[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’An alternative prospect for OFWs’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
February 15, 2018
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
WITH the recent experiences of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in other countries, it would be worthwhile to take note regarding the encouragement being shared by Sen. Cynthia A. Villar regarding the opportunities which they can tap here in the country, like venturing in agriculture.
During the recent Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) 7th Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and Family Summit, Senator Villar says the meeting focused on the well-being and success of the OFWs – vacationing OFWs, OFW returnees, former OFWs and their families, particularly those who will venture in the field of agriculture because the Philippines is an agricultural country.
Besides helping rescue distressed OFWs, Villar says that they also want to help ensure that the OFWs, especially the returnees, as well as their families, will have a secure future here in our home country.
“At the end of it all, it is true that there is really no place like home. So, we have to focus on the kind of future that all of you will have here in the Philippines if ever you are not OFWs anymore, that is the long-term goal,” she added.
The summit was also participated in by resource speakers who emphasized the importance of venturing in the agriculture sector.
One of the speakers, Ramon D. Uy Sr. of the Bacolod City-based R.U. Foundry and Machine Shop Corporation, says tapping and training the OFWs to farm or to be involved in agri ventures is successfully preparing them for another long-term career.
“A person who wakes up early in the morning and works all day deserves to be rich. But how come, our farmers are still poor today?” Uy says.
He equated this with the heroism of the OFWs who are working abroad, where he said that majority of them must still struggle when they return to our country.
With proper training and exposure, the farmers and the OFWs could become successful partners.
Majority of the Filipino farmers remain poor because of their wrong practices, procedures, and technologies.
Improving the practices and procedures of the farmers, plus exposing them to available technologies, will definitely improve their capacities to be successful in farming.
“As we all probably know, majority of the OFWs are former farmers, or came from farmer-families. And probably, most of them abandoned their former livelihoods in the hope of improving their status in life, that’s why they decided to work abroad,” he says.
“There is an opportunity for farmers and the beginning farmers in the country through proper training and sound guidance,” Uy says.
Among the opportunities that Uy introduced to the OFWs include new technologies in farming, value-adding, and maintenance of farm machineries in the countryside.
Uy emphasized that OFWs and their families could be exposed to the farming opportunities in the country through hands-on training and coaching on appropriate and best farming practices, entrepreneurship development, research extension, and actual production.
“Training the OFWs and their families to farm is like successfully preparing them for another career,” Uy says. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
