Gov’t to put up 6 new labor offices abroad

By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA, Dec 26, 2018

MANILA –The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has recently revealed that the government is putting up six more Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in several countries where there are Philippine embassies.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they are coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in creating POLOs in China, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, USA and Croatia.

“I would like to inform you the DFA already agreed to put up six new POLOs. One in Shanghai, Osaka, Berlin, Wellington, Los Angeles and Zagreb,” he said in an earlier interview.

With this, the DOLE chief urged those who are interested to have the presence of POLOs in their country to apply before the DFA.

“For those who are interested, please apply,” Bello said.

He said it is proper to have POLO in every embassy, but they should have a budget to put up such office.

The government official added that if they want to have a POLO office, they need to ask the DFA and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the funds for such purpose.

“After the DFA approves our request, we have to go through the DBM for the budgetary allocation,” Bello said.

The POLO acts as the operating arm of the DOLE for the administration and enforcement of its policies and programs applicable to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

To date, there are 34 POLOs worldwide — 13 in the Middle East, 11 in Asia, seven in Europe, and three in the Americas.