ATI Assistant Director Rosana Mula presents training programs and advisory services that can help returning overseas Filipinos during the online agri-negosyo webinar.
DILIMAN, Quezon City—In line with the national government’s thrust to provide alternative sources of livelihood for returning overseas Filipinos amid the pandemic, the Office of the Agricultural Attaché in Tokyo, Japan conducted an agri-negosyo webinar.
The virtual event was held for overseas Filipinos from all sectors, particularly displaced and repatriated workers, retirees, young agripreneurs, and hobbyists.
Representatives from different government agencies discussed opportunities and programs from the Philippine government that can support and assist returning overseas Filipinos. These agencies include the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, National Reintegration Center for OFWs, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Department of Agriculture (DA).
Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Assistant Director Rosana Mula talked about various training and advisory programs that can help balikbayans ease into agribusiness. These include webinars, e-Learning courses, and support services for urban agriculture projects under the DA’s “Plant, Plant, Plant” Program.
Meanwhile, in her message, Consul General Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat of the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Nagoya encouraged the participants of the webinar to nurture their interest in agribusiness so that they can succeed in their chosen endeavors.
“This webinar showed us the kind of support that we could get from the various agencies of the Philippine government—from planting to end markets, innovative approaches to business, ecosystem development, technologies, financial assistance, and re-integration programs,” she said.
Consul General Voltaire Mauricio of the PCG in Osaka commended the efforts of the Philippine government to make the webinar possible. He hoped that the event gave the participants their needed information and the inspiration to pursue their agri-related interests and ideas.
The webinar, which is also in line with the Philippine Migrant Celebration Day, was held via Zoom on June 13, 2021.