THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) shut down a consultancy firm in Manila that promised maritime jobs to Filipino workers.
The DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), with the help of 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.
DDTC is neither licensed nor authorized by the DMW 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 revealed that DDTC charged a Php80,000 processing fee per applicant for various sea-based positions, such as able-bodied seaman, oiler, and engineer.
The closure of DDTC will result in the inclusion of the firm and its staff in the DMW “List of Persons and Establishments with Derogatory Record” to prevent them from participating in the government’s overseas recruitment program. They will also face charges of illegal recruitment.
The DMW 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 firm.
