By Andre Gutierrez
For decades, millions of Filipinos have sought livelihoods abroad in search of economic stability.
Now, a quiet shift is taking place: some are coming home, not to retire, but to rebuild, this time through entrepreneurship grounded in science and technology.
Tools to start new enterprises
Through a government-led initiative called iFWD PH (Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines), returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are being equipped with tools to start their own technology-based enterprises.
Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the MIMAROPA region, the programme seeks to transform years of hard-earned remittances into local economic impact.
Launched in 2022, the programme has so far supported 21 OFWs, with 15 completing the full training cycle.
DOST MIMAROPA Regional Director Ma. Josefina Abilay said the initiative offers an alternative path to those who would otherwise spend years working far from home.
“We want them to use the money they have saved to start a business and come home, instead of remaining overseas for work,” she said during a forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency.
In partnership with the Entrepinoy Volunteers Foundation Inc (EVFI), participants undergo online training on business development, financial planning and marketing.
The programme encourages a shift from sending remittances to reinvesting capital in their communities.
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Reframing the OFW narrative
One of its notable outcomes is Farmwell, an agri-enterprise that has begun drawing interest not only locally but also in Vietnam, Cambodia and India.
Its early success highlights how targeted support and applied learning can enable a smoother transition from migrant labourer to entrepreneur.
As the Philippines continues to rely heavily on labour migration, iFWD PH presents a working model for economic reintegration.
It reframes the OFW narrative from one of sacrifice abroad to one of innovation at home: offering returning workers not just a livelihood, but a long-term stake in local development.
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