The document summarizes a livelihood development assistance program in the Municipality of Bato, Catanduanes that aims to reintegrate returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and support OFW family circles through livelihood assistance. It notes that OFWs and remittances play an important role in the local and national economy. The program will provide livelihood goods or materials to 50 identified returning OFWs and OFW family members to start or augment existing small businesses. Beneficiaries were identified through a community survey and meetings are being held to develop individual business plans for each recipient.

1. Municipality of Bato, Catanduanes
Department of Labor and Employment
Name of BuB Project:
Partner NGA:
Recipient LGU:

2. Livelihood Development Assistance
Program (LDAP) is a program of the
National Reintegration Center for OFWs
(NRCO) for Returning OFWs and OFW
Family Circles (OFCs)

3. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and OFW Family Circles (OFCs)
Municipality of Bato, Catanduanes
Demography (Bato) OFW
Magnitude Magnitude Proportion
Labor Force 5267 OFW* 121 2.30%
Household 4095 OFC (Household) 118 2.88%
Population 19078 OFC Members 711 3.73%
*28% of the recorded OFWs are Household Service Workers
Source: 2014 CBMS Survey, MPDO

4. • A study by the Asian Development Bank
revealed that foreign remittances by
OFWs stood at 12 percent of the gross
domestic product (GDP), making it one
of the most important sources of
foreign exchange in the country.

5. • Remittances play a significant role in
the Philippines’ economy. These remittance
inflows are used to address various household
needs such as food, shelter, and education of
OFW families. In some households, remittances
are also used as investments in entrepreneurial
pursuits. In effect, it is a tool for poverty
alleviation since families have a higher
purchasing power than before.

6. • Although many OFWs were successful in
rearing their families towards a decent family
living, some have failed due to financial
mismanagement and cases of maltreatment.
They finally decided to settle in the country
though gripped with uncertainties on how to
reintegrate with the community and how to
aptly raise the family.

7. • With the foregoing, the municipal
government through its MPRAT has
identified Reintegration Program for
OFWs of the National Reintegration
Center for OFWs (NRCO) of the DOLE
through the Livelihood Development
Assistance Program (LDAP) as one of its
BuB Projects.

8. The DOLE approved the provision of
fund amounting to P500,000.00 for
Reintegration Program for OFWs
which the LGU identified as Local
Development Assistance Program
(LDAP)

9. In general, the Project has the objective of
reintegrating returning OFWs in the community
and assists OFW Family Circles (OFCs) in a
livelihood intervention to improve their
economic well-being. Specifically, its objective is
to provide livelihood goods and/or materials to
beneficiaries as inputs in their livelihood
undertakings.

10. The Project is aimed at providing additional
input goods and/or materials for a new
business undertaking or as an
augmentation to an existing livelihood
undertaking of fifty (50) identified returning
OFWs and/or OFW Family Circle members.

11. Beneficiaries were identified through 2014
Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS)
Survey of the LGU and other available sources
with the assistance of “OFW at Kapamilya sa Bato”
(OK sa Bato) – an active and registered CSO in the
municipality composed of OFWs, returning OFWs
and OFW Family Circles. “OK sa Bato” is also an
active member of the MPRAT.
IDENTIFICATION OF BENEFICIARIES:

12. A meeting/workshop was immediately called for on
January 27, 2016 for the identified beneficiaries for the
preparation of business plan
PREPARATION OF INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS PLAN

13. PREPARATION OF INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS PLAN
A meeting/workshop was immediately called for on January
27, 2016 for the identified beneficiaries for the
preparation of business plan

14. A meeting/workshop was immediately called for on
January 27, 2016 for the identified beneficiaries for
the preparation of business plan.
PREPARATION OF INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS PLAN

15. At present, PESO-Bato is preparing
other necessary documents as
required by the Department of
Labor and Employment.

16. THANK YOU!