₱250K–₱1M Tulong Puso Grant up for OFW Groups — OWWA-CAR

“Ang Tulong Puso ay nagbibigay ng one-time grant sa mga organized groups ng OFWs na gustong mag-umpisa o may mga existing na business… minimum of ₱250,000 up to maximum of ₱1 million.”

-OWWA-CAR OIC Lourdes Estocapio

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Organized groups of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) seeking to start or sustain livelihood ventures may receive a one-time grant of ₱250,000 to ₱1 million under the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong Puso) Program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Speaking during the awarding of financial assistance to OFW organizations on September 4 at the New Conference Hall in Bulanao, OWWA-CAR OIC Lourdes Estocapio said the program supports organized OFW groups that want to establish a new business or strengthen an existing enterprise.

“Ang Tulong Puso ay isang programa na nagbibigay ng one-time grant sa mga organized groups ng OFWs na gustong mag-umpisa o may mga existing na business. So ang amount po na puwede nilang ma-receive ay minimum of ₱250,000 up to maximum of ₱1 million,” Estocapio said.

Eight Kalinga OFW groups benefit

Estocapio said eight OFW organizations in Kalinga have benefited from the program, including groups that received assistance in previous years.

For the latest batch, she said five organizations were approved for assistance, although the amount varies depending on the approved project.

“All of them are startup, so iba-iba yung amount, pero ngayon yung huling five ay pare-pareho sila, ₱500,000 po yung approved grant nila,” she said.

The five organizations will collectively receive ₱2.5 million in Tulong Puso assistance.

Grant released in three tranches

Estocapio explained that the grant is released in three tranches. The beneficiaries initially received ₱100,000 each during Migrants Day.

For the second tranche, each organization receives ₱250,000, while the remaining ₱150,000 will be released as the third tranche after the beneficiaries properly liquidate the second tranche.

“So ngayon, yung second tranche na maibibigay sa kanila ay tig-₱250,000, and then kapag na-liquidate nila yun, ibibigay natin or i-release natin yung third tranche, amounting to tig-₱150,000,” she explained.

The assistance is intended to help OFW organizations create livelihood opportunities through new businesses or the expansion and strengthening of existing enterprises.

Applications continue across CAR

Estocapio said the Tulong Puso Program is being implemented across the Cordillera Administrative Region, benefiting OFW organizations in Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Abra and other areas of CAR.

OWWA-CAR continues to process pending applications, which undergo review and evaluation by the regional team before approval.

“Buong CAR naman yung program na ’to, so hindi lang Kalinga ang makaka-receive ng same assistance. So asahan po ninyo, yung mga naka-pending na applications ngayon, hopefully by Family Day or by October or November, ma-release yung kanilang first tranche,” she said.

The program seeks to help OFW groups become more financially sustainable by providing capital for livelihood projects and businesses, giving returning or former OFWs an opportunity to build income-generating ventures within their communities.

The September 4 awarding was attended by OWWA-CAR Regional Director Dina C. Ponciano, OWWA Director IV Nestor Burayeg, OWWO IV Marne Halanes, OWWO III and OIC-PSD Lourdes Estocapio, OWWA-Kalinga Family Welfare Officer Hyacinth Mae D. Lardizabal, and representatives of the beneficiary OFW organizations.