeavors towards viable, sustainable and with immediate income-generation potential projects.

Who are qualified?

Eligible beneficiaries are OFW groups duly registered with DOLE, CDA, and SEC.

The OFW group must have at least eighty percent (80%) of its members considered as OWWA members and/or their families. The remaining twenty percent (20%) may compromise of undocumented/irregular OFWs and/or their families. Those who have been previously awarded Tulong Puso grants pursuant to Memorandum of Instruction No. 006, series of 2018 otherwise known as the Guidelines and Procedures in the Implementation of the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-Unlad ng Samahang – OFWs (Tulong Puso) shall no longer be qualified to avail of this program.

Listed below are the preferred livelihood projects, but not limited to:

• Product or services with viability and marketability (e.g processing of food and other consumer products)
• Environment-friendly; preferably ‘green” products (e.g production of herbal food and drugs, organic fertilizer and  other agricultural-based products)
• Usage of local/indigenous resources/materials (e.g handicraft, specialty and souvenir items)
• Supports generation of local employment (farming, bamboo propagation, livestock, aquaculture, and manufacturing)
• Franchise (food, wellness, medical, health and sanitary related business)
• Online selling and delivery service
• Industries identified as key employment generators (i.e. agribusiness, information technology, health and wellness, wholesale and retail trade, tourism, etc.)
• DTI priority products (i.e. food processing, cacao, coffee, coco coir, wearable and home styles)

What are the requirements?

• Accomplished Application Form
• A copy of their registration certificate issued by DOLE, CDA, or SEC
• OFW Group Profile and Members’ Profile indicating at least 80% thereof are OWWA members and/or their families
• Audited Financial Statements certified by the Association/Group Treasurer and Auditor, when applicable
• A certification signed by the OFW Group President indicating the names of duly authorized representatives to deal with the concerned RWO in the entire program phases (maximum of three)
• Affidavit or Undertaking by the OFW Group How to Manage and Grow the Business
• Business Proposal and Feasibility Study with proof of equity of at least 20% comprising of available and/or existing capital assests, bank accounts/statements, and other similar proof.

How to avail the service?

1. Start of application via Online Appointment System (appointment.owwa.gov.ph)
2. Pre-Orientation and Pre-Social Preparation through webinar
3. Evaluation and review of submitted documents
4. Assessment of the Business Proposal
5. Committee Review
6. Release of the Grant
7. Monitoring and Evaluation

Tulong – Puso Application Form: https://tulongpuso.owwa.gov.ph/