Nueva Ecija native Kenneth Kier C. Fernando emerged as the grand winner of the LIKHAng Marino Business Plan Competition of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), taking home the P500,000 prize during the awarding ceremony on September 19, 2025, at The Tropics, MacArthur Park in Palo, Leyte.
Fernando, a 29-year-old cruise ship worker and proud member of the LGBT community, earned the top award for his salon business proposal that focuses on organic hair treatments. He admitted that his entry nearly did not make it to the competition as he was almost late in sending his application. But his persistence paid off, securing him the grand prize among 12 national finalists.
Second place went to James N. Nierra, a marine engineer from General Santos City, whose taco roll venture won him P300,000. The third spot was claimed by Joshua D. San Andres of Cavite, a ship food manager, who received P200,000 for his KasamBarangay service hub project.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac led the awarding ceremony, highlighting how the program aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to empower overseas Filipino workers through entrepreneurial opportunities.
“Tonight, our top 12 finalists share with us their business plans and each OFW’s journey interwoven with it. Our finalists proved that given the chance, our mariners are more than workers of the sea; they are innovators, entrepreneurs, and builders of strong communities,” Cacdac said in his keynote address.
The competition, supported by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Maritime Polytechnic, also served as the official kickoff of National Maritime Week.
