PH Embassy in Korea Launches First Overseas Info Caravan of Micro Agrikabuhayan Para sa Balikbayan Program
SEOUL 29 October 2021 — The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, through its Flagship Program on "Promoting Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness to Filipinos in Korea (PEAK-Pinoy),” successfully launched the very first International Info Caravan of “Micro AgriKabuhayan para sa Balikbayan Program” in Korea on 10 October 2021 via a webinar.
Micro AgriKabuhayan para sa Balikbayan Program is a collaborative undertaking of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (DOLE-OWWA) to provide integrated support to returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) starting their own agribusinesses in the Philippines.
During the launch program, Agriculture Secretary William Dar graced the event with the assurance of support to OFs, “Hindi natin pwede pabayaan ang ating bagong bayani, lalo’t higit ngayong panahon ng pandemya. We created the Micro Agri-kabuhayan program to support OFWS, provide them alternative source of livelihood while promoting agriculture and agribusiness development in the country,” said Sec. Dar.
DOLE-OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, shared a message of encouragement, inviting OFs and their families to try venturing in agribusiness and avail the various assistance under the program.
The Micro AgriKabuhayan para sa Balikbayan Program launch was participated in by special resource persons from DA, AMAS, ATI, ACPC, LANDBANK and OWWA, who also shared information on various government assistance platforms offered under the Program, including training, assistance in agri-production and processing, marketing, and financing support for aspiring overseas Filipino agripreneurs.
New Philippine Ambassador to Korea Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega warmly welcomed everyone to the online launch, emphasizing the one-country-team support and services of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to Filipinos in Korea towards realizing their aspirations of setting their own successful businesses back home.
She noted that OFW agripreneurs would play an important role in our country’s post-pandemic economic recovery. “Sa pamumuno ng ating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa-Duterte, ang mga sangay ng ating pamahalaan tulad ng Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at OWWA ay nagsanib pwersa sa layuning mas mapadali at mapalakas ang kakayanan ng mga mamamayan, lalo na ng ating mga returning overseas Filipinos, na mamuhunan at mag-negosyo sa ating bansa. Ang PEAK-Pinoy ay pagpapatunay na kasama ninyo ang inyong Embahada sa layuning ito,” according to Dizon-De Vega.
“We are always thankful for PEAK Pinoy webinars that the Embassy provides us. We appreciate all the knowledge and services the government provides for OFWs like me. Marami po kaming natutunan, especially in starting our own agribusiness venture in the Philippines. Pangarap ng bawat OFW na katulad ko ang magkaroon ng sariling negosyo at alternative investment para sa aming mga pamilya sa Pilipinas” commented by Ms. Ma Luz Robregado, the President of Pinoy Investors in Korea and an OFW in Korea who was one of the 170 registered participants to this special PEAK Pinoy webinar.
The Department of Agriculture gave away Urab Agriculture and Edible Landscaping Starter Kit to the webinar participants, as part of its promotion of Plant, Plant, Plant program.
PEAK Pinoy is a flagship one-country team program of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, in collaboration with the Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO-Seoul), Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC-Seoul), and Philippine Overseas Labor Office - Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO OWWA- Korea). It is a reintegration preparedness program for our overseas Filipinos in Korea, introducing innovative and integrated approach to providing entrepreneurship and agribusiness seminars for Filipinos in Korea that is customized to their needs, featuring opportunities in the different regions of the Philippines and providing important linkages between Philippine-based offices and Filipinos even while they are still in Korea. END
For more information, visit https://www.seoulpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassy-seoul.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinKorea/.