Govt streamlines OFW programs with shared database

Starting August, Philippine labor officials expect to better curb human trafficking and illegal recruitment, and address other concerns of overseas Filipino workers with a shared database and real-time information system.
 
The Philippine Overseas and Employment Administration and the Bureau of Immigration signed a memorandum of agreement to develop the information sharing system.
 
“The agreement shows our efforts to strengthen coordination and linkage among concerned government agencies. It also reflects our convergent action to ensure the protection of our OFWs against unscrupulous individuals engaged in illegal and predatory activities, including fixers, scammers, and traffickers,” DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.
 
Covered by the shared information system are the databases of:
  • documented OFWs
  • foreign employers included in the POEA watchlist
  • OFWs included in the POEA watchlist
  • departing and arriving OFWs.
Signing the MOA were POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac and Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr., while Baldoz and DOLE Undersecretary for Employment Danilo Cruz witnessed it.
 
Baldoz said the information-sharing system not only protects OFWs but also allows a hassle-free and systematic deployment process.
 
"Hindi na natin pahihirapan ang mga OFWs sa multi-layered na proseso ng gobyerno noon. Isang pila na lang tayo ngayon (OFWs need not suffer from multi-layered processes. They have to line up just once)," she said.
 
The MOA implements the efforts of the POEA and the BI as members of the Presidential Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (PTFAIR).
 
Under the MOA, the POEA shall extend legal assistance to victims of illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons referred by the BI.
 
It will also provide technical assistance and certifications to cases handled by BI; and provide assistance to immigration officers in answering queries on OFWs’ travel exit documents.
 
For its part, the BI shall strictly implement the validation of travel exit documents; endorse suspected illegal recruitment cases to POEA for investigation; intensify intelligence efforts in checking legitimate departing OFWs and/or tourists profiled as workers; and enforce watchlist orders and/or hold departure orders against illegal recruiters and human traffickers.
 
Baldoz said she has directed the POEA to work closely with the BI to prioritize this initiative as the DOLE seeks to improve processes involving overseas employment.
 
"We also aim for the electronic processing of exit clearances and other procedures that can already be done online. While we are continuously stamping out illegal and predatory activities towards workers’ protection, we are also devising workable strategies to streamline government processes, thus vying away from the usual multi-layered procedures,” she said. — VC, GMA News

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