Remittance Investment Climate Analysis in Rural Hometowns (RICART): Piloting a Tool at a Rural Philippine Hometown

The impacts of overseas migration on the rural origins of migrants had been studied much (De Haas et. al 2003; Rwelmira and Kirsten 2003; Marchetta 2011; Mendiola 2006). But situating the place of migration (including internal migration) in rural areas is related to rural folks’ embracing of income diversification. In these areas, agricultural and non-agricultural sources of income and migration are rural residents’ pathways out of poverty.

Rural areas thus have the potential to maximize a resource —overseas remittances— that is just flowing in their places quietly. The challenge therefore is to determine how remittances may feed into rural economic activities but in consideration of the birthplace’s socio-economic (and political) conditions, as well as the area’s overall investment climate.

Given the untapped (and possibly huge) development potentials of overseas remittances, there has been no research tool to ascertain how overseas remittances can be tapped for rural hometown investing.

This study intends to share findings and methodological reflections of a pilot assessment--called the Remittance Investment Climate Analysis of Rural Hometowns (RICART--of how overseas remittances figure out currently and potentially in rural hometown development. This research tool is something other origin countries can replicate.