DMW halts unauthorized teacher recruitment in Cebu for jobs in Alaska

NEW YORK – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Regional Office VII (RO-VII) shut down on Thursday an unauthorized recruitment operation in Cebu City after discovering it lacked the necessary permits.

Hundreds of teacher applicants from Visayas and Mindanao gathered at a hotel in Cebu City, hoping for an opportunity to work in Alaska, USA.

However, a sudden inspection led by DMW RO-VII Officer-in-Charge and Regional Director Maria Eloida O. Cantona, along with personnel from the Migrant Workers Protection Division, revealed that the recruitment lacked a Letter of Authority (LOA)—a key requirement for overseas job placements.

“Those facilitating the screening and interview failed to present their Letter of Authority or LOA. So, we asked them to stop,” Cantona said, according to a DMW press release.

The LOA is an official document issued by DMW that authorizes accredited foreign principals or their representatives to conduct recruitment activities outside the registered business address of a licensed agency.

Cantona further explained that school district representatives, including principals and superintendents, directly interviewed applicants.

However, no licensed recruitment agency was present to oversee or accredit the recruitment process, violating standard procedures.

“We caution the public to be wary and vigilant of these recruitment activities that are becoming so prevalent, anyone would think they are legitimate. For those who want to work overseas, always check whether you are engaging with a licensed recruitment agency or not or whether their job orders have been posted on the DMW Website or otherwise. It’s very important that we are always alert,” Cantona said.

Alaska Deputy Commissioner of Labor Nelson San Juan confirmed to GMA Integrated News that they have received a report from the Philippines regarding the incident.

"We heard from the team in the Philippines and were informed that DMW visited the recruitment event in Cebu, reviewed documents, but made no arrests,” San Juan said.

DMW is urging the public to report any suspicious recruitment activities immediately.

As demand for overseas employment continues to grow, the agency calls for heightened awareness to prevent illegal recruitment and protect job seekers from exploitation. —KG, GMA Integrated News