A pharmacy expansion, a water refilling business, and an events management service were among the first ventures to benefit from a new government fund designed to help overseas Filipino workers rebuild their livelihoods after returning home.
The three recipients — Dan Zeus Almarines, Marie Anduyon, and Jonahlou Bilaro — received loan capital during the “Bagong Pilipinas Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa” National Reintegration Network and Job Fair held April 6 at the QC M.I.C.E. Center. Almarines received the largest allocation at P580,000 to grow his pharmacy business, while Anduyon was granted P200,000 for a water refilling station and Bilaro received P100,000 for her events management service.
The disbursements came under the OFW Negosyo Fund, a P2-billion lending program administered by the Small Business Corporation and formally launched on March 11, 2026. DTI Secretary Christina Roque described it as carrying a very low interest rate, requiring no collateral, and offering a one-year grace period during which borrowers are not charged principal or interest — conditions she said are intended to give returning workers enough time to stabilize their enterprises.
SB Corp. President Robert Bastillo and Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac joined Secretary Roque in leading the distribution.
