TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 11 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Bohol, along with different government agencies, are working together to strengthen the campaign against illegal recruitment in the province.
Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado signed on Nov. 10 the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Convergence on Illegal Recruitment (IR-Free) LGUs Campaign together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Anti-Illegal Recruitment/Trafficking in Persons (AIR/TIP) and local chief executives in the towns of Bohol.
The signing of the said MOA marks the beginning of the partnership between the Provincial Government, POEA, and other line agencies on the subject that was originally launched in 2006.
The campaign aims to make the call against illegal recruitment and human trafficking heard throughout the country through continuous local action.
It also supports the implementation of local government units (LGUs) in their mandate under the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 or Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by RA No. 10022.
Under the said law, the LGUs must take an active stance to combat illegal recruitment by holding information dissemination activities on all aspects of overseas employment and establishing a local mechanism to assist migrant workers.
With this, the POEA, through an earlier communication dated Oct. 17, announced its intention to collaborate with the provincial government and all municipalities in Bohol for anti-illegal recruitment and anti-human trafficking campaigns.
This includes, but not limited to, activities such as CETs for Public Employment Service Officers (PESO), barangay officials, and representatives of non-governmental organizations and the academe, and anti-illegal recruitment/anti-trafficking in person seminars for law enforcers.
As an important partner in the fight against illegal recruitment and human trafficking, the POEA proposed to create a partnership and collaboration with the Province of Bohol through the MOA. (ECB/PIA7 Bohol)
