29/05/2026
๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐
๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง
๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ช๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ธ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ข๐ณโ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ฏ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ญ๐ช๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ (๐๐๐๐๐)
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) - Regional Office XI, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), successfully conducted the Financial Awareness Seminar-Small Business Management Training and Enhanced Livelihood Program for Overseas Filipino Workers Reintegration (ELPOR) on May 28, 2026 at NCCC Buhangin, Davao City. Recognizing that effective livelihood interventions depend not only on financial assistance but also on the beneficiaries' capacity to manage, sustain, and grow their enterprises, this initiative aimed to equip returning OFWs across the Davao Region with the practical knowledge needed to manage and grow their businesses. This approach is at the heart of the ELPOR program, which focuses on guiding OFWs toward sustainable livelihoods and self-employment. To ensure continuous economic self-sufficiency, the program goes beyond mere funding by establishing support mechanisms, specifically empowering beneficiaries through mandatory capacity-building steps, such as skills training and entrepreneurship development, before any livelihood grant is released. By combining this training with strategic partnerships, the initiative maximizes its impact to foster genuine, long-term economic resilience and independence for OFWs and their families.
The program commenced with welcoming the beneficiaries from different parts of Davao Region. During the morning session, DTI emphasized the critical role of financial literacy for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Beneficiaries were guided through financial planning strategies and introduced to various DTI services designed to support both emerging and upscaled businesses. This session culminated with an open forum, addressing specific operational questions and empowering attendees to navigate the complexities of business establishment.
Building on this foundation, the afternoon session led by TESDA focused on the practical mechanics of enterprise management through Basic Bookkeeping. By highlighting the necessity of documenting their operations and finances, TESDA taught the beneficiaries how to effectively separate personal from business finances and record daily transactions. This ensures that beneficiaries are prepared to track their cash flow accurately, identify areas for business growth, and maintain long-term financial health to safeguard their newly established enterprises.
The overall approach of merging capacity-building with capital support resonated with the beneficiaries. Mr. Rosal reflected on the timeliness of the financial assistance, noting its critical importance given the current socio-economic milieu in the Middle East. Building on this sentiment, Ms. Espagco, an established business owner, highlighted how the grant supplements her capital while recognizing the importance of the seminar for clarifying the procurement of essential business documents. Further adding to this, Ms. Sta Rita shared that the assistance will enable her to expand her piso-net business, leaving the event inspired by the discussions on cultivating a unique competitive advantage, which was emphasized as an important factor throughout the seminar.
The event concluded with a message from OIC-Assistant Regional Director - Labor Attachรฉ II, Dr. Marie Rose C. Escalada. She reinforced that the DMW remains a home for OFWs, assuring them that as long as they work hand-in-hand with the department, they will have continuous institutional support to act as a strong support system during their reintegration. The day officially wrapped up with the distribution of the PHP 15,000.00 livelihood assistance to the qualified beneficiaries, marking a step toward sustainable economic self-sufficiency.
