Cebu City pushes for one-stop center for local OFWs

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Council urges the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office (DOLE-7) to establish a one-stop center specifically to service local job seekers in Cebu City through an approved resolution by Councilor Sisinio Andales, Cebu City Deputy Mayor on Labor.

The said move was done to accommodate the needs of local job seekers considering that DOLE had already set up a one-stop center catering to Central Visayas region.

"WHEREAS, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE -7) launched last October 7, 2016 a Regional One Stop Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) at the 2nd floor, Government Express Center, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area," the resolution reads.

It was stated in the approved resolution that the center will streamline government services specifically for overseas job applicants from Cebu City.

The advantage of putting up a one-stop center will reduce the expenses of the job seekers and will shorten the time for processing the documents necessary for the application process for jobs abroad.

A copy of the resolution was forwarded to DOLE-7 office for information dissemination. From the day of the approval of the said resolution, the council waits for DOLE's response on this move to help the local job seekers.

The establishment of a Regional One Stop Center for OFWs was in response to the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to house all government agencies and services in one venue for the ease and convenience of OFWs.

The president directed the labor department to implement the said center in all the regions in the country.

With this, the city council commended SM City Cebu for supporting DOLE-7 by hosting the Regional One-Stop Center for Region 7 inside their building.

The center in SM houses 16 different agencies that offer services to individuals looking for jobs abroad. (FREEMAN)