OFWs urged to cash in on their empty houses back home

When working abroad, most Filipinos consider buying houses as a major goal. But what most don't take into account is the state of these houses, particularly those uninhabited, while they are away.

Turning these major purchases into cash sources is one of the goals of Pinoy WISE, a UAE-based Filipino group that focuses on teaching OFWs to be more financially literate.

In a conference held on November 7 and 8, the group encouraged OFWs to use their empty houses in the Philippines as cheap bed and breakfast accommodations for tourists, both local and foreign.

Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Grace Relucio Princesa told Filipino Times that the two-day conference was created to "maximize the benefits of living abroad" and to counteract the tendency of Filipinos "not making the best use of the financial opportunities" abroad.

Estrella Dizon-Anonuevo, executive director of Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative Inc., said in an interview with Gulf News that OFWs could start by advertising these services in their host country.

Dizon-Anonuevo said this service will drive up tourism in the country while "earning an income for house owners."

She said it will also benefit fellow OFWs who "are very keen" on visiting popular tourist spots in the Philippines but "cannot afford the high prices of star hotels."

The conference, themed "Engaging Overseas Filipinos in Migration and Development Initiatives," was held at Crown Plaza Hotel in Abu Dhabi. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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