From Rome to Home

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Every year, one and half million people leave The Philippines to find jobs overseas. They send home more than US$20 billion a year. But little of that money is saved or invested.

In Mabini – known as “Little Italy” due to the number of people now living there, many huge houses have been built – but most are empty. The owners cannot afford to come home.

Now a financial education programme supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is encouraging Filipino workers abroad to invest in agricultural cooperatives in The Philippines – not only giving them a regular income, but also revitalising agriculture and creating jobs back home.

Joanne Levitan reports.
Duration: 3’49″