In Cebu, DOLE-NRCO’s P500-K Business Competition Stirs Interest Among Seafarers

The National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment, has elicited enthusiastic response from seafarers in Cebu City with its enterprise competition, From Seafarers to Entrepreneurs: 2015 NRCO-ISP Business Plan Competition, which offers a grand prize of P500,000 to the winner.

“We generated a lot of interest in the contest and many more are inquiring about the mechanics so they could join,” said NRCO Executive Director Chona Mantilla who reported that the promotional forum and information drive the NRCO has conducted in Cebu for the contest had gathered many competition enthusiasts.

One of those who attended was Joe-An Rey E. Mati-Ong, 29, single, and a seafarer from Sinayawan, Valencia City, Bukidnon.

“This is a big encouragement for us, seafarers, who have plans to venture into business someday,” said Joe-An Rey, who took time to participate in the event while doing errands for his seafarer review in Cebu City.

“I have always been a farmer at heart even if I am a seafarer and it is my plan to try my luck in rice farming. I will join the contest,” he said.

An ordinary seaman for five years, Joe-An Rey stated that his vision is not only to get promoted, but also to become a successful businessman. “I don’t see myself being a seafarer, being away from my family forever,” he added.

Joe-An Rey is just one of the 240 or so like-minded seafarers, students, DOLE-NRCO’s social partners, and seafarer families who attended the event and expressed interest in NRCO business plan competition in partnership with the Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines, Incorporated (ISP).

The business plan competition, according to Mantilla, is an NRCO tool it sees useful to raise awareness, build capacity, and reach out to the public on the DOLE’s National Reintegration Program for OFWs.

“The business competition, bearing the theme, Harnessing Seafarers’ Capacities for Enterprise Development, aims to encourage and hand-hold seafarers intending to venture into social entrepreneurship and at the same time support the growth of jobs in their hometowns,” Mantilla said.

Mantilla further explained that the NRCO will provide assistance to seafarers and their families intending to setup their own businesses. “We will help them develop their business plans and ideas and turn them into business solutions to real social problems in their hometown or community,” she stated.

On his part, DOLE Regional Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga said he liked the business competition because seafarers could be social entrepreneurs, and they could invest using their talents, skills, and knowledge gained from working overseas.

According to Mantilla, the business competition will not end in the selection of the winners. “We will continue our assistance by providing the winners – and even non-winners – access to finance and other services required to put their business plans into practice; but also create database of business plans for future policy and research purposes,” she said.

Labor Attache Jalilo O. dela Torre, who is spearheading the conduct of the business competition, said it is open to all returning seafarers and seafarer-returnees interested to venture into entrepreneurship. “Participants may join the competition either solo, in pairs, or by groups of three members, the minimum,” she said.

The competition, he emphasized, is open only to agribusiness start-ups as business plan idea. Seafarers who wish to join the competition, but are unable to attend presentation and coordination activities related to the competition, including attendance to screening, mentoring/coaching activities, are advised to have at least one official representative who will handle the tasks and activities.

The top 10 shortlisted entries will be announced on November 2015 and the deadline of accepting entries will be on 30 September 2015. “A cash prize of P500,000, courtesy of ISP, grand cash prize will be awarded to The 2015 NRCO-ISP Business Plan of the Year on 4 December 2015,” he said.

“This is not only a national, but also a world-wide competition, since all qualified and interested seafarers all over the globe are encouraged to join,” said Atty. Dela Torre.

For more information on this report, you may contact Luchel S. Taniza- Regional Labor Communication Officer at telefax number (032) 266-2792 or you may send an email at dole_centralvisayas@yahoo.com

Source: www.dole.gov.ph