The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Central Luzon (OWWA 3) has provided livelihood assistance to an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) family group in Pura, Tarlac.

This is under the OWWA’s Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong Puso) program.

OWWA Regional Director Falconi Millar said Wednesday the first tranche of aid amounted to PHP60,000 and was awarded to the OFW Family Circle of Barangay Nilasin 2nd in Pura town last Monday.

Millar said the first tranche is equivalent to 20 percent of the approved PHP300,000 financial grant for the group’s rice trading business plan and will be used in complying with the needed documentary requirements.

He said the second tranche of the assistance, which is 50 percent of the approved grant, will be scheduled for release once they submit their business registration documents.

The third tranche or the remaining 30 percent, will be released when they submit their proof of business physical set-up, and documentation and summary of the disbursement of the first two tranches, he added.

“Tulong-Puso is a one-time grant of OWWA to OFW organizations who intend to pursue a business with a viable project proposal,” Millar said in a social media post.

He asked interested OFW organizations to submit their business proposal which will be evaluated by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The program is open to organized OFWs, recognized either by the Cooperative Development Authority, Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Department of Labor and Employment.

Meanwhile, Pura Mayor Freddie Domingo thanked the OWWA for its support to the OFWs.

“Kami po ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa OWWA, sa patuloy ninyong suporta sa aming OFWs, at sa bayan ng Pura (We are thankful to the OWWA for its continuous support to our OFWs and to the town of Pura),” Domingo said. (PNA)