Friday, May 02, 2008 5 mayors boost drive vs illegal recruiters
PHILIPPINE Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) administrator Rosalinda Baldoz has stressed the need to protect employees against illegal recruiters.
After the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Wednesday with five mayors of Negros Occidental, Baldoz spoke of preventive and remedial components of a nationwide campaign against illegal recruiters, which often time, devastated poor families after investing in something which is fake.
Baldoz signed the MOU at the Capitol Social Hall with the five mayors: Melecio Yap of Escalante, Jose Montelibano of Silay, Eric Saratan of Talisay, and representatives of the mayors of Bago and La Carlota.
Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco witnessed the accord. Deputy Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac was also present during the MOU signing.
Baldoz explained that mainly, the MOU is part of the 'preventive' component of the campaign on comprehensive and massive public information and education program. They will tap multimedia organizations, Church groups, non-government organizations, local government units, schools and private entities as government partners.
The MOU also specified that the POEA has the responsibility of providing, among others, regular and updated lists of licensed agencies and information materials on the campaign against illegal recruiters.
The Public Employment and Service Office, on the other hand, would be in charge of disseminating these materials to the public.
The city is also task to investigate suspected illegal recruiters and would put up a desk at City Hall to assist overseas Filipino workers in processing their pertinent papers.
The MOU provides that upon the signing of the MOU, the parties shall immediately convene to discuss the mechanics in carrying out the MOU.(Gil Alfredo Severino)
