PAGADIAN CITY: The Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) declared there is an increase of the
total number Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) last year compared to that in
2013 here in the region.
POEA OIC-Regional Director Marietta
Bellotindos placed the difference at 1,893, from the total 13,141 figure, compared
to that of only 11,248 in 2013.
Bellotindos said the OFWs were
classified as “Balik Manggagawa” since they are former OFWs who were rehired to
work again abroad as she attributed the
increase in the desire of the Filipinos to look for greener pasture abroad.
However, Bellotindos said OFWs
classified as “Name Hires” decreased by 155 in 2014, from the registered total
of 532, compared to that of 687 in 2013.
She said that OFWs who are “Name
Hires” are those referred to the employers by either their OFW friends or
relatives.
The director disclosed that most of
the OFWs are professionals while the others are service workers, laborers,
managerial, sales workers, agricultural, and clerical.
The POEA advises job seekers to apply
only to legitimate recruitment agencies or through their office so as not to
fall victims of illegal recruiters.
POEA-9 recognizes only 36 licensed
recruitment agencies in Zamboanga Peninsula.