The Department of Tourism (DOT) will provide P50,000 to P100,000 blocks worth or grants to aspiring young entrepreneurs with business that aimed at improving tourism-related services and products. The grant will be given to young individuals or group of entrepreneurs who would engage in tourism-related business through the Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Eco-tourism (GREET) program of the government.

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Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who wish to return to the Philippines but cannot do so for various reasons are now provided a window of opportunity through the government’s Special Repatriation Program (SRP).

According to Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, SRP is a salient feature of Republic Act No. 8042 otherwise known as The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 that aims to protect the rights of OFWs. In a press briefing in Malacañang, Brion said that more than 1,000 OFWs have already availed themselves of the SRP since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met with officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the release of stranded Filipinos there during her visit to the KSA in May 2006.

Brion said 379 more OFWs who have been stranded in their most countries for various reasons ranging from being victims of illegal recruitment and unpaid salaries to maltreatment, physical abuse, harassment and health reasons are coming home under the SRP. President Arroyo personally met the first batch of 108 OFWs who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I in Pasay City, Tuesday afternoon. (PIA-ZN)