Anti-Illegal Recruitment campaign in P’sinan galvanized

Lingayen --- Local Government Units (LGUs) and various line agencies of the government vowed to further galvanize anti-illegal recruitment and human trafficking advocacies in Pangasinan.

            The move was made after representatives from the Phillippine National Police (PNP), Pangasinan Migrant Desk Office, the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) of Pangasinan Association, Overseas Workers’ Welfare Association (OWWA) Region 1 and Public Employment Services Offices (PESO) of LGUs in the province attended the anti-illegal recruitment and human trafficking seminar conducted by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on October 25 at the new PESO building (former United Way), here.

Earlier, the provincial government led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and POEA led by Administrator Hans Leo J. Cadac -- represented by POEA Deputy Administrator Amuerfina R. Reyes -- forged a MOA to solidify the anti-illegal recruitment campaign in the province.

The campaign seminar, attended by 100 participants -- was part of POEA’s programs to intensify partnership and linkages to eliminate illegal recruitment activities and prosecute law-violators.

 “Talagang full ang support ni Gov. Espino sa anti-illegal recruitment campaign,” POEA Deputy Administrator Reyes said, adding that the MOA-signing set “a milestone partnership against illegal recruitment in the province.”

Reyes expressed optimism that the partnership will reduce or even totally eliminate the incidence of illegal recruitment in the province.

Since 2007, the provincial government through the Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) led by Manager Alex Ferrer has consistently propelled manpower development in the province, evident with various awards conferred to PESO for implementing programs and initiatives on employment services.

Maria Teresa Delos Santos from the POEA, on the other hand, warned the public on the modus operandi and pertinent information about illegal recruiters.

Aside from information dissemination campaigns, according to Delos Reyes, POEA also provides legal assistance to victims of illegal recruitment.

POEA’s Legal Assistance Division OIC Chief Celso Hernandez elucidated on laws on illegal recruitment.

Meanwhile, a pre-employment orientation seminar gathering about 800 graduating students was also held in the morning at Pangasinan State University Lingayen Campus with Rustico-Mendrato Banal III of POEA as resource speaker.

“Don’t transact with any person who is not an authorized representative of a licensed agency. If an agency has a special jobs fair, ask assistance and inquire from the PESO first to check whether the employment agency has been accredited or not,” he said. (PIO/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca)