To avoid fake recruiters, barangays’ help sought

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council is requesting all barangays in the city to coordinate with the Department of Manpower Development and Placement before any private recruitment agency conducts activities in their respective barangays.

Councilor Sisinio Andales, in his resolution, said this is to make sure that the constituents of the city will not become victims of illegal recruiters.

"Cebu City Government needs to protect its constituents from bogus recruitment companies which might be conducting recruitment in Cebu City," Andales stated.

 "DMDP is true to its mission to provide an effective and efficient employability enhancement program and placement services," he added.

According to Andales, there were reports that private companies or agencies conducted recruitment for employment in some barangays in Cebu City without informing DMDP.

The councilor cited Section 16 of Republic Act 7160 known as the Local Government Code that states that "every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare."

Furthermore, rules and regulations governing private recruitment and placement agency for local employment of the Department of Labor and Employment states that "a licensed agency or its authorized representative shall secure an authority to recruit from the regional office having jurisdiction over the place where recruitment activities will be undertaken. Such authority shall be co-terminus with the license unless sooner revoked/cancelled by the issuing regional office or terminated by the agency."

Last Monday, alleged illegal recruiter Kirby Gonzales Racaza-Silva was arrested in Barangay Vito, Minglanilla, Cebu for swindling P37 million from almost 2,500 persons across the country.

The complainants reported that Silva asked P20,000 as assessment fee and promised to give them a job in Australia, which turned out to be not true. —(FREEMAN)