Caraga seafarers eager to join in 2019 NRCO-ISP biz plan competition

Caraga seafarers eager to join in 2019 NRCO-ISP biz plan competition
Jennifer P. Gaitano August 23, 2019 https://pia.gov.ph/press-releases/releases/1026276

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 23 (PIA) - Seafarers who are from Caraga region have expressed their interest to join in this year’s National Reintegration Center for OFWs – Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (NRCO-ISP) Business Plan Competition, wherein they are given the chance to start their own business here in the country.

“With my intention to help the youth, I know and I am confident that I will win in this competition. So I hope I will be given the chance to join and be among the finalists,” said Daisy Serra, inactive seafarer from Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.

Danilo Brodith, inactive seafarer from Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, also emphasized that he wanted to put up a business in his town where locals could also participate and benefit from it.

“I have planned to start my own business so I think this is a good start that I can have my feasibility studies by this Business Plan Competition by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA),” he said.

According to NRCO director Roel Martin, said project aims to help potential seafarers and their families who wanted to have their own business, which could also create great impact to the people in the community.

Martin clarified that active seafarers preferably those who are planning to retire from sea life could join in the competition, while seafarers who have been in the Philippines for not more than five years could also join.

They just have to submit their business plan and the deadline is on September 6, 2019 while the awarding is set on November 8, 2019.

Top 10 finalists will be chosen and the winning business plan of the year will receive P500,000 which will be given in three tranches. A special award of P100,000 will also be given to the 1st runner-up and P50,000 for the remaining finalists.

Meanwhile, regional director Chona Mantilla of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is positive that more OFW-seafarers would again benefit from this project.

She also encouraged interested seafarers to visit NRCO and OWWA offices for other details of the said competition. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)