Batangas City — Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) looking to start local businesses or secure education for their children were offered new science and technology resources at a regional reintegration fair.

This, as the Department of Science and Technology’s (DoST) Batangas office joined the recent “Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Mangagawa–National Reintegration Network” and Mega Job Fair at the Batangas City Convention Center.

Organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Region IV-A, the event brought together government agencies and private employers to provide jobs and livelihood assistance to returning workers and their families.

During the event, DoST representatives highlighted the Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines program, known as iFWD PH.

The initiative helps former overseas workers launch technology- and innovation-driven businesses in their home communities by providing technical training and business development support.

Agency personnel also promoted the Undergraduate Scholarship Program and the Junior Level Science Scholarship Program.

The application drives targeted the dependents of overseas workers to encourage more students to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.

Participants also sought information on the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, a government initiative that helps micro, small and medium-sized businesses adopt new technologies to improve productivity and competitiveness.