Marcos underscores entrepreneurship as a way to increase OFWs' income

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the government was boosting its support for entrepreneurship as a means by which overseas Filipino workers and their families could generate additional income to support their needs.

In a statement at the 2022 Go Negosyo OFW Summit, which was read for him as Marcos was unable to attend the event, the President said the government continued to explore entrepreneurship as a platform to secure the country's recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that OFWs' contributions to the Philippine economy and labor force in general served as crucial elements toward a lasting prosperity, adding that they remained a "solid foundation" of the economy.

"In today's activities, we aim to make entrepreneurship an avenue where we can help OFWs and their families generate additional income to support their needs," Marcos said.

"We hope that through entrepreneurship, our OFWs will now have the option to come back home with the ultimate goal of making working abroad a choice rather than a necessity," he added.

The Go Negosyo OFW Summit was held as Go Negosyo celebrated its 17th anniversary.

"As President, I assure you that the national government will continuously work to ensure the welfare and competitiveness of our OFWs during my administration," said Marcos in his statement.

First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos attended the event on behalf of her husband and announced that nine Kabayan Awardees would receive P200,000 from the Office of the President, according to a tweet by GMA News reporter Mav Gonzales.

WATCH: First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos attended Go Negosyo’s “Kabayan 2022” on behalf of President Bongbong Marcos.

She announced that the nine Kabayaan Awardees will receive 200,000 pesos from the Office of the President. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/OOlAEVBHPa

— Mav Gonzales (@mavgonzales) December 3, 2022

Also, according to a 24 Oras Weekend report on Saturday, present in the event was Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople.

Ople said they were working with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to produce programs that will provide jobs and livelihood for OFWs, .

The DMW also had partnerships with other agencies for the training of OFWs in the opening of their businesses. — DVM, GMA Integrated News