For three (3) straight years, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs in Region IX (NRCO 9) in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment - Zamboanga City Field Office (DOLE-ZCFO) conducted the "Small Business Management Training and Financial Awareness Seminar" (SBMT & FAS) during the second quarter of the year at Cecille's Hotel and Catering Services, Tumaga Porcentro, Zamboanga City where 63 OFWs and their beneficiaries were in participation.

Ms. Sylvia C. Delos Santos, Labor and Employment Officer III of DOLE ZCFO facilitated the training-workshop. Together with her were members of the NRCO Secretariat for the activity in the person of Ms. Dizza S. Ballos GIP of DOLE ZCFO and Ms. Bernadette Sedillo, Head of the OFW Bantay Kasangga Recodo Chapter.

The same activity is also being conducted in selected municipalities and cities of Zamboanga Peninsula Region such as Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and Isabela City, Basilan Province in coordination with the respective DOLE Field Office Heads.

DOLE 9 Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo disclosed that every year, NRCO 9 implements the said training for OFW returnees and their beneficiaries in order to capacitate them with the business and financial literacy and to encourage OFWs to engage in a productive undertaking in response to their return and reintegration.

(Sherwin Medizabel, NRCO 9)