ZAMBOANGA CITY - Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has assisted 289 Filipino OFWs from Sabah who returned to the country last night in view of the brewing tension in Sabah between the Malaysian authorities and the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu.
"The DOLE helped facilitate their smooth arrival, and we are ready with our reintegration programs and other services for Filipinos who may decide to return to the country either for good or to wait for the situation to stabilize before returning to Sabah," said Baldoz.
In view of the Sabah standoff, Baldoz has issued a series of instructions to her officials on what to do just in case returning Filipinos arrive from Sabah.
She has also ordered regional office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in Zamboanga to coordinate with the DOLE Regional Office No. 9, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the local authorities for establishing a profile of and documenting the returnees to be able to determine what appropriate services could be provided them.
"The documents of those who wish to return to their employers after the situation has returned to normal, such as their overseas employment certificates, must be ready for processing," Baldoz said.
"On the other hand, returnees who plan to stay in the country for good should be provided reintegration assistance through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO)," Baldoz said.
"Some of them may look for jobs and we are ready to provide them job matching and job referral assistance. I have instructed the DOLE regional office, the OWWA, and the NRCO to prepare our livelihood business starter kits for those who wish to engage in business. The TESDA is also prepared to provide training to those who wish to pick up employable or business skills," she added.
Baldoz visited Zamboanga City to meet with officials of the DOLE Regional Coordinating Committee and ensure that all DOLE programs and services are in place for the expected influx of Filipino returnees from Sabah. (FPG/GTT/DOLE9/PIA9/alt)