Purge unscrupulous recruiters, government urged

An organization of licensed manpower agencies called on the government yesterday to take steps to purge its overseas employment program of unscrupulous players "who undermine its lofty goals and objectives."

The Philippine Association of Recruitment Agencies Deploying Artists Inc. (PARADA) issued the call in reaction to reports that a private group has been illegally issuing certificates of competency and artist record books (ARBs) to Filipino entertainers eyeing overseas employment.

"We have received reports that the POEI (Philippine Overseas Employment Industry) has administered skill assessment for some 2,000 applicants who were charged P1,000 each for certification and assessment fee, as well as the issuance of POEI’s version of the ARB," PARADA chairman Alfredo Palmiery said.

Palmiery said criminal charges should be filed against the POEI officials for alleged usurpation of government functions in conducting qualification tests and issuing ARBs to the overseas performing artists (OPAs).

"We wonder where the POEI got the mandate to usurp the functions of TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) and POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration)," Palmiery added.

He said although they have been pushing for deregulation of the overseas employment industry as mandated by Republic Act 8042, no private entity could arrogate upon itself the functions of government regulatory agencies without prior enactment of pertinent laws.

He charged that POEI was not even composed of licensed recruitment agencies, hence, they could not claim to represent the legitimate industry players.

Palmiery cited an official statement by POEA chief Rosalinda Baldoz saying the ARB can only be issued by a government agency.

Japanese Consul Itsuo Noto has also reportedly informed Baldoz that his government would honor only Philippine government-issued ARBs.

For his part, PARADA president Lorenzo Langomez said: "It is one thing to call for deregulation by legislation. It is another thing to usurp government powers and functions simply because a trial court has issued a decision favoring deregulation of the Philippine entertainment industry." Under existing rules, the TESDA conducts the training and testing of OPAs, and those who passed the tests are given ARBs by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Palmiery also slammed the POEI for alleged undermining efforts by TESDA officials to rationalize and streamline the training, testing and certification of the OPAs.

At the same time, PARADA called on OPAs allegedly victimized by POEI to report to the PARADA secretariat or any member-agency for assistance in filing estafa charges against the POEI leaders "who tricked them into undergoing POEI testing and certification for P1,000 fee."