Returning OFW entrepreneurs grow businesses with DMW’s ‘Buy Lokal, By OFW’ Powered By GCash

For many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), coming home often comes with a harsh reality. The steady income they depended on abroad is ending, while the first challenge at home begins.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and GCash are tackling this problem through their partnership on “Buy Lokal, Nge OFW,” a program designed to help returning Filipinos build sustainable businesses.

By combining digital financial tools with reintegration support, this initiative creates a clear path for OFWs to transition from overseas employment to local entrepreneurship. The first participants show how the right tools and support can lead to sustainable results.

Growing business with digital tools

OFW entrepreneurs started with a simple dream, which they can turn into reality with persistence and opportunity. As they grow their businesses, they also turn to digital solutions to keep up with the changing needs of not only their business but also their customers.

For example, Mirasol Bituin’s journey highlights the importance of preparation. Before returning to Taiwan, he spent years planning, saving, and learning how to build a business.

This preparation led to his operation of Mhira Natural Soap and Cosmetics, where discipline in budgeting and product development allowed him to grow. He eventually launched the SoundPay device for GCash to streamline transactions as his customer base grew.

For Kaiselle Cao Atun and her husband, returning home meant building something designed to last. Their investment in Farm Ridge by Desmond Farm focuses on long-term value, cocoa farming and organic practices at its core.

They also expanded the model by inviting fellow OFWs to participate as investors, creating a shared path to growth. This required a system that could manage multiple stakeholders and tasks efficiently.

Some businesses, on the other hand, thrive by building on knowledge gained abroad. For Marilou Sioson, her husband’s background in cooking forms the foundation of Sauce On Food House.

From a small food business, the family business grew into a line of specialty sauces. Growth was supported by participation in government programs, which helped refine products, secure certifications, and open new distribution channels.

As their businesses grew, GCash became an important tool in facilitating transactions and supporting daily operations. Its flexibility enabled faster, more secure payments – from bulk orders – while improving efficiency, transparency, and customer experience.

By reducing reliance on cash and manual processes, these entrepreneurs were able to build trust, manage growing demand, and focus more on growing their businesses and balancing their commitments.

Improving support for MSMEs

Beyond the tools, strengthening support for MSMEs through government programs helps many OFW entrepreneurs build and sustain their businesses.

For Chie Vincoy, the transition from hobby to business is gradual, but scaling requires a systematic and systematic approach. What started as a home fragrance blending grew through word of mouth and bazaar exposure, eventually having to be moved to a warehouse based operation.

Legalizing his business, Deomare Consumer Goods Retailing marked a major turning point. With help from DMW and affiliate programs, you’ve gained access to training, business opportunities, and strong brand positioning. This allowed him to work beyond informal sales and reach a broad, consistent customer base.

For others, support systems play an important role in rebuilding. Christian Facun returned from Rome with plans to start a business, but unexpected medical expenses forced him to reevaluate his approach.

He turned to organic farming in Tarlac, using the discipline he developed abroad. Tingtano Enterprises’ early operations were hampered by limited market access and required reliance on local networks to sustain production.

Through the program, you get access to systematic support and broad market exposure. Digital tools now help him manage supply and communicate with customers outside his immediate area. This combination of guidance and access reduces the uncertainty of starting over and provides a stable foundation for growth.

For returnees like Caroline De Ocampo, the path was less formal. When he came home in 2006, support systems were limited, and building a business required a lot of trial and error.

Later, he established his step in the field of health and cosmetics with Cleode Health & Beauty, taking from his experience in transport and packaging abroad. These skills now support his ability to manage quality and product distribution.

He pointed out that the situation has changed. With access to digital tools and programs like “Buy Local, For OFW,” returning workers today have clear pathways and strong support systems. This change allows entrepreneurs to work more efficiently and respond better to market needs.

Meanwhile, Rommel Forbes started building EM-AR Handicrafts Trading after returning to the Philippines in 2020 when the epidemic was rampant.

Forbes revealed that his transition into business was supported by DMW, which provided training and guidance as he embarked on a new chapter in his life. As his business grew, he also credited GCash with helping him manage payments from customers and suppliers, and reducing cash management challenges.

From being a worker, Forbes now owns a business that creates jobs and helps to uplift his fellow citizens in Quezon, while also showcasing the arts of his province.

Helping OFWs build stability close to home

This experience shows a broader change in how returning OFWs can rebuild their lives. With the combined support of GCash and DMW, change is no longer limited to individual effort but is fueled by access to tools, training, and market opportunities.

By saying “Buy Local, OFW,” returning workers can now turn their overseas experience into sustainable businesses at home. This program strengthens financial inclusion, supports long-term economic participation, and helps more families stay together.

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.

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