PCCI pushes livelihood projects for displaced OFWs

Manila, Philippines - The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is now pushing for livelihood projects to help displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

In an interview, PCCI president Francis C. Chua said they are now mobilizing their local chapters to help OFWs who had to pre terminate their contract because of the twin disasters in Japan, the unrest in the Middle East and other factors beyond their control.

Chua said the local chapters of PCCI will identify deserving candidates who can avail of their mobile store project. Initially, 500 mobile stores will be awarded. This, he said, will teach the OFWs how to be entrepreneurs in their own right.

“We are empowering our local chapters to teach the unemployed how to engage in their own businesses,” Chua said.

For those who cannot be accommodated, Chua said the PCCI will be talking to their member companies to encourage them to hire homegrown talents and to limit foreign employees. Also, they will talk to foreign companies here to increase the number of employed Filipinos both for local and foreign assignments.

At the same time, PCCI said the government must allow the entry of Japanese visitors even without visa to encourage them to relocate in the country and maybe even transfer some of their businesses.

“We should allow the Japanese to come here without visa after the calamity as a gesture of goodwill to attract them to relocate their family and business if possible,” Chua said.

According to Chua they have already informed the Bureau of Immigration of their proposal and the agency did not register any objection.

“This is the best time to capture investors. We have to attract Japanese companies to invest,” Chua said.

 He explained that other countries are already implementing their own packages in order to attract Japanese investors.