DOLE partners with Coke for OFW reintegration programs  

 

Female OFWs returning to the Philippines looking to put up their own sari-sari stores, carinderias, or businesses may now sign up for WOMEN REACH (Women Entrepreneurs Reintegrated and Economically Active at Home), a new program launched Saturday through a partnership between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Coca-Cola Philippines.

 

DOLE/Coca-Cola program seeks to give returning OFW women training, starter kits for sari-sari stores & businesses pic.twitter.com/ZT73TNdfyc

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) March 12, 2016

 

Coca-Cola Philippines president and general manager Diego Granizo explained at the launch at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority's (TESDA) Women's Center that WOMEN REACH aid women in becoming more economically independent.

 

"We know that when we invest behind women and we empower them economically. There are three things that they invest first: the family, education, and nurturing their kids. That is the best place where you can invest your money," Carillo said.

 

The public-private partnership (PPP) has two sets of target beneficiaries.

 

Returning female OFWs who already own sari-sari stores, grocery stores, carinderias, food stalls, bakeries, or restaurants may apply for Coca-Cola's Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR), a course that has existed since 2011.

 

Those who wish to create their own micro-enterprises other than those mentioned above can attend any seminars held at TESDA centers.

 

WOMEN REACH will initially target 10,000 women migrants, all of whom will undergo a 12-week Basic Entrepreneurship and Gender Sensitivity course.

 

All OFWs who finish the TESDA courses under the program will be referred to microfinance institutions for small business loans or approach any Assist WELL centers for start-up loans.

 

Gilda Custodio-Maqilan, Coca Cola Philippine Sustainability Manager, said women comprise most of their sellers and therefore need training apt for their needs.

 

"Most of our sellers are actually women... It's really finding that shared value concept wherein our core business of selling Coca-Cola, we are able to address," Maquilan said.

 

At least 47,000 women have received training under STAR, 900 of which are OFWs. Of these, 40 percent were able to access loans while 15 percent accessed merchandising support from Coca-Cola.

 

"We do not ask for exclusivity in our programs. On the contrary, we are just providing the tools for women to become microentrepreneurs," Granizo said.

 

Coca-Cola FEMSA Asia Corporate Affairs Director Juan Carlos Dominguez clarified that while WOMAN REACH was specifically aimed towards female OFWs, men may avail of other entrepreneurship opportunities in their partnership with DOLE.

 

"We provide employment to close to 20,000 Filipino across the country. We are also (providing) opportunities not only for women entrepreneurs but also for returning OFWs," Dominguez said.

 

STAR began in 2011 and is part of Coca-Cola's 5by20 global initiative, which aims to empower 5 million women within its value chain through various international programs by 2020.

 

WOMAN REACH is a PPP under the Assist WELL program, which was strengthened in January this year to provide returning OFWs a "one-stop shop of welfare, employment, legal and livelihood assistance for OFW repatriates". — APG/KG/KBK, GMA News