The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have signed a memorandum of agreement to combine their resources, expertise, training, and funding to support overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as they shift from working abroad to running profitable, long-term businesses at home. This partnership centers on agriculture and agribusiness as practical paths for reintegration, backed by a 2024 study showing that among returning OFWs who became self-employed, 50.5 percent went into selling or online selling, 22.5 percent ran food-related businesses, and 17 percent engaged in farming, fishing, and poultry. While agriculture enterprises are not the most common choice, the data confirms they remain a key livelihood option for OFWs coming home.
Under the new Balik Agri-OFW Agribusiness and Investment Reintegration Program, current and prospective OFWs interested in agribusiness will get all-around guidance from identifying business opportunities and drafting plans to securing funds and launching operations. They will receive training designed specifically for their chosen venture, plus help polishing business proposals using ready-made agribusiness investment menus from DA—covering areas such as native pig and chicken raising, duck farming, oyster mushroom production and processing, lowland vegetable growing, and other viable agricultural and value-added projects. DA will also help connect participants to financing options including loan programs from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council and eligible OWWA livelihood grants, following existing rules and requirements. Both agencies will spread the word widely through local and international events and direct outreach to OFW communities, especially those planning to come back to the Philippines.
