A new phase of government support for overseas Filipino workers entering the tourism sector was unveiled in Makati City as the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) introduced the Investment Opportunities for Nation’s Tourism (IPON) Tourism Program. The initiative was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the DOT Multipurpose Hall, where both agencies gathered with senior officials and private partners.
Rather than beginning with training components, the ceremony placed emphasis on the broader vision of merging two major economic drivers—tourism and overseas remittances. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco underscored this point in her message to attendees, noting the shared impact these sectors have on local development. “Year after year, OFW remittances and tourism receipts are among the highest contributors to the Philippine economy. Our workers abroad sustain families and local communities, while tourism generates jobs, supports enterprises, and drives regional growth. Today’s signing of our MOU continues our program by bringing these two pillars of our economy together, allowing returning OFWs to reintegrate into communities that are expanding and full of opportunity and hope,” she said.
The collaboration introduces multiple avenues for OFWs returning to the Philippines, ranging from tourism livelihood instruction to participation in small and medium tourism enterprises. Among the pathways outlined in the agreement are culinary courses, tour guiding credentials, investment in condotels, and involvement in transport and logistics ventures. The program also expands opportunities for experienced OFWs to contribute as mentors through Teach-It-Forward, a platform designed to strengthen industry skill development by tapping Filipino professionals who worked abroad.
Private companies already supporting the Balik Bayani sa Turismo partnership reaffirmed their involvement at the launch. Executives in attendance included Charley Magabo of Hotel101, Michael V. Fox of FastCat, Jerome Lopez Manlapaz of 2GO, Enrique Hormillo of DOON Transport Technologies Inc., and Patrick Joel Cinco of Duty Free Philippines Corporation.
The signing also featured key DOT officials who helped shape the program’s human capital components. Among them were Undersecretary Maria Rica C. Bueno, who oversees tourism standards and workforce development, and Director Arlene Alipio of the Office of Human Capital Development. They joined Undersecretaries Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Verna Buensuceso, and Ferdinand C. Jumapao, together with Assistant Secretaries Judilyn Quiachon and Ina Zara-Loyola, in marking the latest expansion of the long-running partnership between the DOT and DMW.
