WITH many repatriated Filipinos still hoping to work abroad again, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on local government units (LGUs) to accelerate the creation of Migrant Advisory and Information Network (MAIN) and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) desks to help protect job seekers from illegal recruiters.
The move supports the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for LGUs to assist families affected by sudden job losses caused by the Middle East crisis through financial aid and livelihood support.
Based on DILG data, 645 out of 1,724 LGUs nationwide have already established MAIN and OFW desks. Provincial governments posted a 64.63 percent compliance rate, followed by cities at 56.76 percent and municipalities at 34.19 percent.
The DILG said repatriated OFWs planning to seek work overseas again may coordinate with their local MAIN desks for help in identifying suspicious recruiters, reporting illegal job offers, and preventing possible trafficking attempts.
MAIN desks were first established to localize the implementation of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. They were created to handle trafficking-related cases, conduct public awareness campaigns, and document recruitment schemes targeting residents in local communities.
Through these desks, LGUs can also strengthen protection for OFWs by coordinating with local Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) to detect illegal recruiters, and with city or municipal social welfare offices to provide recovery and rehabilitation services for trafficking victim-survivors and their families.
The DILG also cited its memorandum of agreement with the Department of Migrant Workers to expand OFW help desks nationwide and intensify the Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons campaign at the local level.
The Department said it remains firm in the fight against trafficking and illegal recruitment, while empowering LGUs to help Filipinos pursue safer and more dignified opportunities abroad.
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