(MANILA BULLETIN)

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac says he intends to increase the agency’s ongoing efforts to encourage overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are currently undocumented to go through the legal route.

Cacdac gave this assurance to lawmakers on Monday afternoon, Sep. 9, during the deliberations of DMW’s proposed 2025 budget before the House Committee on Appropriations.

According to the official, the department is looking into broadening its campaign against illegal recruitment and human trafficking by directly going after the wrongdoers.

“Halimbawa, dito po ngayon sa mga (For example, with these) illegal, syndicated [gambling] operations in Southeast Asia, we are working closely with the DOJ (Department of Justice) to identify the Philippine element to these illegal recruitment and human trafficking activities,” he shared.

Similar to the situation with outlawed Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), neighboring countries in Southeast Asia have also been plagued by problems stemming from illegal online gambling. Among these issues is the proliferation of foreign workers, some of whom were trafficked and forced to work.

During her interpellation, Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera observed that a probable obstacle that prevents an undocumented OFW from procuring legal documentation is that they are still able to get financial assistance from the government despite an illegal status.

“Hindi ba tayo nag di-discourage na maging OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) member if sinasalo natin sila even though they’re undocumented?” asked Herrera.

(Aren't we discouraging them to be OWWA members if we still aid them even though they’re undocumented?)

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 10801, or the law that established the OWWA, members are entitled to various social programs, especially when needed. However, non-members, such as the case for undocumented OFWs, are still granted some of the services.

“Of course, sasaluhin natin (we will help them), but at the end of the day, they already know that if they’re not documented, they can still get help,” Herrera added.

In response, Cacdac noted that, under the law, the government is “mandated to help everybody”. 

“That is the state policy, that is the law. And kami naman po ang mapupuntusan, mababalikan kapag hindi naman tinulungan ‘yung undocumented worker,” he added.

(And we are the ones who will be questioned if we do not help the undocumented worker.)

Herrera advised the DMW to start campaigning hard for the undocumented OFWs since their illegal status is “high-risk” in nature.

Based on the department’s estimates, there are around one million undocumented Filipino workers overseas. 

Cacdac says the DMW is keen on strengthening its information drive for undocumented OFWs, which he admitted is “still not enough”.

“We need to heighten our promotion in terms of ensuring that everybody goes to the legal process,” he said.

“We need to further intensify our information campaign to let people know about risks and modus operandi ng mga (of the) illegal recruiters and human traffickers,” he continued.

The DMW chief told the panel that his agency has already started to step up their campaign in opposition to illegal recruitment. 

As proof of this, he said they have already shut down 14 establishments engaged in illegal recruitment activities, as of August 2024. This has already doubled the figure they had the whole of last year, which was seven.