When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, people all over the world lost their lives, jobs, and livelihoods. Everyone is affected, especially Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who need to deal with homesickness and fear of not being able to provide for their family back home. For this reason, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched a program called TULONG PUSO for OFWs.
Tulong PUSO or Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs Program is project that will help OFWs who wanted to stay in the Philippines and build their own business. This program focuses on groups of OFWs or organizations and encourages them to venture into businesses. Tulong PUSO is a financial grant, not a loan program, and applicants can get as much as one million cash advances.
Requirements
The OWWA sets lists of qualifications and requirements for this program. The program will also provide sets of training that will guarantee the business’s success. The assistance of this program can be in the form of cash, tools and jigs, equipment, raw materials, and other services that will help business owners start. The Tulong PUSO is available for:
- Livelihood Start-up – Creating and starting of business agreement
- Livelihood Expansion – Improvement of existing business agreements and help it to grow into a feasible business
- Livelihood Restoration – Allowing the re-establishment of lost or damaged business enterprise
Benefits
The OWWA Tulong PUSO is a loan program so OFWs don’t have to worry about paying it back. It is a financial grant that helps Filipinos build their dream business to provide for their families. The Tulong PUSO provides as much as one (1) million to OFW Groups with training to make sure that the business will be successful. OWWA also set conditions for the livelihood grant.
Tranches of Cash Grant
- Livelihood Start-up and Restoration
- First Tranche – 20% of the grant
- Second Tranche – 50% of the grant (OFW group must submit business registration documents)
- Third Tranche – 30% of the grant (OFW group must submit business physical set-up and documentation)
- Livelihood Expansion
- First Tranche – 40% of the grant
- Second Tranche – 60% of the grant (OFW group must submit proof of business physical set-up and documentation)
Group categories and cash grant
The OWWA sets group categories based on the number of their members and how much financial grant is allowed to their group. Make sure that your business proposal will also fit the amount that the OWWA allocated to each group.
- Micro-sized OFW Groups (5-10 members) – maximum of Php 150,000 grant
- Small-sized OFW Groups (11-20 members) – maximum of Php 250,000 grant
- Medium-sized OFW groups (21-30 members) – maximum of 500,000 grant
- Large-sized OFW Groups (31 and up members) – maximum of Php 1,000,000 grant
Qualifications
Before you become a beneficiary of Tulong PUSO, you must meet the qualifications set by DOLE and OWWA. To be eligible, you must be:
- Distressed OFW who wants to stay in the Philippines for good.
- Belong to a group or organization. At least five (5) members of the group must be registered under DOLE, CDA, and SEC.
- 80% of group members must be active or inactive members of OWWA and 20% can be a family member or undocumented OFW,
- Well-informed of the proposal that the organization will propose.
- Not a recipient of the Tulong PUSO before
Livelihood Projects
The OWWA listed all the livelihood projects they preferred but this list must not discourage you if your business is not part of it. The OWWA will still process and evaluate your proposal even if it is not on the list.
- Product or services with viability and marketability – Processing food and other consumer product
- Environment-Friendly (“green” products) – herbal food and drugs, organic fertilizer, agricultural-based products
- Usage of local/indigenous resources/materials – handicrafts, specialty, souvenirs
- Support generation of local employment – farming, bamboo propagation, livestock, aquaculture, and manufacturing
- Franchise – food, wellness, medical health, and sanitary-related business
- Online selling and delivery service
- Industries identified as key employment generators – agribusiness, information technology, health and wellness, wholesale and retail trade, tourism, etc.
- DTI priority products – food processing, cacao, coffee, coco coir, wearable, and home styles
Requirements
Just like any other programs and services of OWWA, they require all applicants to provide documents to process their applications. Read the list of requirements below and gather them before applying for the Tulong PUSO program.
- Application form. You can download the form or go to their website: https://owwa.gov.ph/?page_id=4253 and fill out the form there.
- Registration Certificate issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- OFW Group Profile and Member’s Profile. 80% of members must be OWWA members.
- Audited Financial Statement certified by the Association/Group treasurer and auditor
- OFW Group Business Permit
- Beneficiary Prole
- Business proposal and Feasibility Study. Must have at least 20& equity and total project cost.
- Entrepreneurial Development Certificate (For formation or start-up livelihood project)
- Applicant’s proof of membership to an OFW organization by the Regional Welfare Office (RWO).
- Certificate signed by the OFW Froup President appointing a maximum of three (3) representatives/liaison officers to deal with the entire program.
- A sworn affidavit by the OFW Group about managing and growing a business.
Application Process
Once you secure all the documentary requirements, you are now ready to apply for the program. Here’s a simple step-by-step process to guide you in your application.
Step 1: Due to the volume of people applying for this program, it is highly recommended to book an appointment before going to the OWWA office. You can book your appointment online by going to their website: https://appointment.owwa.gov.ph/. Choose your local OWWA Regional Welfare Office or the OWWA main office.
Step 2: On the day of your appointment, submit all the documentary requirements we listed above.
Step 3: The OFW group members must attend a Pre-Orientation and Pre-Social Preparation through a webinar.
Step 4: The OWWA personnel will assess and verify your proposal and other documents. They will also conduct inspections on-site and with the members.
Step 5: The Regional Review Committee will review the assessment and inspections done by the OWWA personnel and evaluate them.
Step 6: If the Regional Review Committee approves the proposal, the OFW group will receive the financial grant.
Step 7: Expect regular monitoring and evaluation of the business by OWWA. This is done to ensure the success of the business.
The OFW group must have at least five (5) members before applying and 80% of members must be OWWA members, too. To increase the chances of approval, make sure that you did a feasible study on the business that you propose.
The financial grant will be released under the name of the OFW group or their representative. If the group needed an additional fund source for their business, OWWA may allow them but they need to present additional documents that prove what the fund is for and why they needed it. The OWWA personnel and Regional Review Committee will decide if they will approve it or not.
Video: OWWA Region 1 Testimonials: OWWA Tulong PUSO Program
This video is proof that the Tulong PUSO Program is indeed helping OFWs get back on their feet. This program will help the OFWs dream of owning a business and giving the life that their families deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t want to be part of a group or organization but I want to apply for the Tulong PUSO program. Is that possible?
The Tuloung PUSO program is intended to help OFW groups or organizations that want to build or restore a business. An individual OFW is not eligible to apply to this program.
Can I still join the Tulong PUSO program even if I am not an OWWA member?
OFWs can still be part of the Tulong PUSO program as long as 80% of the members of the group or organization they belong to are OWWA members. The other 20% of members can be undocumented OFWs or family members of an OFW.
Does OWWA Tulong PUSO require collateral from their applicants?
No. OWWA Tulong PUSO Program is a financial grant NOT a loan program. There is no need for applicants to pay it back and no collateral is needed to apply.
Who can apply for the Tulong PUSO Program?
Distressed OFWs who want to stay in the Philippines for good and members of an OFW group or organization are eligible to apply for the Tulong PUSO Program.
Summary
Working far from home can be very difficult. Aside from homesickness, there are other things that an OFW needs to worry about such as cultural differences and racism. The OWWA Tulong PUSO Program was created to encourage OFWs to apply their entrepreneurial skills and knowledge in building a business in the Philippines. This program will also help OFWs in providing the needs of their families and be with them. And so, OWWA is encouraging OFWs to take advantage of this program and build their own business.