Be Entrepreneurs, Bello Tells OFWs

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III encouraged seafarers and other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) alike to go back to the country and ‘maneuver their own steering wheels’ by venturing into entrepreneurship.

This as the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) and the Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (ISP) concluded the 2019 NRCO-ISP Business Plan Competition – an annual search for the best business proposals among seafarers wherein start-up capital, training, and mentoring await those with successful business plans.

In his message read by Undersecretary Renato Ebarle, Bello assured seafarers that the government, together with the private sector and non-government organizations, is always ready to help OFWs towards productive reintegration.

NRCO OIC-Director Roel Martin announced that a similar business plan competition for land-based OFWs is set to be launched in the first quarter of 2020.

Seafarer Gary Esguerra from Cainta, Rizal was hailed as this year’s winner for his ‘green’ slippers business proposal.

Through his business plan titled ‘Greenfoot: Alternative to Disposable Slippers,’ Esguerra aims to provide a ‘greener’ alternative to disposable slippers which are commonly provided by hotels and resorts by using abaca residue as soles and by incorporating seeds inside the slippers.

With this innovation, he said, the slippers decompose easier compared to the regular disposable slippers.

Esguerra received P500,000 as start-up capital.

Berto’s Pickled Green Chili,’ the business plan of tandem seafarers Helbert Blanco and Andro Marvin Obed from General Santos City was hailed first runner-up and received P100k.

The eight other finalists, who received P50k each, were Armando Sangre from Leyte for his Abaca Pana-on Plantation and Production proposal, Juan Villeza Jr. from Camarines Sur for his Rygel’s Snack House and Pasalubong Center proposal, Jaren Calinao from Samar for his Jacal’s Native Chicken Production proposal, Capt. Rey Bolesca from Daval del Sur for his Dingdong’s Peanut Sauce proposal, Jan Vincent Duo from Davao del Sur for his Charmos Ginamos proposal, Ian and Johanna Villa from Batanes for their Tiwayway’s Café and Resto proposal, Remy Salaya from Iloilo City for his SEED Food Processing and Production proposal, and Al Calimpon from Siquijor for his Allee Chocolate proposal.

The winning entries were chosen by a panel of judges based on the proposal’s innovation and potential to promote jobs and contribute to the community’s socio-economic development.

Also present during the final round and awarding ceremony at Hotel Jen in Pasay City were DOLE Assistant Secretaries Federico Abuan and Mariano Alquiza; Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac; OWWA Deputy Administrator Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson; Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute President Susan Ople; and Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines President Gaudencio Morales.

The competition’s previous winners were William Gaspay, who owns a seaweed farm in Masinloc, Zambales; Ryan Mark Antiquera, who operates a soft broom business in the Bicol region; Capt. Oswald Rollorazo and Jason Javier, who own a ruminant feed production and distribution business in Tarlac; and Dr. Nelson Mejia, who operates Metro Cebu Express, an alternative mode of transportation for Cebuanos.