PRESS RELEASE
WDC-24-2026
04 May 2026
Embassy Press and Information Section
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Migrant Workers Office–Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MWO-OWWA) of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, in partnership with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), held a financial literacy webinar entitled “Abroad Ngayon, Secured Bukas: Building a Passive Income Portfolio (An OFW’s Journey)” on 10 April 2026 to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) strengthen their long-term financial security through informed investing.
The webinar gathered 130 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from across the Americas, the Caribbean and other parts of the globe, with a common goal of achieving long-term financial independence.
The session featured Ms. Gloria Granada, popularly known as the “Money Wise Engineer,” as resource speaker. A former OFW, Ms. Granada shared her inspiring journey from a 30-year corporate career at Procter & Gamble—spanning the Philippines, Japan, and Singapore—to achieving financial freedom. Drawing on her engineering background and analytical mindset, she outlined practical steps to build a passive income portfolio that can support early retirement, underscoring the importance of first establishing an emergency fund as a critical financial safety net.
Following her presentation, Mr. Jon Carlo Lim, Co-Founder and CEO of DragonFi Securities Inc., introduced the Personal Equity Retirement Account (PERA), a voluntary retirement savings program that offers Filipinos a tax-efficient investment vehicle for long-term financial planning. He also shared strategies aimed at making investing more accessible, efficient, and inclusive for Filipinos worldwide.
Labor Attaché Saul De Vries, Head of the MWO-Washington, DC, and Mr. Mark Frederick V. Visda, Assistant Vice President and Head of the PSE Capital Markets Development Division, also joined the webinar and delivered messages of support, reaffirming the importance of financial literacy and preparedness among OFWs.
In her closing remarks, Welfare Officer Mae Codilla urged participants to take concrete steps toward securing their future. “We challenge our dear OFWs to take the steps we learned today to ensure your hard-earned money works as hard as you do. You don’t need millions to start—but you do need patience, discipline, and consistency. The best gift you can give your family is a secure and financially independent future—one that no longer requires you to be away from them,” she said.
This initiative reflects the Philippine Embassy’s and the PSE’s continuing commitment to equip OFWs with practical financial knowledge. By connecting migrant workers with financial experts and investment options, the program helps them turn hard-earned income into sustainable, long-term wealth.
