by: Rowan L. Delos Santos

The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Regional Office VIII, led by Regional Director Venus M. Jornales and joined by Senior Cooperatives Development Specialist Rowan L. Delos Santos of the Cooperative Project Assistance and Development Section (CPDAS), had an appointment on May 18, 2026 with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Regional Office VIII in Tacloban City to propose a collaborative initiative that will support returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families in establishing or joining cooperatives in their home communities.

RD Jornales presented CDA’s intervention program aimed at transforming OFW associations into registered cooperatives. She emphasized the key benefits of cooperative formation, including community-based support systems among OFWs, collective access to capital, and eligibility for government financial assistance provided to accredited cooperatives operating for at least three years.

She also showcased replicable cooperative models in Region VIII, including the Almeria Seafarers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ASEMCO) of Almeria, Biliran, which was started by seafarers and has since expanded into diversified business operations, demonstrating how maritime professionals can transform savings into a successful enterprise. She also cited the OFW Harvest Consumers Cooperative of Tacloban City, which was formed mostly by landbased OFWs and operates a consumer store, illustrating how pooled OFW capital can develop into a community-serving enterprise with shared ownership.

“These are inspiring and replicable models for OFWs in Region VIII. Whether seafarers or land-based workers, cooperatives provide sustainable frameworks for success,” RD Jornales said. DMW Regional Director Atty. Lovely Aissa B. Velayo-Agliam warmly welcomed the proposal and cited existing DMW programs that align with CDA’s initiative. The Livelihood Assistance Program provides immediate financial support to returning OFWs, helping them establish a financial foothold as they transition to permanent life in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the Financial Awareness Seminar (FAS) will serve as a platform where CDA will be invited to promote cooperatives and engage returning OFWs directly.

A key outcome of the engagement was the agreement to pursue a regional Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between CDA and DMW to formalize and strengthen the partnership. The DMW proposed the MOA, which RD Jornales positively accepted.

CDA will participate in DMW’s upcoming Financial Awareness Seminar. MOA drafting will commence, and joint orientation activities will be scheduled. Both agencies highlighted that the partnership aims to strengthen reintegration efforts by advancing cooperatives as a sustainable pathway for livelihood and enterprise development among returning OFWs and their families in Region VIII.

For the hundreds of OFWs returning to Eastern Visayas each year, the message is clear: coming home does not mean starting over alone, but an opportunity to rebuild through cooperation, enterprise, and shared growth.