On 7 July 2022, the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) oriented DOLE CALABARZON focal persons on the labor department’s policies on local recruitment and placement of workers at the DOLE Region IV-A Workers Organization and Development Program (WODP) Center in Calamba City, Laguna.

In her welcome message, Celia Arriola, Chief of the Technical Services and Support Division of DOLE CALABARZON, highlighted the important goal of the activity which is to standardize the processes in the implementation of policies on local recruitment and placement of workers.

Jerome P. Lucas of the BLE introduced the Bureau to the attendees, briefly discussing its mandate and functions. Afterwards, Marcos S. Ursua and Kson Lee G. Piedad tackled the guidelines on local recruitment and placement of workers pursuant to Department Order Nos. 216 and 217, Series of 2020. Among the topics reviewed were the standard procedures on the application for new and renewal of licenses, Authority to Recruit (ATR), and Authority to Operate Branch Office (ATOBO).

During the open forum, questions and clarifications were raised by the participants and the Bureau expressed its intention to consider their recommendations during the policy review to be conducted in 2023.

Lucas ended the orientation by discussing the BLE’s plans for its local employment regulatory program moving forward. He noted the additional benefit of the orientation of affording the Bureau insight into what is happening on the ground, the best practices of DOLE Regional and Field Offices, and, most importantly, the challenges they encounter.

The activity was conducted in line with the implementation of ISO 9001:2015. External and internal audits were conducted by TUV Rheinland in the DOLE Regional Office IV-A on 29 July 2021 and 10 June 2022, respectively. The audits ensure the continual process improvement of the issuance of PEA licenses, ATRs, and ATOBOs.

END/15July2022