Manila-POEA to provide pre-employment seminars for would-be OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — To help strengthen the campaign against illegal job recruiters, the city government of Manila has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) that will, among others, institutionalize the conduct of pre- employment orientation seminars (PEOS) in the capital city. Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim Friday signed the memorandum with POEA Administrator Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz on Friday in Manila, with Melchor B. Dizon, director of the Licensing Regulation Office of the POEA and City Legal Officer Renato de la Cruz as witnesses. Under the arrangement, the POEA, through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will provide regularly updated lists of licensed agencies and entities and provide information materials on the campaign against illegal recruitment such as brochures, pamphlets, posters and copies of recent anti illegal recruitment laws and regulations for distribution in the city. The POEA will also make available, on request, resource speakers from among POEA personnel for the pre-employment and anti-illegal recruitment (AIR) seminars. The POEA will also provide the updated list of its government placement branch vacancies for dissemination to constituents along with travel updates and advisories. It will also provide a courtesy lane for the constituents of Manila in their application for jobs at the POEA Manpower Registry Division. For its part, City Hall committed to include in its respective programs aggressive campaign against illegal recruitment; assist in the distribution/reproduction and dissemination AIR information materials among constituencies; provide venue and participants in the conduct of seminars. It will also investigate any reported illegal recruitment activity and recommend to the POEA the issuance of closure order against any licensed recruitment establishment/entity established engaged in recruitment violations; provide a space in City Hall, if necessary, for documentary processing of OFWs during peak seasons; establish AIR Help Desk and provide POEA monthly accomplishments of the initiatives undertaken for reference and monitoring purposes. - GMANews.TV