The San Carlos City government through its Investment Promotion Center/Negosyo Center (SCCPIC/NC) and Public Employment Service Office (PESO) facilitated the conduct of Basic Entrepreneurship Seminar and Business Planning for displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFW) on Friday.

At least 49 OFW returnees were the beneficiaries screened by the PESO earlier.

Ma. Novah Sollesta, Special Operations Officer of SCCPIC/NC, said the activity provided by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is a requirement by the Department of Labor and Employment for OFW returnees (distressed/displaced) who want to avail of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay program – a package of livelihood support in the amount of P20,000 as start-up or additional capital for livelihood project.

Erel Lim, PESO in-charge and Community Training for Employment Coordinator (CTEC), said that beneficiaries saved time and money because DTI-Bacolod came to the city to conduct said seminar instead of the beneficiaries going to Bacolod City.

Sheina Mae Escorial of the city’s Barangay Punao, a distressed OFW from Taiwan, thanked the associating agency and offices for helping them especially that they are now jobless with no other source of income.

She added that if her application for the OWWA cash assistance will be approved she would use the money on her online business of selling various kinds of food, while using the remaining amount as additional capital for her sari-sari store./WDJ