If you plan to retire from working abroad due to distress, emergency, or having been displaced, you can apply for financial assistance from OWWA.
OWWA’s Php20,000 Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay program is a grant that doesn’t need to be repaid.
It is a monetary aid for Overseas Filipino Workers, including Seafarers, who want to start a new livelihood after retirement.
That being said, you must have a business plan or proposal to qualify for financial assistance and follow all the required documents, training, and inspections.
Requirements
Here is the list of documentary requirements you must complete and send to OWWA or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
1. Application Form
- OWWA gives two sets of these that must be filled out. Your application form includes the following details.
- Livelihood Project – You must choose which type of trade or business you want to undertake or have already built. Examples are hog raising, rice retailing, sari-sari store, poultry, bakeshop, transport services, etc.
- Salaysay or Essay – with your name, age, and the background of your work, you must write how or why you were distressed. Preferably written in Filipino.
- Sketch – A hand-drawn illustration of where your business is located based on easy-to-spot landmarks.
- Date of Submission – The date on when you’re going to submit your application form.
2. Notarized Undertaking
Two copies. You can have them free in the nearest Public Assistance Office (PAO).
3. Site-Inspection Forms
Also, two copies. This form contains the list of the following:
- Supplier: Where you acquired your supplies for the proposed livelihood.
- Clients: Names of your most likely buyers or customers.
- Competitors: Businesses near your address who have the same trade as you.
4. 2 x 2 I.D. Picture
Two copies. It can also be passport-sized.
5. Original and Photocopy of your Passport
Two copies each for the parts that should be copied are the following:
- 1st Page: Where your name and other important details are located in your passport.
- Departure Date: The date of your latest departure from the country.
- Arrival Date: The red stamp that indicates your latest arrival date in the country.
For sea-based workers (Seafarers), you must submit two photocopies of the latest departure and arrival dates in your seaman’s book.
For lost passport holders, you can provide the latest travel documents and plane tickets.
6. Brgy Certification/ Clearance
This is for your proof of address. Bring the original and its photocopy.
7. OWWA Referral or Termination Letter (if any)
If you don’t have it, proceed to number 8.
8. Your latest Contract of Employment
Two copies.
9. Picture of your Business
Take a picture of your existing business or the exact location of where your business will be built.
Print two copies of the picture on bond paper.
10. Business Permit
If you already have a business, you must also provide two copies of your Business Permit.
Submission
These forms can be obtained at your nearest OWWA Office. You can take them home, fill them out, and submit them back after completing all these requirements.
Attend the DTI Business Plan Seminar
After the local OWWA Office reviews your requirements and deems them worthy, they will set you up for a Simplified Business Plan Seminar from OWWA together with other applicants.
In that seminar, you will be taught the proper business mindset and how to be proactive.
Additionally, you will learn the fundamental business concepts and the structure of your business plan.
Site Visit
A few weeks or days after the seminar, some of the OWWA personnel will visit your business site.
They will inform you about this in a call but won’t normally give a set date. You will be interviewed, and they will see your business site and take pictures of it, and that’s it.
In my case, the site visit only lasts less than 10 minutes as they will also visit other sites in your batch (of applicants).
Claiming the Check
After weeks of waiting, I finally received a call and got my cash grant from OWWA.
Depending on your contribution, you could receive an amount ranging from Php 5,000 to Php 20,000.
You must claim this in their office via check and encash it in LandBank.
Essay Sample
Essay writing is one crucial part of being approved for the cash grant from OWWA.
Thus, you must write a convincing paper about the horrors and trauma you experienced abroad.
Here is an example for seafarers:
Ako si Tonyo Masipa, 47 taong gulang, at isang seaman na huling nakaalis sa bansa noong Enero 11, 2023 at huling nakababa noong May 25, 2023. Siyam na buwan ang aking kontrata ngunit nagpursige akong makauwi sa kadahilanang ilalahad ko dito.
Ako po ay nakasakay sa barkong MV Lucky One. Kung natatandaan nyo po ang balita, yan po ang barkong natamaan ng misile nung bumyahe kami ng Black Sea, sa kasagsagan ng giyera sa Ukraine.
Tatlo sa aking mga kasamahan ang agad na nasawi sa pagsabog. Nasa kabina ako nung tinamaan ang aming barko at nawasak ang aming akomodasyon. Hindi namin malaman kung ano ang gagawin lalo na nung isa pa ulit na missile ang tumama sa barko namin.
Simula noon, nagdesisyon akong umuwi nalang at tuluyan nang hind magbarko.
This is just a fictional example. You can also write about how your superiors maltreated you, how you were overworked and not paid, how little your food was, how you almost died at work due to safety issues, and many other issues.
The OWWA personnel will review them and decide if the essay is good enough for submission.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much is the cash grant?
OWWA’s cash grant ranges from Php 5,000 to Php 20,000, depending on your contribution and their evaluation of your documents and other requirements.
Should I repay it?
No, there is no need to repay the financial assistance since it is a grant, not a loan. The money is a form of government help to help you build a livelihood since you lost your job abroad.
How should I use the money?
You must use it to expand your business by buying stocks, paying for labor, and incurring other expenses necessary to jumpstart or sustain it.
How long would the process take?
It took around two and a half months from the time I visited OWWA to inquire about this up to the release of the financial assistance.
I retired two years ago. Can I still claim the cash grant?
Seafarers and OFWs who retired less than three years after their last arrival can still avail themselves of financial assistance. Those who are more than three years on their retirement can no longer avail of it.
I retired, but not because of distress. Can I avail of this?
OWWA’s Php 20,000 Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay program is exclusive for OFWs and Seafarers who retired due to distress, displacement, or emergency.
What if I avail of this and decide to work abroad again?
You can still go back to work abroad even after claiming this but you won’t be able to claim it a second time since this is only given once.
This is just one of OWWA’s Financial Programs for Seafarers and OFWs. There are more if you need help from them.
May the winds be in your favor.
A family man, he loves writing, reading, investing, and watching the golden hours while sailing.
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