Villar urges returning OFWs to become entrepreneurs

Nacionalista Party President Sen. Manny Villar today urged returning overseas Filipino workers, especially those displaced by the global economic slowdown, to start their own business. Villar said that one of those hardest hit by the global economic crisis are Filipino workers abroad where companies are either stopping operations or cutting back on expenses. He said he will readily support OFWs who will put up their own business in their hometown.

"I urge our modern day heroes to join the ranks of budding entrepreneurs now sprouting in different parts of the country and at the same time contribute to the effort of creating employment opportunities for our kababayan who will lose their jobs as a result of this crisis," Villar said.

"Like the overseas Filipino workers who continue to support their families and the national economy with their remittances, I am convinced that entrepreneurs who embark on micro, small and medium enterprises could be our newest batch of economic heroes," Villar said.

He added that his party's Pondo sa Sipag, Puhunan sa Tiyaga program is open to OFW-entrepreneurs who used 'sipag at tiyaga' to establish and nurture their own business. The program, which was launched last year, selected 16 entrepreneurs from all over the country and awarded P100,000 each as additional capital.

One of the recipients was Pacifico dela Cruz, or Mang Pacing of Plaridel, Bulacan. He started his "itikan" in 1988 with merely 185 heads, which grew eventually to more than 3,000 at present. On the average, his annual net earnings reach P100,000 to P150,000. "Nakita natin sa istorya ni Mang Pacing ang kahalagahan ng pagtayo matapos madapa," Villar said. Mang Pacing almost lost his business when his son-in-law robbed the money for the business. When feeds for the ducks had run out, he and his 1,500 ducks set off for a trip to Isabela in search for feeds for free. He did not lose heart and was able to recover his losses over the years. Mang Pacing was very happy when he was chosen as one of the Pondo winners. He was thankful for this program that recognizes the efforts of people like him to succeed in life. Villar also had his shares of failure when his first attempt in business went bankrupt because his customers could not pay for the fish he delivered. His real estate business was also one of the worst hit by the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

These failures did not stop Villar from picking himself up and to try again. Today, the company he built is the biggest home building company in the country earning him the title as the Dean of the Housing Industry. Prior to his elective position, he was referred to as the Brown Taipan, being the only Filipino included in the Forbes' list of RP's richest. Villar is also known as the Master Entrepreneur.

Villar was also advocating for an entrepreneurial revolution that will give the country a winning chance in the world's economic arena.