Manila, Philippines The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has closed a consultancy firm in Manila that promised maritime jobs to Filipino workers.
In a statement issued Tuesday (Nov.14), the DMW said its Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), assisted by the Manila police, sealed off the office of Double D Training Consultancy Services (DDTC) at Room 301, MBI Building, Ronquillo corner Ongpin Streets in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
DMW said that DDTC is “neither licensed nor authorized” by the department to recruit and place Filipino seafarers, or to refer them directly to foreign employers.
“To our kababayans, especially those who want to work overseas, do not deal with consultancy firms that offer to get you jobs abroad. Always check the DMW website (www.dmw.gov.ph) for the list of licensed agencies and approved job orders. Itong si DDTC wala silang lisensya kaya wala silang karapatan na mag-hire o mag-deploy ng seafarers sa abroad,” DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac warned the public.
MWPB surveillance operations disclosed that DDTC charged a Php80,000 processing fee per applicant for various sea-based positions that includes able-bodied seaman, oiler, and engineer.
The closure of DDTC will result in the inclusion of the company and its staff in the DMW “List of Persons and Establishments with Derogatory Record.”
This was done in order to prevent them from participating in the government’s overseas recruitment program.
They will also face charges of illegal recruitment.
The DMW likewise encourages the victims of DDTC to contact the MWPB through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip, email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph or through their hotline number +63 2 8721-0619 for legal assistance in filing cases against the company. (Marlon Luistro)
