GROUP PHOTO: Ambassador Relacion joins Filipino expatriates who attended a seminar-training on financial literacy. Photo by Rannie Tanchico
By Joey Aguilar
More than 100 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) recently attended a seminar-training at Qatar Foundation aimed at educating and encouraging expatriates to invest in agri-business in the Philippines.
Known as the Pinoy WISE (Worldwide Initiative for Savings, Investment and Entrepreneurship),” the campaign has reached a large number of Filipino expatriates in various parts of the world including those in the Middle East.
Ed Alcantara, public relations officer at Pinoy WISE-Qatar, told Community that the seminar is the second level of training for OFWs based mostly in Al Khor. Dubbed as “Market Place Event,” he said the activity focused more on agri-business opportunities.
The programme provided useful information on how to deal with various challenges in doing business, suggesting some solutions through interactive discussions with resource persons.
The activity was attended by Philippine Ambassador Crescente Relacion and officials of the United Filipino Organisations in Qatar.
He urged OFWs to manage their hard-earned money well, save for the future and be with their families for good. A huge percentage of OFWs fail to save money due to financial mismanagement.
“Despite 70% of Filipino expatriates receiving high salaries, they still fail to save and achieve their long term goals,” Atikha executive director Estrella Dizon noted in a press statement. Atikha is the prime mover of Pinoy WISE.
“This is one of the reasons why many of us are unable to return, reintegrate and be with our family for good,” she stressed.
Atikha has invited 14 resource speakers for the seminar who spoke about numerous topics on migration, investing, agri-business and entrepreneurship, among others.
The programme was also held in other GCC countries such as Abu Dhabi and attended by hundreds of OFWs. Pinoy WISE is a campaign initiated by a network of non-governmental organisations, cooperatives, microfinance institutions in partnership with government and private sector.