Close to 100,000 vulnerable workers, such as parents of child laborers, marginalized and landless farm workers, fishery workers, small transport workers, home-based workers, and returning or displaced OFWs in Typhoon Yolanda-hit areas, will benefit from the DOLE-DOST Convergence Program on Technology-Driven, Resource-Based, and Sustainable Livelihood, a press release from DOLE said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said this is to improve the delivery of its livelihood programs in convergence with the Department of Science and Technology, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and other concerned government agencies, the press release said.

Baldoz said the DOLE has a budget of P132 million for the first year of the three-year convergence program, out of the total DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program budget of P609 million in the 2014 General Appropriations Act.

She said they could also tap for the convergence program funds on livelihood from the 2014 DOLE supplemental budget under Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda Project of P833 million.

The DOLE would make available the P2-billion OFW Reintegration Program for OFW returnees who would opt to venture in either business expansion or start-up operations. She said.

"OFWs who are interested to start or expand an existing business enterprise may avail of loan assistance under the P2-billion reintegration program without collateral as long as the business they want to put or expand remains viable and profitable," Baldoz said in the press release.*

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