BACOLOD CITY — A total of 318 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Negros Occidental have attended trainings on entrepreneurship and business planning conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from January to March this year.
The latest batch of 28 participants attended the training on March 8 held at the Negros First Negosyo Center in this city.
DTI-Negros Occidental, headed by provincial director Lea Gonzales, said that through the seminar, they aim to equip the participants with knowledge on generating business ideas and guide them on proper business operation.
“This is also to promote entrepreneurial mindset among Negrenses, especially ‘balikbayans’ and potential micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),” it added.
DTI-Negros Occidental conducts the training every other week to also benefit potential and existing MSMEs in the province.
The Negosyo Center-Bacolod located at DTI-Negros Occidental Office holds the training on a Tuesday while the Negros First Negosyo Center conducts it on a Friday.
The trainings are initiated as part of the DTI’s Entrepreneurship Development Program for OFWs in partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
In September 2016, the DTI-Regional Operations Group and the OWWA established a partnership through a memorandum of understanding on the Enterprise Development and Loan Program.
Through this, the DTI and the OWWA are implementing joint and convergent programs, projects, and services for OFWs and their families who intend to pursue MSMEs in support of the reintegration program.
Under the agreement, the DTI packages priority MSME business models for promotion among prospective OFW-entrepreneurs or investors, and facilitate or assist in the provision of resource persons for OWWA-organized entrepreneurship development trainings and related activities.
The DTI also provides technical assistance to prospective and current OFW-entrepreneurs through the Negosyo Centers and network of mentors or experts both from the government and private sector.