The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) rescued 78 aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from an unregistered accommodation facility inside a recruitment agency compound in Palanan, Makati City, following the implementation of a closure order on Thursday.

The operation was carried out under Closure Order No. 2 and led by DMW-National Capital Region Regional Director Atty. Falconi Millar, together with the Migrant Workers Protection Division, as part of the agency’s intensified campaign against illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

Based on initial interviews, the applicants said they were recruited by Jenerick International Manpower Incorporated and were promised domestic work placements in several countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Authorities, however, found that the applicants were being housed in a facility that had no proper registration or clearance from the DMW. The agency said the accommodation was unfit for habitation due to limited space, poor ventilation, and unsafe living conditions.

The DMW said it immediately coordinated with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to provide assistance to the rescued applicants, including financial aid and temporary shelter. The Makati City local government also assisted in ensuring the orderly and safe conduct of the operation.

The agency stressed that the rescue operation is part of government efforts under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to protect Filipinos seeking overseas employment from deceptive recruitment schemes and unsafe working conditions.

The DMW urged job seekers to verify recruitment agencies, job orders, and documents with the agency before paying fees, signing contracts, or proceeding with deployment processes. It also encouraged the public to report suspicious recruitment activities to authorities to help prevent illegal recruitment and human trafficking.