Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are returning home to the Philippines for good may consider jobs and business opportunities in the local travel and tourism industry under the Balik Bayani sa Turismo program, a collaboration between the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW and the Department of Tourism (DOT).
DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac said the partnership program between the DMW and the DOT aims to provide returning OFWs and their families with jobs and business opportunities through free tourism-related skills development and enhancement trainings.
“Walang OFW na ayaw umuwi for good. Everyone has plans for their families and communities. That’s why this partnership with the DOT is a huge help for our OFWs to come home with their families while having a sustainable source of income in the local tourism sector,” Cacdac said.
Under the program, OFWs and their families may avail of free tourism-related trainings in culinary tourism, farm tourism, homestay operations and tour guiding.
OFWs with extensive experience in language skills or in tourism-related activities can also be part of the DOT’s pool of experts, including opportunities as resource persons in various government programs.
The DOT and DMW in cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will also provide scholarship grants for qualified OFWs and their family members who want to become tourism front-liners and service providers or tourism enterprise owners.
Meanwhile, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco noted that OFWs are the best tourism ambassadors of the Philippines because of the competence and expertise they offer to the world, and because of their rich experiences that can help in the promotion of the local tourism industry.
“We are counting on our partnership with the DMW because the returning OFWs are so much valued in the tourism industries because of their experience and expertise,” Secretary Frasco said.
The Balik Bayani sa Turismo program is expected to strengthen the collaboration between the national and local government in the implementation of the full-cycle and comprehensive reintegration programs and services for OFWs and their families while promoting the vibrant local tourism sector of the Philippines.
(Source: Press Release- Department of Migrant Workers)