Vice President Sara Duterte has called on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to venture into entrepreneurship. Speaking at the Go Negosyo Balikbayan 2023 Summit in Pasay City on Saturday, Duterte emphasized the transformative power of entrepreneurship for OFWs and their families.
The event celebrated the Balikbayan Program of Go Negosyo, which aims to shift the lives of OFWs towards business ownership and economic self-reliance. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Duterte highlighted the significant contribution of OFWs to the Philippine economy, with remittances in 2022 totaling P197 billion from over 1.96 million OFWs.
Acknowledging the sacrifices OFWs make, including time away from family, Duterte praised Go Negosyo’s efforts in fostering entrepreneurial skills among them. She stressed that such initiatives not only enhance financial stability for OFWs but also involve their families in the process.
Due to illness, Duterte could not attend the summit in person and conveyed her message through her representative, Department of Education Undersecretary Michael Poa.