According to the Secretary of Labor, Rosalinda Baldoz, there are viable business opportunities waiting for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will return to the Philippines and that is in the field of agribusiness. The Secretary advises Filipinos abroad specifically those that are affected by crisis whether economic or political in Europe and Middle East to go home and invest in agribusiness.

Baldoz said, "They could happily join their families in the Philippines if it's no longer tenable for them to work. There are business opportunities that await them upon their return to the country."

The promotion of agribusiness as a profitable option for OFWs is part of an agreement signed by DOLE and the Department of Agriculture (DA) last May.

Under this partnership, the two agencies would unite their programs and services to encourage returning OFWs to invest in agribusiness. In fact, the DA headed by Secretary Proceso Alcala, developed 37 agribusiness modules for OFWs to choose from.

The modules are said to be “ready to roll” because it contains detailed information about setting up an agribusiness such as needed funds, location of business, market, cost, and rate of return on investment.

Baldoz called it an irresistible offer, saying that the OFW can be in agribusiness in no time if they accept the offer, which comes with a complete array of technical services from agriculture experts. The Labor Secretary also said that agribusiness is a priority area under the National Reintegration Program for OFWs.

Full assistance is available for those interested through the government's entrepreneurial assistance fund under the National Reintegration Program for OFWs. This would include training and capability-building, and capital loans ranging from P300,000 to P2 million from the P2 billion Reintegration Loan Fund offered by the Land Bank of the Philippines and guaranteed by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The interest for the loan is only 7.5% per annum and the loan term is 5 years extendible to seven years.

The agribusiness modules are for agri-crops, including livestock production (20 investment opportunities); fishery (4); processed fruits (3); and meat processing (10 investment opportunities).

Baldoz stressed, "What makes this program different is that no less than the Secretary Alcala has pledged to deliver all possible technical assistance to OFW-investors for free. On the part of the DOLE, we are ready with our enterprise development training and other reintegration services, even with start-up capital."

For further inquiries call POEA hotline at 711-11-55 or 722-11-44 or the DOLE hotline at 527-8000 (Ms. Veronica Almazora), or the National Reintegration Center for OFWs hotline at 526-26-33 or 526-23-92.