Baguio city: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Cordillera Administrative Region has initiated a robust campaign against illegal recruitment and human trafficking by engaging communities and educational institutions.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lawyer Cheryl Daytec, the officer-in-charge regional director, announced that the DMW has already signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the provincial government of Benguet and plans to extend this initiative to Kalinga, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Apayao. These agreements aim to involve local governments in disseminating information about DMW programs and shielding residents from recruitment scams.
The DMW is also collaborating with the Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Commission on Higher Education to aid distressed and repatriated overseas Filipino workers and educate students who may be enticed abroad for internships or work. "We are taking the anti-illegal recruitment campaign directly to schools," Daytec stated.
Illegal recruitment and trafficking are among the primary issues reported to the DMW, which manages an average of 10 to 12 client cases daily. Other concerns include abuse, contract substitution, nonpayment of overtime, and recently, 'warshock' due to the Israel conflict. The Cordillera region hosts more than 36,000 documented overseas Filipino workers.
Daytec highlighted a recent case involving over 150 local victims, out of nearly 500 nationwide, who were deceived by a recruiter promising jobs in Japan, Switzerland, and Canada. These individuals paid placement fees ranging from PHP150,000 to PHP200,000, only to realize at the airport on November 15, 2026, that they had been scammed. The DMW has partnered with the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, and Integrated Bar of the Philippines to build a strong case against the alleged recruiter, Sheena Mae Canlas.
Daytec urged the public to be vigilant for signs of illegal recruitment, emphasizing that legitimate recruitment occurs only at job fairs, special recruitment activities, or registered manpower offices, not in informal locations like homes or restaurants. Recruiters must possess a valid license, and job orders can be verified at DMW.gov.ph. Fees are restricted to passport applications and medical examinations, should not exceed one month's salary, and must be accompanied by a receipt. "If a job offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is," she warned.
With the Cordillera being one of the country's top sources of overseas workers, Daytec emphasized the importance of intensifying information campaigns to safeguard potential victims.
