MWO-OWWA WDC EMPOWERS OFWs THROUGH STOCK AND FUND INVESTMENT WEBINAR

PRESS RELEASE
WDC-58-2026

08 October 2026

Embassy Press and Information Section

info@phembassy-us.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Migrant Workers Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MWO-OWWA) in Washington, D.C. in collaboration with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and DragonFi Securities Inc., hosted a financial literacy webinar focusing on stock and fund investment on October 2, 2026 via Zoom. Entitled “Abroad Ngayon, Secured Bukas: A Walkthrough to OFW Investing (From Account Opening to Your First Stock and Fund Investment)”, the webinar benefited 59 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the United States, Caribbean and other parts of the Americas. 

Labor Attaché Saul De Vries said that the webinar was intended to show that investing is not only for wealthy people or financial professionals but also for ordinary workers wanting to prepare for the future. “Our purpose was not to turn our OFWs into market experts overnight but to help them understand the basics on stock and fund investing to make them confident in taking steps to become informed investors,” De Vries said.

PSE President and CEO Ramon Monzon also underscored the importance of understanding investment fundamentals to protect individuals from financial scams and enable them to grow their money through dividends share price appreciation. “Financial literacy empowers individuals to make independent decisions based on knowledge rather than rumors, while simultaneously contributing to nation-building as invested capital helps local companies expand, create jobs, and pay taxes,” he said during the webinar. 

Mr. Franco Fernandez, DragonFi Research & Investor Education Lead, outlined how OFWs can build wealth through key passive income vehicles including dividend-paying stocks, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), monthly-distributing funds, and the tax-free Personal Equity Retirement Account (PERA), which allows annual investments of up to ₱400,000. OFWs may learn from experienced investors who use investment platforms such as DragonFi.

Serving as the second installment in MWO-OWWA’s financial literacy series following an April 2026 session on passive income building, the webinar equipped the participants with practical tools to invest in Philippine capital markets. Closing the session, Welfare Officer Mae Codilla highlighted that long-term financial security comes down to commitment and discipline rather than the amount of income and starting capital. She also reaffirmed the Philippine government’s dedication to empowering OFWs with the knowledge and tools needed to secure their financial future.