NATIONAL REINTEGRATION CENTER
for OFWs (NRCO)
REINTEGRATION PROGRAM for OFWs
by Atty. TERESITA R. MANZALA
Deputy Administrator-Designate on OWWA Reintegration Services
7th National PESO Congress
17 October 2007, Iloilo City
I. Historical Background of Reintegration Programs
II. OFW Statistics
1. Distribution of OFWs by Region
2. Distribution of OFWs by Countries of
Destination
3. Distribution of Organized OFW Family Circles
(OFCs) by Region
4. Distribution of NLSF Availees by Region
5. Distribution of Grocerias by Region
6. Distribution of CGMA Projects by Region
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
III. The National Reintegration Center for OFWs
1. Functions
2. Organizational Chart (up to the regions)
3. Programs
III-1 Result of the Consultative Workshop with
OFW Family Circles in 5 Regions (NCR, Region
IV-A, Region VI, Region VII and Region X)
III-2 Result of the Stakeholders’ Workshop
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
III-3 Program/Functional Relationship between
OWWA, POEA, BLE, BRW and NRCO
IV. Program Priorities
1. National Reintegration Caravans
2. Training cum Production Scheme
3. DTI’s One-Town One-Product Program
and DBP Special Lending Program
4. Phil-Forest Program (Lupang Hinirang)
V. Review of the PESO Act of 1999
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
VI. Proposed PESO Interventions in OFW Reintegration
Programs
1. OFW Help Desks (For training by OWWA/NRCO)
2. Assistance in Building Database of Returning OFWs
3. Assistance to OWWA Family Welfare Officers in the
Organization of OFCs
4. Assistance to OWWA Focal Persons in Project ID for
OFCs under the Training cum Production Scheme
5. Assistance to OWWA Focal Persons in Building of
Database and Networking with Regional
Stakeholders and Cooperating Partners
I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF
REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS
THE OWWA REINTEGRATION
PROGRAM
Year
Program/Project/Activities
1983
Organization of Family Circles as support system
to mitigate the social costs of migration to OFW
Families and later towards OFWs’ reintegration
1984
Provision of Livelihood and Enterprise Counseling
for returning OFWs and their families in
organizing and financing their small businesses.
Technical information on selected Small Business
Ventures were also provided to the OFWs and
their families.
1986
SEED Program, an Inter-agency program spear-
THE OWWA REINTEGRATION
PROGRAM
Year
Program/Project/Activities
headed by DOLE and OWWA to encourage OFWs
to become entrepreneurs and create Local
Employment opportunities at the community
level.
19861989
The Center for Family Assistance and Services
(CFAS), a unit at OWWA was set up for the
effective delivery of OWWA programs and
services.
1988
CFAS was reorganized into the Reintegration
Program Department (RPD).
THE OWWA REINTEGRATION
PROGRAM
Year
Program/Project/Activities
1989
The Re-Entry Program for Returning OFWs
through Entrepreneurship Mediation (REPROEM)
was established providing returning OFWs
business planning and financial assistance of
P15T per availee from NLSF.
The Integrated RE-entry Program for OCWs
(IRPO) was conceptualized with two
components: Social preparation and economic
component.
The Expanded Livelihood Development Program
(ELDP) through the IRPO was distinguished as a
flagship program with national reach and modest
funding facility.
1990
1991
THE OWWA REINTEGRATION
PROGRAM
Year
Program/Project/Activities
1994
The KABUHAYAN 2000: Sa Pagbabalik ng Pinoy
was launched. It was a network of projects and
services from various government agencies
under the coordination of DOLE. The ten
participating agencies are: DFA, DTI, CDA, DBP,
ISSP, Duty Free Philippines, LBP, Livecor, PNB,
and TLRC.
1996
ELDP was reinforced by Easy Pondong Pang
Asenso-OCW (EPPA-OCW) financial assistance
through LBP.
THE OWWA REINTEGRATION
PROGRAM
Year
Program/Project/Activities
1998
The Replacement and Monitoring Center (RPMC)
was set up to facilitate the concerns of returning
migrant workers in response to Republic Act
8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas
Filipinos Act.
2000
The Livelihood Development Program for OFWs
(LDPO) was launched. It is a repackaged
program to revitalize the ELDP.
THE OWWA REINTEGRATION
PROGRAM
Year
2002
Program/Project/Activities
The 1st ever National Consultation of OFWs and
their families was held at St. Theresa’s College
compound with the theme: “Manggagawa sa
Ibayong Dagat: Kabalikat Tungo sa Pagbabago”
This formalized OWWA’s realization of the need
for a comprehensive approach to the problem of
reintegration
The First National Conference on OFW
Reintegration was held at the City Garden
Suites, Manila.
THE COMPREHENSIVE OFWs
REINTEGRATION PROGRAM (CORP)
An offshoot of the 1st National Conference on OFW
Reintegration in 2002
The program aims to achieve:
1. the integration of the OFWs back into the family and
community. It considers the psychological and emotional
readiness of the OFW to face life back home.
2. the personal, social, and economic success of migrants
and their families.
3. the reintegration of migrants contributes to the overall
social and economic development of the local communities
and the country.
THE OWWA REINTEGRATION
PROGRAM
Year
Program/Project/Activities
2003
A joint NLSF-OWWA LDPO was launched.
2007
The KABAYANIHAN 2003 was launched
worldwide. Its main objective is to disseminate
information on the government programs for
OFWs including the Reintegration Program.
DOLE issued Department Order No. 79-07
establishing the National Reintegration Center
for OFWs (NRCO).
II. OFW STATISTICS
DISTRIBUTION OF OFWs by REGION
Source : POEA, 2006
MAJOR COUNTRIES OF
DESTINATION OF OFWs
SAUDI ARABIA
1,001,330
26%
UNITED STATES
128,440
3.4%
N = 3,802,345
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
291,363
8%
HONGKONG
121,644
3.1%
KUWAIT
133,361
4%
JAPAN
103,555
2.7%
Source : CFO
DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIZED
FAMILY CIRCLES BY REGION
Source : OWWA, 2006
DISTRIBUTION OF GROCERIA
AVAILEES BY REGION
Source : OWWA, 2006
DISTRIBUTION OF NLSF
AVAILEES BY REGION
AR MM
C AR AG A
R O X II
R O XI
RO X
R O IX
R O VIII
R O VII
R O VI
RO V
R O IV
R O III
R O II
RO I
C AR
NC R
74
3
68
196
54
8
34
62
16
13
1
Source : OWWA, 2006
75
117
0
50
100
150
200
250
AR MM
C AR A
R O X II
R O XI
RO X
R O IX
R O VIII
R O VII
R O VI
RO V
R O IVB
R O IVA
R O III
R O II
RO I
C AR
NC R
2
20
37
17
26
7
20
38
40
54
14
98
90
16
23
6
22
0
20
Source : CGMA, 2007
40
60
80
100
120
III. THE NATIONAL REINTEGRATION
CENTER FOR OFWs (NRCO)
MANDATE OF NRCO
Republic Act 8042
Executive Order 446 dated 12 July 2005
Department Order 79-07 issued on 16
February 2006
FUNCTIONS
One-Stop Center of DOLE’s reintegration services
for OFWs and their Families
Service Networking Hub that will coordinate
and facilitate the delivery of services by
cooperating stakeholders/service providers to
address the needs of OFWs and their families
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
NRCO IMPLEMENTING UNITS
• Personal Reintegration
• Community Reintegration
• Economic Reintegration
PERSONAL REINTEGRATION UNIT
Assistance through local or
overseas job search
Technical assistance for selfemployment or entrepreneurship
Access to credit/micro-finance
Counseling on business or savings
mobilization schemes
Psycho-social counseling
COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION UNIT
Encourages OFWs to share or
contribute their skills and
investible funds through the
development of SMEs and high
impact community projects
ECONOMIC REINTEGRATION UNIT
Networks with financial
institutions and other entities to
develop investment portfolios
that will encourage higher
earnings for OFWs
Taps service providers to
develop competitive remittance
schemes for OFWs
R
EINTEGRATION
NEEDS OF
OFWS AND THEIR
FAMILIES
Result of consultations among families of OFWs
BACKGROUND
• Consultations with OFW Family Circles
in:
– NCR
– Region I
– Region IV-A
– Region 6
– Region 7
– Region 10
BACKGROUND
? Factors that influence resolve to return and
seek reintegration
? Expected reintegration assistance
? Assistance needed by OFW families
? Use of savings and investible assets
? Decision-making on remittance savings and
investments
? Information source on reintegration
options
R
ESULTS
REINTEGRATION NEEDS
AWARENESSRAISING
OFW & FAMILY
VALUES
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
FOR OFWs
SUPPORT FOR
LIVELIHOOD &
SME DEV’T.
SAVINGS,
REMITTANCE &
INVESTMENT
SCHEMES
S
TAKEHOLDERS‘ RESPONSES
to the REINTEGRATIVE NEEDS of
OFWS & their FAMILIES
NRCO’s FIRST STAKEHOLDERS’ WORKSHOP
17 August 2007
4/F Blas F. Ople Development Center for OFWs
Intramuros, Manila
STAKEHOLDERS
BUSINESS
COMMUNITY
REMITTANCE
AGENCIES
NGOs
OFCs
MASS MEDIA
LGUs
BANKS
GOVERNMENT
PESOs
TRAINING
INSTITUTIONS
OFW
ACADEME
HEALTH & WELFARE
AGENCIES
ON AWARENESS–RAISING
ON REINTEGRATION
Conduct of an OFW Reintegration Caravan with
the participation of other stakeholders/service
providers
Designation of Regional Focal Persons on OFW
Reintegration
Conduct of Regional Capability-Training Seminars
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT
SYSTEM FOR LIVELIHOOD AND SME
DEVELOPMENT
Provision of livelihood and skills training programs
Business mentoring and assistance for prospective
OFW entrepreneurs
Values formation training for families of OFWs to
encourage them to save and engage in the
productive use of migrant remittances
Financing through OWWA NLSF/Groceria
ON ENCOURAGING SAVINGS,
REMITTANCE & INVESTMENTS
Development of mandatory savings schemes from
remittances
Development by banks of diverse investment
portfolios for OFWs that will encourage savings
and investments e.g. UITF, stocks
Provision of higher interest rates for time and
savings deposits of OFWs
ON THE PROMOTION OF
OFW & FAMILY VALUES
Development of modules on values that would
address concerns about over-dependence on
remittances, extreme materialism, and lack of
family cohesion
Training of trainors/focal persons and
implementation in selected regions/LGU level
Intensify the organization of OFCs as partners
ON THE PROMOTION OF
OFW & FAMILY VALUES
Capability building for OFCs on OFW and Family
Values
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT
SYSTEMS FOR OFWs & THEIR FAMILIES
Empower OFW Family Circles by encouraging
participation with the LGUs
Assignment of OFC Representatives in LGU
helpdesks
Creation of a special assistance window for
returning OFWs and distressed OFWs
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT
SYSTEMS FOR OFWs & THEIR FAMILIES
Enhancement of the PDOS Module
Networking with LGUs to promote employment
and re-deployment of returning OFWs at the local
level
To come up with an inventory of agencies , NGOs,
and educational institutions that may provide
legal and paralegal services for OFWs and their
families
PROGRAM / FUNCTIONAL
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OWWA,
POEA, BLE, BRW
and NRCO
NRCO-OWWA FUNCTIONAL
RELATIONSHIP
All existing programs and services of OWWA and
NRCO will proceed as is
Authority over a particular program/service lies on
the respective owner of the program/service
OWWA Regional Directors shall serve as focal
persons on OFW Reintegration pursuant to A.O. 276,
issued on 24 August 2007
IV. PROGRAM PRIORITIES
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
National Reintegration Caravans
Training cum Production Scheme
DTI’s One-Town One-Product Program
and DBP Special Lending Program
Phil-Forest Program (Lupang Hinirang)
ONE-TOWN ONE-PRODUCT
PHILIPPINES (OTOP)
OTOP PROGRAM
A project of DTI promoting a specific
product or service of which a particular
Philippine town or municipality has a
competitive advantage
Seeks to support MSMEs to manufacture,
offer, and market distinctive products or
services through the use of indigenous
raw materials and local skills or talents
ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER OTOP
Business counseling
Skills and entrepreneurial training
Product design and development
Marketing
SUPPORT NETWORK
LGUs identify specific products or
service and make available all forms
of assistance
DTI provides the necessary support along
with NGAs (DOT, TESDA, DOST, NLSF,
etc.), LGUs (League of Cities/
Municipalities/Governors), and private
sector (Philippine Center for
Entrepreneurship, Philippine Business for
Social Progress, etc.)
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE
PHILIPPINES’
CREDIT FACILITY FOR
OTOP ENTERPRISES
NATURE OF THE PROGRAM
Aims to empower MSMEs by providing
easy access to credit and technical
assistance
With funding allocation of P2 billion
Eligible borrowers are:
LGUs, OFWs, and MSMEs with existing or
start-up OTOP projects
NATURE OF THE PROGRAM
For land-based OFWs, priority shall be
given to those endorsed by the NRCO
LOAN FEATURES
Loan Amount
Term of Payment
Interest Rate
Collateral
Up to 90% of project cost,
depending on borrowing
capacity
Not to exceed ten (10) years
for capital expenditures
8% to 10% per annum; fixed
for 3 years
Any or combination of:
• REM/Chattel Mortgage
• Hold-out on Deposit
• Assignment of receivables,
etc.
PHIL-FOREST PROGRAM
FOR OFWs
PHIL-FOREST CORP.
A GOCC with a mandate to provide competent
management to the government’s countryside
development program
A subsidiary of the Natural Resources Development
Corporation of DENR tasked to undertake agroreforestation projects
Governed by a Board of Directors chaired by the
DENR Secretary
PROPOSAL
To derive economic productivity out of idle lands by
auctioning 375,091 hectares of deforested lands to
Filipino investors, including OFWs through the
Lupang Hinirang Program
All Filipinos abroad, whether residing or working,
are eligible to apply for the program
Applicants may be individuals or families,
registered groups of individuals (associations,
cooperatives, etc.) or companies
V. REVIEW OF
PESO ACT OF 1999 (RA 8759)
PESO ACT of 1999
Functions of the PESO
Section 5 (g)
Provide reintegration assistance services to
returning Filipino migrant workers
Department Order No. 07
Series of 2000
Implementing Rules and Regulations
of
the PESO Act of 1999
Rule III (Functions and Services)
e.
In coordination with the DOLE-RCC, the
PESO shall provide reintegration services
to returning OFWs. It shall:
Provide a mechanism for the reintegration of
OFWs ;
Determine or obtain information on returning
OFWs and provide periodic information on job
opportunities;
Rule III (Functions and Services)
Undertake other appropriate programs to
promote the welfare of OFWs and assist in
gathering or tapping the skills and potentials
of the returning OFWs ; and
Undertake re-integration programs and
projects that maybe developed by DOLE’s
Replacement and Monitoring Center (RPMC);
VI. PROPOSED PESO
INTERVENTIONS IN OFW
REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS
PROPOSED PESO INTERVENTIONS
OFW Help Desks (For training by OWWA/
NRCO)
Assistance in Building Database of Returning
OFWs
Assistance to OWWA Family Welfare Officers
in the Organization of OFCs
Assistance to OWWA Focal Persons in Project
ID for OFCs under the Training cum
Production Scheme
PROPOSED PESO INTERVENTIONS
Assistance to OWWA Focal Persons in
Building of Database and Networking with
Regional Stakeholders and Cooperating
Partners
THANK YOU