Coca-Cola PH backs OFW reintegration drive

COCA- COLA Philippines has signed a nemorandum of understanding with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ( OWWA) to help strengthen livelihood and entrepreneurship opportunities for returning women OFWs.

In a statement on Tuesday, the company said the program would be part of the administration’s strategic framework under the Comprehensive OFW Reintegration Program for returning OFWs.

The partnership program will explore better and effective means of livelihood and micro- enterprises for returning women OFWs through capability building and business start- up support system.

“This reinforces the commitment of Coca- Cola Philippines to support the reintegration of women OFWs through economic empowerment. As a partner of the government and the Filipino people, the Company will continue to find ways to help contribute in the development of a better society,” said Jonah DeLumen-Pernia, Coca- Cola Philippines public affairs and communications director.

Returning women OFWs often encounter challenges in finding new sources of income in their hometowns.

Coca- Cola said as many OFWs are engaged in domestic services, they find it difficult to land a job upon their return in the country. It added that out of the 2.3 million OFWs recorded in 2014, 50.5 percent are women.

“Of this number, more than half are laborers and unskilled workers, which constitutes to domestic helpers and entertainers,” said Coca- Cola.

“This is in line with the global initiative of Coca- Cola to economically empower 5 million women by 2020. While we have initially focused on the women sari-sari store owners and carinderia owners, we have expanded it to include marginalized OFWs, especially returning women OFWs from the domestic and care work sectors,” said Gilda Maquilan, Coca- Cola Philippines 5by20 lead and sustainability manager.

“We thank the government in seeing the importance of the program and how it can contribute towards the successful reintegration of our OFWs to their families and communities,”

Coca- Cola Philippines, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority ( TESDA), earlier developed and implemented the Sarisari Training and Access to Resources (STAR) Program as part of the 5by20 global initiative. To date, the program has benefitted over 140,000 women from various sectors.