Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) now have a new path to turn their hard-earned resources into sustainable businesses in the Philippines, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) strengthen their partnership through the Balik Agri-OFW Agribusiness and Investment Reintegration Program.
The initiative aims to help OFWs who are returning or preparing to return to the Philippines explore agriculture not only as a livelihood but also as a business and investment opportunity.
Through the program, the two agencies will combine their technical expertise, training programs, enterprise assistance, and financing support to help OFWs move from overseas employment toward productive ventures at home.
The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). It also supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call during his 2026 State of the Nation Address to help returning OFWs rebuild their livelihoods after coming home.
President Marcos stated, “Pag-uwi sa Pilipinas, sila ay ating tutulungan upang makapagsimula muli sa paghahanapbuhay.”
(“Upon returning to the Philippines, we will help them start anew in finding livelihood.”)
To many OFWs, returning home can bring the challenge of finding a stable source of income after years of working abroad. The new program seeks to address this challenge by giving them a clearer path toward establishing enterprises that can provide income while also contributing to the local agricultural economy.
The program recognizes that OFWs bring not only savings from their overseas employment but also experience, skills, and resources that can be invested in productive businesses.
Turning Agriculture Ideas into Real Business Opportunities
The Balik Agri-OFW program is designed to give returning and prospective OFWs practical assistance instead of leaving them to build an agricultural business on their own. It will provide a one-stop support mechanism that covers several important stages of enterprise development.
Among the areas where participants can receive assistance are:
- Identifying suitable agriculture and agribusiness opportunities;
- Preparing and improving business plans;
- Receiving training and technical assistance;
- Accessing possible financing and livelihood support;
- Implementing their selected business ventures; and
- Exploring market opportunities for their products.
The DA will provide agribusiness investment menus that can help participants choose ventures based on their interests, resources, capabilities, and market potential.
These may include native pig production, native chicken production, itik (duck) production, oyster mushroom production and processing, lowland vegetable production, and other agricultural and value-adding enterprises.
Training will also be tailored to the particular venture selected by each participant. This is important because agriculture businesses require different knowledge, production practices, equipment, capital requirements, and market strategies.
Rather than simply encouraging OFWs to enter farming, the program aims to help them understand agriculture as an enterprise that requires planning, skills, investment, and access to markets.
Training and Financing to Help OFWs Get Started
Access to capital is one of the major considerations when starting a business. Recognizing this, the DA will help participating OFWs explore available financing and enterprise support programs.
Among the potential sources of assistance are loan programs of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) and appropriate OWWA livelihood and grant programs. However, access to these programs will remain subject to existing guidelines, qualifications, and eligibility requirements.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the importance of giving OFWs the tools they need to turn their plans into sustainable enterprises.
“Gusto nating ipa-realize sa ating mga minamahal na OFWs na may pera at livelihood opportunities sa agriculture. Through the Balik Agri-OFW Program, we want to provide them with the knowledge, technical assistance, and access to financing they need to turn their ideas into sustainable agribusinesses,” said Tiu Laurel.
(“We want our beloved OFWs to realize that there is money and livelihood opportunity in agriculture”)
The program therefore combines several forms of assistance instead of focusing only on financial support. Training can help participants understand production and business management; technical assistance can guide them in implementing their plans, while financing opportunities can provide possible resources for starting or expanding their ventures.
DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Atty. Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra also stressed that agriculture should be viewed from a business perspective.
“We want our returning OFWs to see agriculture not only as a source of livelihood, but as a viable business and investment opportunity. Through the Balik Agri-OFW Program, we are bringing together the technical assistance, enterprise development support, financing opportunities, and market linkages they need to turn their resources and ideas into sustainable agribusiness ventures,” Guevarra said.
A Wider Role for OFWs in Philippine Agriculture
The program comes as agriculture remains one of the livelihood options pursued by returning OFWs. A 2024 study cited by the DA found that among returning OFWs who became self-employed, 50.5 percent were engaged in selling or online selling; 22.5 percent were involved in food-related businesses, while 17 percent pursued farming, fishing, or poultry.
The figures show that agriculture-related activities may not be the largest category among returning OFW businesses, but they remain an important option for those interested in production and agribusiness.
The DA and OWWA also plan to strengthen information campaigns, so more OFWs can learn about the opportunities available through the program. Promotion will include local and international forums such as Usapang Agribiz, as well as engagements with OFW communities, particularly those preparing for their eventual return to the Philippines.
By bringing information and government assistance closer to OFWs, the agencies hope to encourage more workers to consider business opportunities before they return. Early preparation can allow prospective participants to study possible ventures, evaluate their resources, develop business plans, and understand the support programs available to them.
Ultimately, the partnership aims to help returning OFWs become entrepreneurs, create employment opportunities, and contribute to the development of Philippine agriculture.
It also aims to make the transition home of modern heroes more productive by giving them opportunities to build a source of income in the country.
DOPAY: Supporting OFWs in Managing Their Money
As returning OFWs explore ways to turn their savings and resources into productive ventures, digital financial tools such as DOPAY can complement their financial journey by providing an e-wallet and remittance platform designed to make sending and managing funds more convenient.
For OFWs preparing to invest in agribusiness, responsible financial management including convenient access to funds and careful planning of available resources can be an important part of turning their homecoming into a sustainable new beginning.
DOPAY, as a BSP-licensed e-wallet and crypto wallet, provides a reliable channel for remittances and digital transactions, helping Filipinos navigate the evolving financial ecosystem with confidence.
For our beloved OFWs, DOPAY guarantees peace of mind allowing them to send money from anywhere, including Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai, and beyond, to the Philippines quickly and affordably while enjoying secure and transparent transactions.
And with DOPAY’s Crypto Wallet, users can earn crypto rewards through the Trade & Earn program. Plus, the Refer & Earn program opens new opportunities for Filipinos to boost their income with every successful referral.
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