Maritime
Credit: Dodong Echavez, IPS
P1M at
stake
for best
seafarers
biz plan
NRCO, ISP 2019 BIZ PLAN COMPETITION LAUNCH. National Reintegration Center for OFWs
(NRCO) OIC-Director Roel B. Martin (right to left), Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (ISP)
Captain Gaudencio C. Morales, and NRCO-Policy and Program Development Division Chief
Melvin D. Caseda, lead the launching of this year’s business plan competition for returning
seafarers and their families, at the Seafarer Center, SM City Manila on May 22, 2019
A
P1 million start-up capital, as well as training and
mentoring, await seafarers with successful business plan
proposals as the National Reintegration Center for OFWs
(NRCO), together with the Integrated Seafarers of the
Philippines (ISP), launched the 2019 NRCO-ISP Business
Plan Competition.
Now on its fifth year, the competition aims to provide
seafarers and their families the help they may need to set-up their own
business and turn them into solutions to problems in their community.
“As they say, the first step is always the hardest. Crafting your business
proposals seem intimidating at first, but the government is here to help.
Take inspiration from our four grand prize winners in the previous rounds
of the competition,” said NRCO OIC-Director Roel Martin during the
launching of the competition at the Seafarer Center in SM City Manila.
The competition’s previous winners were William Gaspay, who owns a
seaweed farm in Masinloc, Zambales; Ryan Mark Antiquera, who operates
a soft broom business in the Bicol region; Capt. Oswald Rollorazo and
Jason Javier, who own a ruminant feeds production and distribution
business in Tarlac; and Dr. Nelson Mejia, who is set to operate Metro Cebu
Express, an alternative mode of transportation for Cebuanos.
This year’s grand winner will receive P500k, while the first runner up and
eight other finalists will receive P100k and P50k, respectively.
The competition, which is intended for start-up businesses only, is
open to active and inactive Filipino seafarers who are 25 years old or
above. Inactive seafarers may join, provided that they have been in the
Philippines for not more than five years. Interested seafarers may submit
14
proposals as solo, duo, or by group consisting of three to five members.
Those who wish to join the competition, but are currently on duty, must
have at least one official representative (immediate family member) who
will handle all the tasks and activities required by the competition.
Submission of entries is from May 22 to September 6, 2019.
Out of the competition entries received, 10 will be shortlisted and will
proceed to the mentoring round in October where they will undergo a
series of coaching sessions to enhance their business plans.
During the final round in November, the participants will present
their business plans to a panel of judges. Their entries will be judged
based on content, impact to the community, financial viability, clarity of
presentation, and drive and determination of the business plan owner.
“Mahirap maging marino kasi malayo sa pamilya. Pero sa pakikinig
ko, nalaman ko na mahalaga itong programa kasi nagbubukas ng
oportunidad para sa mga marino na katulad ko. Dito pala sa ating bansa
mayroong opportunity na kumita ng pera,” said Brix John Cordova, a
seafarer who attended the launching and wants to pursue a business in
agriculture.
www.nrco.dole.gov.ph
www.dole.gov.ph
www.isp.org.ph
Interested OFW seafarers may download the entry form and business
plan format at the NRCO website: www.nrco.dole.gov.ph.
Further information and details about the competition may also
be checked at the ISP website:c and at the NRCO official Facebook
page: https://www.facebook.com/NRCOCentral/