DMW boosts fight vs. illegal recruitment, human trafficking in Kalinga

By Marita Moaje, Philippine News Agency

FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Representatives from the Department of Migrant Workers, the Kalinga provincial government, and concerned government agencies sign a memorandum of agreement to establish Illegal Recruitment-Free LGUs and strengthen protections for OFWs on Thursday (Feb. 19, 2026). The partnership aims to strengthen efforts against illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons at the grassroots level. (Photo: PNA)

MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DMW-CAR) has teamed up with the provincial government of Kalinga, with its seven municipalities and lone city, in a bid to strengthen the fight against illegal recruitment and human trafficking at the grassroots level.

In a news release Friday, the DMW said the Kalinga LGU signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the agency on Thursday, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to establish Illegal Recruitment-Free Local Government Units (LGUs).

“The agreement aims to strengthen efforts against illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons at the grassroots level while converging the programs and services of the DMW to ensure wider access for OFWs and their families,” the DMW said.

DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said strengthened coordination with LGUs ensures that communities are informed about legitimate overseas work opportunities and government safeguards against illegal recruitment.

He also cited other DMW programs, including its legal, medical, and financial assistance, that help promote the rights and welfare of OFWs.

Kalinga Governor James Edduba noted the timeliness of the initiative amid rising cases of illegal recruitment, saying the partnership would help ensure that its residents are empowered when deciding to work overseas, enabling them to make sound and informed choices.

DMW-CAR OIC-Regional Director Cheryl Daytec highlighted the historical roots of illegal recruitment and human trafficking exploitation in the Cordilleras, recalling that Cordillerans were among the earliest victims of deceptive recruitment.

She said Cordillerans were brought to the United States in 1904 for the St. Louis World’s Fair, and to Belgium in 1913 for the Ghent International Exposition, where they were forced to portray tribal life in a fabricated “Igorot Village.”

Officials from the Philippine National Police and representatives from Public Employment Services Offices (PESO) and Migrant Desk Offices across the province also joined the initiative, underscoring a whole-of-government approach to protecting Kalinga residents.