A government agency helped former Overseas Filipino Worker to start a business of her own.

The Department of Labor and Employment – National Reintegration Center for OFW (DOLE-NRCO) granted 56-year-old Cora B. Villlamor P10-thousand livelihood assistance to expand her existing sari-sari store.

A resident at Malalag, Davao del Sur, Cora sought for greener pasture in Dubai as a Household Service Worker in 2004. It started well with her first employer but she suffered from verbal abuses after she was transferred to the next employer without her agency’s knowledge.

“I was accused of stealing things, scolded and was not given the right wage for 4 months until my one-year visa expired,” she said.

Cora escaped from her cruel employer and worked as a beautician for 6 years undocumented. She finally returned to the Philippines in May 22, 2011.

“I am thankful of the DOLE-NRCO for giving me a capital to start again and venture into a business of my own. I will really make my sari-sari store grow,” she said.

She also said it will help her a lot especially that she is left alone to sustain herself.

DOLE-NRCO aims to enable OFWs and their families like Cora to work and live with entrepreneurial mindset, primarily through the creation of awareness on the value of saving, and empowering them to plan for investment, business, or local employment upon their return, while responding to the reintegration needs of displaced OFWs and OFWs in distressful situations.

The National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) is the youngest bureau under the Department of Labor and Employment. It acts as the Philippine government’s Reintegration Manager, addressing the multifaceted needs of our modern heroes and their families to a more productive return to the Philippines. (Roberto A. Gumba, Jr./DOLE GIP)