THROUGH the efforts of the OFW Party List, Around 250 Overseas Filipino Workers and their family members were equipped with the knowledge on agricultural enterprises and how to handle loans available to them through the “Asenso sa Agraryo: Kaalaman, Kakayahan at Kapital sa Agrikultura para sa OFWs”, a seminar and training held at the OFW Tulong at Serbisyo Center at the Ayala Malls
Manila Bay.
The seminar and training conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) taught the OFW-participants about agriculture and aquaculture, provided them with technical and management know-how, informed them about loan processes, and different business opportunities.
OFW Party List Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino has been working with the Department of Agriculture to identify loan programs suited for OFWs, which will be drawn from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), which has an annual budget of P2.7 billion.
“The best way to help our OFWs venture into agribusiness is to equip them with knowledge and ability. We will teach them how to use the money wisely, where to use it, and how to make sure their savings will not be wasted,” Magsino said.
Magsino explained that during her visits to different host countries where OFWs work, many of the OFWs relayed to her that they long to go home and stay with their families, prompting her to look for a better way for the OFWs to be trained in different enterprises and to use loans wisely.
“They told me they want to go home, put up their own business and stay with their families so they can enjoy and see their children grow up and achieve their dreams. Kaya gusto natin sila matulungan umasenso sa agraryo. Bigyan natin sila ng kaalaman, kakayahan, at kapital na magsimula ng mga negosyo. We have so much potential in our agricultural industry, and we hope our OFWs can maximize these by capacitating them through these trainings, seminars, and available loans,” she said.
Yovel East Agriventure also provided sacks of rice and fertilizers as raffle items to the participants.
