A rice retailing group formed by former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Bohol has successfully grown their business after receiving P1 million in livelihood assistance from the government.
The Bingag-Tinago (BT) OFW and Dependents Association, based in Dauis town, was among the beneficiaries of the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong PUSO) program by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Launched in 2021, the group set out to provide low-priced rice to their community while generating income for members—80% of whom are former OFWs and the rest are dependents.
With the P1 million support they received between 2021 and 2022, the association was able to buy rice directly from a mill owner, allowing them to sell at affordable prices while earning around P5,000 in profit each month.
“This helped us not only sustain our livelihood, but also provide low-cost rice for our own households and neighbors,” said BT Rice Dealer president Evelyn Tobiano in a Philippine Information Agency (PIA) report.
The group is one of five OFW associations in Bohol visited by OWWA Region 7 and the Department of Migrant Workers during their recent Kumustahan activity, a community check-in to hear the concerns and suggestions of livelihood beneficiaries.
OWWA’s Tulong PUSO initiative was created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to assist OFWs who were unable to return abroad, providing livelihood grants to organized groups based on their size and capacity.
As of March 2025, the program has supported 13 OFW associations in Bohol and a total of 29 across Central Visayas, benefiting around 1,000 OFWs and their families with over P13.6 million in grants.
