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P2-billion fund to help OFWs start businesses
Manila Bulletin
|March 6, 2026
Collateral requirements for P5-M loan or less waived
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The government is ramping up financial protections for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) as geopolitical volatility threatens labor stability in key markets.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday, March 5, announced the launch of a P2-billion fund dedicated to OFWs, aiming to provide a capital cushion for those forced home by global conflicts.
The initiative, dubbed the OFW Negosyo Fund, will be managed by the DTI’s Small Business Corp. (SBCorp) and will become available for applications starting March 12, 2026.
The move comes as the government seeks to insulate its citizens from the unpredictable fallout of the ongoing Middle East conflict. By providing low-barrier credit, the government hopes to transform returning workers from remittance-dependent laborers into domestic entrepreneurs, thereby mitigating the economic shock of sudden displacement.
This story is from the March 6, 2026 edition of Manila Bulletin.
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