Deployment of 1-M OFWs this year attainable — DOLE

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is optimistic of reaching its goal of deploying one million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) this year with the launch of its DOLE Labor Opportunities Program (DOLOP) Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) deputy administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon said.

Dimzon, however, stressed the need for more private sector participation as "the government cannot do it alone."

As of Oct. 14, Dimzon said the country has deployed 777,724 OFWs of which 74 percent are females and only 26 percent are males.

Last year alone, OFWs and Filipinos residing abroad remitted back to the Philippines $8.5 billion through the banking system with an additional estimate of $4 billion through the informal "padala" system.

The Philippines, however, wants to move away from unskilled construction workers and is instead concentrating on deploying more supervisory-level or professionals and technically skilled workers, Dimzon said.

New labor markets are opening up from the traditional Asian and Middle Eastern destinations, Dimzon revealed.

More and more service professionals in the hotel and restaurant industry are being sought in the high-end resorts of the Caribbean and Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.

With the launch of DOLOP, the DOLE is embarking on a more aggressive marketing of Filipino workers.

The DOLOP will hold a recruiting fare from Nov. 8 to 11 this year at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and representaitives from at least 16 countries interested in hiring Filipino workers are expected to come and see for themselves the labor opportunities.

The strengths of Filipino workers, Dimzon cited, are their technical competence, English proficiency, Western oriented-education/training, caring attitude and adaptability to a multicultural environment.