NRCO, ISP launch 2015 business competition

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. FILE PHOTO

In line with the celebration of Seafarers Family Day, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), in partnership with the Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (ISP), has launched a business plan competition for seafarers and their families on Friday, June 26, 2015, in Malate, Manila.

Dubbed “From Seafarers to Entrepreneurs: The 2015 NRCO-ISP Business Plan Competition (Harnessing Seafarers’ Capacities for Business Enterprises Development)”, the goal of this project is to encourage and hand-hold seafarers intending to venture into social entrepreneurship and at the same time support the growth of jobs in their hometowns.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz commented and project as one innovative reintegration method implemented by the NRCO for returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), specifically the seafarers; adding that the competition will help the OFWs and their family to efficiently harness the remittances as development tools.

“This competition is DOLE’s innovative way of promoting sustainable livelihood and micro-enterprise be harnessing the earnings and savings of overseas Filipinos, especially our seafarers, as one source of capital for economic development. This is one of the thrusts in the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan, and in the 2011-2016 Labor and Employment Plan where the promotion of productive investment and entrepreneurship is highly encouraged among OFWs,” said Baldoz.

She added that the event is one strategic reintegration program of the DOLE to assist OFWs in securing the future of their families by capacitating them in carefully investigating their hard-earned finances.

NRCO Director Chona M. Mantilla and ISP President Capt. Gaudencio “Jess” Morales graced the launching. “The NRCO is honored to announce that we are venturing a pilot project with ISP for seafarers and their families through this competition.” Director Mantilla said.

The Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines is a non-stock and non-profit organization formed and established for the welfare of Filipino seafarers and their families.

“The ISP aims to create avenues where the seafarers’ families can improve their lives while the seafarers are on active duty; and to provide ways for their easier social reintegration after the culmination of their overseas jobs,” said Capt. Morales during the signing of the MOA.

ISP President, Capt. Jess Morales, thanked the NRCO for being its partner for this pilot project. “Sa ngalan po ng Board ng ISP at ISPMC, ako po ay taus-pusong nagpapasalamat sa NRCO sa kanilang paghirang sa ISP na maging ka-partner sa kanilang programang reintegration para sa mga OFW particularly sa mga seafarers. Isang malaking karangalan po ang maging katuwang ninyo sa proyektong ito,” he said.

“The NRCO-ISP partnership is just a beginning of our quests for the better recognition of the Filipino Seafarers,” Capt. Morales added.

The NRCO, on the other hand, is mandated to develop, promote and implement a national agenda on sustainable return and reintegration to address the multi-faceted reintegration needs of returning Overseas Filipino Workers and their families, including the development of their hometowns and/or communities.

“The primary clientele of the NRCO are returning OFWs who are classified as undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers; displaced, distressed and repatriated OFWs; returning OFWs or OFWs who return to the Philippines on a temporary basis with the intention of going back abroad; OFW returnees or OFWs who return to the Philippines with the intention to stay in the country on a permanent basis; and families of returning OFWs,” Mantilla explained.

Over 130 guests attended the launching including DOLE senior officials, Joint manning Group (JMG), and seafarers and their families.

In line with the celebration of Seafarers Family Day, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs in partnership with the Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines has launched a business plan competition for seafarers and their families on Friday, June 26, 2015, in Malate, Manila. CONTRIBUTED IMAGE