KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- A group of former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their beneficiaries received financial assistance from the government as start-up capital for their livelihood project.

Barangay Cacub OFW Association received a P150,000 livelihood grant from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to start their rice retail business.

OWWA 12 Regional Director Marilou Sumalinog said the one-time grant is under the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-Unlad ng Samahang OFWs (TULONG PUSO) Program of OWWA.

Sumalinog noted that TULONG PUSO aims to provide assistance for the formation, enhancement or restoration of livelihood undertakings of OFW organizations in the form of raw materials, equipment, tools and jigs, and other support services.

OWWA, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture also provides training and social preparation intervention to ensure the success of the chosen enterprise of the OFWs.

According to Sumalinog. they continue to organize OFWs into groups to strengthen their knowledge and enable them to be active instruments of development, not only for OFWs themselves, but also for their respective communities.

Also, two distressed OFWs from Brgy. Concepcion and Brgy. Carpenter Hill each received P20,000 from OWWA under the Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay Program (BPBH).

The awarding of the livelihood grant was witnessed by Koronadal City Mayor Eliordo Ogena.

Ogena advised the recipients to use the cash aid wisely to improve their income and uplift their livelihood. (PIA XII)