POEA center to be set up for balikbayans at Duty Free Philippines

A new Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) assistance center will be set up for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Duty Free Philippines (DFP) in Parañaque City. In a news release, POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the POEA is setting up a satellite unit of its Labor Assistance Center at DFP's Balikbayan Plus OFW Center for the returning OFWs' convenience. The Balikbayan Plus OFW Center is a business area that hosts government agencies and private companies for the documentation of OFWs and regular travelers. It also provides relevant and useful information services to OFWs. The Center will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, except holidays. “The Labor Assistance Center unit at the Duty Free Philippines is having a test run until the end of March 2012. It will start regular operations soon after,” Cacdac said. He added that the POEA and DFP will sign a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the LAC unit at the DFP premises. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz commended the POEA for reactivating the LAC unit at DFP, which she started when she was POEA administrator. The extension unit is expected to help OFWs who are usually pressed for time while on vacation in the Philippines. - VVP, GMA News