The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has solidified its support for returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) through the launch of the National Reintegration Network (NRN), a unified government initiative aimed at providing long-term economic opportunities and support for OFWs as they resettle in the Philippines.
The NRN was formalized through a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) signed by 16 government agencies on June 7 at the OSHC Compound in Quezon City. The initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Migrant Workers, coincided with the celebration of the 30th National Migrant Workers Day—highlighting the government’s commitment to a holistic, dignified reintegration process.
DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque underscored the critical role of entrepreneurship in transforming OFWs’ sacrifices into generational progress. “The story of our OFWs is one of courage and sacrifice. As a mother, a daughter, and a fellow Filipino, I feel the weight of those sacrifices. That is why under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for a ‘Bagong Pilipinas,’ we are committed to turning every sacrifice into a springboard for success,” she said.
Roque emphasized that empowering OFWs to build sustainable businesses is central to the agency’s reintegration approach. “We want your hard-earned income to become the seed of a business that grows, endures, and sustains your family—so that one day, our children no longer have to leave home to dream,” she added.
To make these services more accessible, the DTI is expanding its entrepreneurship support through in-person centers, digital tools, and one-stop shop hubs for reintegration. These efforts aim to guide OFWs not only in starting enterprises but in building livelihoods that can thrive in the long term.
“To our OFWs, you left with courage. You returned with experience. Now we commit to walk beside you as you build your second journey right here at home,” Roque assured.
The NRN provides a framework for coordination among agencies to deliver integrated programs tailored to the different stages of an OFW’s journey. It includes both physical and virtual Reintegration One Stop Centers, ensuring support is within reach—no matter where an OFW is coming from.
