While there are OFWs who are happy and satisfied with their jobs abroad, there are also those less-fortunate ones who eventually come back home due to unfortunate events like those who were maltreated by their employers, victims of illegal recruitment, or those who were displaced because of wars and economic difficulties in the country where they chose to work.
For these OFWs and their families, it’s very hard to cope with these challenges and to start over.
Good thing the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) extends help to returning OFWs by providing programs that could help them financially and give them an opportunity to earn a living without having to work abroad again.
One of OWWA’s programs is the Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Livelihood Program.
What is “Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay!” Livelihood Program
The Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Livelihood Program or BPBH is a package of livelihood assistance that is provided by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to returning OFWs who qualified for this program.
This livelihood program consists of cash assistance amounting to ₱20,000, including Entrepreneurship Development Training to help the returning OFW start his own business ventures in the Philippines.
Who can apply and avail of this BPBH Livelihood Program
OFWs and OWWA members who meet the following qualifications may apply for the “Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay!” Livelihood Program:
- OFWs who were displaced by hostilities or wars/political conflicts, policy reforms or changes by host governments
- OFWs who were victims of illegal recruitment or human trafficking or other distressful situations;
- Distressed wards at the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Resource Centers who are due for repatriation; and
- OWWA members who were employed by foreign employers which are beset with financial difficulties due to economic conditions such as the construction and maintenance companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This is program is not for OFWs who have finished or completed their contracts abroad. This program is specifically for those who did not finish their contracts due to the events mentioned above.
What are the Requirements and How to Apply for this Program?
Qualified OFWs and OWWA members who want to apply for the Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Livelihood Program can get the additional details and documentary requirements through the following options:
- Apply at any OWWA Regional Office nearest your residence
- Log on to OWWA website at www.owwa.gov.ph
- Contact OWWA at (02) 891-7601 to 24, local 5217
- Contact OWWA OPCEN at (02) 833-6992 or call/text 09175908654 or 0917-8986992
- Email owwa_opcenter247@yahoo.com
IMPORTANT: Qualified OFWs must apply for this program WITHIN one year upon your return to the Philippines.
Why does OWWA provide entrepreneurial development trainings?
Remember this quote?
Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.
This is similar to what OWWA’s intention with their “Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay!” Livelihood Program. They don’t just want to give a one-time cash assistance to the returning OFW because as most of us know, money can easily disappear.
One day, you have money, the next day, you have nothing. Without you knowing, your money is gone.
Aside from the cash assistance that OWWA provides to OFWs who qualify for the BPBH program, they also want to teach them how to handle their money and sustain their business that’s why they conduct trainings in Financial Literacy, Basic Accounting and Business Plan Making.
Have you ever wondered why most Lotto Jackpot Winners lose their money quickly?
It’s because they got the big fish (huge amount of money) instantly, but they didn’t know how to fish or how to earn and handle that money the hard way and the right way.
They just spend it here and there only to find out they’ve exhausted all their money and they have nothing left in their pockets. Some of them even end up selling the properties they have acquired which is a sad thing.
OWWA hopes that with the Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Livelihood Program, OFWs can start their business and learn to be self-reliant by maximizing the cash assistance and trainings they’ve learned from the program to grow and sustain their business so that they would not have to go abroad to work as an OFW.
Furthermore, the OWWA conducts a series of monitoring activities to the program beneficiaries to ensure continuous development of their chosen enterprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the Eligible Projects or Businesses for OFWs?
- Franchising Projects
- Contract Tie-up with Top 1,000 corporations
- Agri and Non-Agri Production or Manufacturing
- Construction or Rental Business
- Service or Trading Business
- Transport Service
The most common businesses the program beneficiaries choose are sari-sari store, babuyan, manukan, and salons.
Q: Is the ₱20,000 cash assistance that OWWA provides a LOAN that I need to pay?
No. This is not a loan, but an assistance to help you start your own business. If you are planning to put up a business that requires a bigger amount of money, you may avail of Overseas Filipino Workers – Enterprise Development and Loan Program (OFW-EDLP), which offers a minimum loan amount of ₱100,000 to a maximum of ₱2,000,000 for Individual Loan Borrowers.
Q: What programs are available for OFWs who have finished their contracts?
Reintegration Program OWWA’s program that offers livelihood opportunities to OFWs who have finished contracts and have no wish to go back to work abroad.
This is also offered to distressed OFWs by way of self-employment or livelihood project as a means of income-generation for the family even after their overseas employment.
Q: What are the other programs that OWWA offer for OFWs?
- Social Benefits
- Education and Training Assistance
- Workers Welfare Assistance Program
- Social Services and Family Welfare Services
Visit the OWWA website to see the complete details of these programs.
Watch ABS-CBN News’ Failon Ngayon: Balik Pinas, Balik Hanap buhay
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thanks for sharing Good news ito para sa aming mga OFW.
you’re welcome 🙂
Hello po ..
Ako po ay nag trabaho sa Saudi Arabia. Ndi ko PO natapos Ang contact ko..
Feb 9 2018 po NG dumating po ak sa pinas..
Feb 12 po NG pumunta ako sa owwa pero PO umuwi po kagad ako sa kadahilanang sumama po Ang aking pakiramdam..
Hangang now po ay ndi ako nakaka balik..
Paano PO kaya yon pwd pa PO ba ako pumunta sa office..
Thx po sa sasagot..
Paano po makakaavail ng livelihood program? Nagpunta po ako sa OWWA at nagtanong, wala na raw po livelihood program.
Aqoh po ntapos qoh po contrata qoh dhil nagtiis lng aqoh khit di nasunod tamang sahod qoh ngaun balak qoh na po di umalis at mkasama nlng family qoh mkaka avail po ba aqoh ng balik pinas hanapbuhay na yan thanks
Hi po kelan po ulit ang seminar ng BPBH this 2018
Tanong ko lang po kc nag start ako ng application ko ng august tapos po na c.i ako ng sept 06, pero hanggang ngaun po 3 mos na di parin po ako na rereleasan ng cheke, sabi po kc ng kakilala ko na nakakuha 2mos lang daw po ang pinakamatagal na process nila. Salamat
Ano po ang requirements s pag apply ng ofw Balik pinas balik hanapbuhay livelihoood program?
paano po mag apply ng balik pinas program nag abroad po ako ng 2007 unfnished contract po tapos umalis po ako uli ng 2008 i month nlng po ng magkaproblema kami ng boss ko pinauwi po ako gusto ko nlng po ituloy ang bussiness na inumpisahan ko pero kulng po ako sa puhunan sana po maka maka tanggap kami ng tulong mula sa inyo para po mag stay nlng kami ng pinas for good salamat po
Panu naman po yung mga ex ofw na lagpas 1 taon na dito sa pinas? Late ko na po kasi napag alaman ang. BALIK PINAS BALIK HANAP BUHAY??
Bakit po wala p evaluation ko since Nov 27 2018 balik pinas ko sobra tagal n..they told me only 45 days lng
Mag Palo app lng po ako ng balik pinas ko nung Sep hanggang ngayon wala pa knit isang txt
sir \mam pauwi na po ako ng pinas nagbawas ng workers ang aming kompanya dahil humina po at isa ako sa nabawas gusto ko sanang mag avail ng balik pinas balik hanapbuhay
Good ma’am/sir
I am Merlanda Agno Garcia former ex abroad in singapore i come back home last june 23 2018 because of accident and something problem bitween me and my employer thanks i need you help to avale that 20k for and my family to start new bussines even just small only
Ex ofw po ako di po ako nakatapos ng kontrata bumalik po ako ng pinas noong May 25,2016 sa dahilang nagkasakit po ako trigger finger due to over worked Meron po akong hawak na medical records from Malaysia hanggang Ngayon po iniinda ko parin po ang sakit na nakuha ko sa sobrang pagtatrabho ko sa Malaysia makaka avail pa po ba ako ng medical assistance from Owwa
try nyo po
Good day po…paanu po mag apply SA balik manggagawa,balik pinas program…kauuwi kolng po nitong nov.18…for good na po..pero diko ntpos contact ko…slamt po..godbless
Hello p0, isa din p0 akong ofw,n nagnanais n mgkrun ng puhunan. Pra dto nlang mghanap – buhay. Sna p0 mtulungan din ni to ako. Mraming slamat p0.
How to avail of 20.000.livelihood program for ofw
How to avail of 20.000.livelihood program for ofw
Paano mag avail ng 20k