Diliman, Quezon City — THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) Rizal, served as a key resource and partner agency for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) CALABARZON during its recent two-day capacity-building training. Held at the Verjandel Hotel on March 13, the event focused on empowering Rizal Local Government Unit (LGU) partners acting as Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Helpdesk Focals.
The second day of training opened with a recap from participants before transitioning into a session led by PSTO Rizal representatives. The team discussed DOST’s flagship initiatives, including the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), Grants-in-Aid (GIA), various rollout programs, training services, and scholarship opportunities.
A primary focus of the discussion was the iFWDPH (Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines) program—a specialized initiative designed to support the sustainable reintegration of OFWs. The program is structured into two phases: (1) Business Ideation is where OFWs develop business concepts, assess market potential, and learn financial sustainability; while (2) Innovation Funding is where eligible business models receive monetary assistance of up to Php 500,000.00 for equipment acquisition, product development, market testing, and initial laboratory testing.
The session also featured representatives from other partner agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), TESDA, DSWD, NLRC, SSS, and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
This collaborative training aimed to equip "on-the-ground" LGU personnel with comprehensive knowledge of the government assistance available to OFWs. True to its commitment, DOST remains a steadfast partner of the DMW and OWWA, providing Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) based solutions to ensure the successful migration and reintegration of our OFWs.
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