23 March 2015 - The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) conducted a roundtable consultation with local government units and non-government organizations on combating human trafficking and illegal recruitment on February 26 at the Hotel Jen, Roxas Boulevard.

Prosecutor Darlene Pajarito of the Department of Justice Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and Atty. Eric Dollete of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) presented the National Government’s efforts against human trafficking and illegal recruitment and how these efforts can be replicated and institutionalized in the grassroots and the community level.

DFA-OUMWA Legal Officer Rozelin Sol discussed how human trafficking victims are assisted by our Embassies and Consulates.

LGU representatives also shared the programs implemented by their respective provinces to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. Ms. Eliza Rey Y. Munoz, Unit Head of Pampanga Action Center for OFW Concerns (PACOC), detailed how the province of Pampanga created a unit for OFWs and their families, which refers them to appropriate National Government Agencies to address employment and other concerns PACOC likewise empowered Kapampangan migrant workers by helping them mobilize and create their own organizations for training, livelihood and other purposes.

Atty. Francis James Meer, Provincial Legal Officer of Isabela and Ms. Lucille A. Valencia of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Cavite, also shared the programs of their respective provinces in assisting OFWs.

Non-government Organization (NGO) representatives, namely, Center for Migrant Advocacy, DAWN and PMRW, and FMW Group, commended the efforts of the local government units (LGUs) and expressed the hope that the same can be replicated all over the country.

DFA-OUMWA Principal Assistant Priscile Minde Bahjin was the facilitator of the discussion while DFA officials, Special Assistant Renato P.O. Villa, Legal Officer Omar M. Pangarungan and Special assistant Edward C. Yulo of the Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns (OUCSCC) served as reactors.

The roundtable is part of a series of consultation meetings with different stakeholders in the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers. END