The Department of Agriculture – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS), in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Office of the Agriculture Counsellor to China, held a two-day agribusiness forum for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Macao and Hong Kong on June 28 to 29, 2025.
The Usapang Agribiz: Forum on Agribusiness Opportunities in the Philippines aimed to promote agriculture as a viable reintegration and livelihood option for returning OFWs, drawing in a total of 214 participants from Macao and Hong Kong.
DA assistant secretary for agribusiness, marketing and consumer affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra encouraged OFWs to explore agribusiness as a means to secure their future and contribute to rural development.
“Your remittances keep our economy afloat. Now, you have the opportunity to help ensure food and economic security by venturing into agribusiness,” she said.
Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz also addressed participants, underscoring the country’s strong agricultural potential.
“It’s important to save, but even more important to grow what you save. Agribusiness offers that opportunity,” he said.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to support OFW reintegration under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has cited the role of returning Filipinos in advancing food security and rural enterprise development.
The DA-AMAS said it would continue to offer technical assistance, mentoring and market linkages to help OFWs pursue agribusiness ventures upon returning home.
