THE Provincial Government is strengthening its campaign against illegal recruitment.

The capitol and all the local government units of Negros Occidental signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with some national government agencies in consideration of their respective mandates and in the spirit of cooperation to promote the rights and welfare of the public, migrant workers and their families.

Capitol spearheaded the conduct of a seminar on Anti-Illegal Recruitment Campaign and MOA signing on the convergence of illegal recruitment-free LGUs, Thursday.

The activity held at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City was attended by the mayors and representatives, Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) presidents, the PNP, public employment services officers, and representatives from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Under the MOA, they have agreed to cooperate on the capability building of LGU partners and local stakeholders, public information and worker education on overseas employment, establishment of OFW help desks, illegal recruitment-free LGU campaign, data collection and management on OFWs and their families, and employment and livelihood programs.

POEA was represented by Dir. Francis de Guzman, OWWA was represented by Connie Binarao, Negros Occidental Field Office head Agnes Capigon represented DOLE while TESDA was represented by Region VI director, Gaspar Gayona.

Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, who represented Gov. Bong Lacson, said that the presence of the participants signifies their commitment to an illegal recruitment-free Negros.

He also thanked the different government agencies for the collaborative effort in making the event possible.

The activity is part of the continuous effort of the government of its information campaign on the national policies, and programs and services for the public and migrant workers, specifically welfare services, anti-illegal recruitment and anti-trafficking in persons, skills training, reintegration, and public information and education.