- The Department of Migrant Workers-Cordillera (DMW-CAR) is strengthening partnerships to boost financial literacy, safe migration education, and anti-illegal recruitment awareness for OFWs and aspiring migrants.
- It is collaborating with universities to integrate Pre-Migration Orientation Seminar (PMOS), illegal recruitment prevention, and human trafficking awareness into academic curricula.
- In partnership with the Philippine National Bank (PNB), DMW-CAR is expanding financial education programs and offering OFW-focused financial products to support financial stability and reintegration.
The Department of Migrant Workers-Cordillera (DMW-CAR) is intensifying its efforts to protect and empower overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and aspiring migrants by strengthening partnerships with key institutions across the region. These initiatives focus on expanding financial literacy, promoting safe migration education, and enhancing anti-illegal recruitment awareness.
As part of its strategy, DMW-CAR is working closely with the Commission on Higher Education in the Cordillera Administrative Region to institutionalize safe migration programs in colleges and universities. The proposed collaboration includes crafting a memorandum of understanding that will integrate anti-illegal recruitment and human trafficking awareness into academic curricula across higher education institutions.
In Benguet, discussions with Benguet State University have centered on incorporating the Pre-Migration Orientation Seminar (PMOS) into academic programs. This initiative aims to equip students with essential knowledge about overseas employment processes, migrant rights, and the risks associated with working abroad. By embedding these topics into formal education, students can make informed decisions before pursuing overseas jobs.
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A similar effort is underway with Kalinga State University, where the focus is on strengthening lessons related to illegal recruitment prevention and trafficking in persons. This move comes in response to the increasing threat of online illegal recruitment schemes targeting job seekers in the Cordillera region. DMW-CAR emphasized that integrating these topics into school curricula is a proactive approach to prevention.
These academic partnerships build on previous collaborations, including agreements with the Provincial Government of Kalinga to enhance the Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons (AIRTIP) campaign.
Meanwhile, DMW-CAR is also addressing the financial preparedness of OFWs through its partnership with the Philippine National Bank (PNB). Proposed initiatives include financial education programs focusing on budgeting, savings, and investment planning. These programs aim to help OFWs achieve financial stability, build sustainable income, and ensure successful reintegration upon returning home.
PNB also introduced its OFW-focused financial products, such as affordable remittance services, savings accounts, insurance, and reintegration loans. The bank plans to expand its financial literacy initiatives and social entrepreneurship programs to reach more Filipino workers abroad. Through these collaborations, DMW-CAR aims to create a more informed, protected, and financially empowered migrant workforce.
