Four associations of returned overseas Filipino workers in Kalinga are now closer to completing their livelihood grants after the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration handed over its second round of funding, according to the Philippine Information Agency.
The disbursement on September 4, 2026 covered P250,000 for each of the four groups, a combined release of P1 million. Added to the P100,000 that every organization already collected in June, each now holds P350,000 toward the full grant.
All four are enrolled under OWWA’s Tulong Puso program, which channels financial grants to organized OFW groups so they can launch or grow livelihood ventures and generate lasting income for members and their households. Approved for P500,000 apiece, the associations are set to collect the outstanding P150,000 before the year ends.
The recipients are the Cal-owan Balikbayan Organization, the Nambaran Balik OFW Association, the Ammacian Taggay Sacpil Overseas Filipino Worker Association, and the Cawagayan Overseas Filipino Workers Association.
For workers who spent years abroad, the money offers a way to earn a living without leaving home again. Manuel Banao, who once worked in Japan and now heads the Nambaran Balik OFW Association, described the program as a major lift for those who came back permanently.
“Daytoy nga Tulong Puso ket dakkel nga tulong daytoy kenyami nga OFWs nga nag-for good ditoy Pilipinas. Nagrigat unay ti ag-abroad ta talaga nga anus ken gagget ti puunan mo. Mayat ti agyan ditoy Pilipinas ta kadwa ta pay ti pamilya,” Banao said.
(This Tulong Puso is a huge help to us OFWs who returned to the country for good. Working abroad is very difficult because you truly need patience and hard work as your investment. It is better to stay here in the Philippines because we get to be with our families.)
Rubilyn Flores, a former OFW in Saudi Arabia who leads the Cawagayan Overseas Filipino Workers Association, said the grant let her group set up an income source and settle back into community life.
“Dakkel ti tulong na daytoy programa kenyami ta daytoy ti inusar mi nga nagput-up ti business para iti grupo mi nga OFWs idyay ili ket padekkelen mi daytoy ta isu ti agbalin nga source of income mi nga nag-for good ditoy Pilipinas,” she said.
Dr. Nestor Burayag, OWWA Central Office Director of Operations, told workers in the province that the agency intends to keep backing them through livelihood efforts and other assistance.
“OWWA assures ang mga manggagawa dito sa Kalinga ng patuloy na suporta at patuloy na pag-iisip ng ating mahal na administrator ng mga program na makakatulong sa mga manggagawang Pilipino and sa kanilang pamilya,” Burayag said.
Burayag noted that OWWA is pushing to extend its programs to more overseas workers and their families across other parts of the country.
