PESO warning to Kalinga jobseekers: Check recruiters before chasing overseas jobs

323 overseas jobs draw strong interest from iKalingas

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The strong interest of iKalingas in overseas employment has prompted the Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO)-Kalinga to remind jobseekers to prioritize safety and verify recruitment agencies before accepting overseas job offers.

At least 323 overseas vacancies in Malaysia, Singapore, Slovakia, and Hong Kong were offered during a two-day special recruitment activity (SRA) held on August 11–12, 2026, at the PESO office at the Provincial Capitol in Bulanao.

The vacancies included 63 positions in Malaysia, 124 in Singapore, 90 in Slovakia, and 46 in Hong Kong.

The recruitment activity drew at least a hundred applicants, with PESO-Kalinga Manager Designate Ermilinda Wandag describing the turnout as unusually high compared with previous special recruitment activities, which normally attract only a small number of registrants.

“Adda ti agency nga inmay ket nag-request da ti province-wide recruitment, ket first time daytoy nga kastoy kaadu ti inmay. Ta usually nga nu adda ti recruitments ket 10-15 lang ti agre-register,” Wandag said.

She said the office is now comparing the turnout with previous recruitment activities and job fairs to understand the sharp increase in interest.

“Isu metlang ti ad-adalen mi tatta nga ikompara idiay previous nga recruitments, like analysis ta nagadu da talaga. Ad-adu da pay kaysa di job fair. Ngem daytoy met ketdi ket mas okay nu during ti SRAs nga agpa-recruit da, karkaro nu PESO ti involved kasi i-validate mi dayta kenni DMW nu registered dagitoy requesting agencies. As of now ket maysa lang nga agency daytoy nag-request ket various nga places talaga,” she said.

More iKalingas looking overseas

Beyond the number of vacancies, Wandag said the large turnout reflects the continuing interest among Kalinga residents in seeking employment abroad.

“Tatta talaga ket nagadu da, idiay mu talaga nga makita met nga adu ti interesado nga ag-abroad. Dati met ket agkaskastoy tayo ngem bassit latta. Kitkitak dagitoy applicants tatta ket kasla da fresh graduates, although diay dadduma ket kasla da returning OFWs. Baka na-repatriate da idi idiay Middle East ket gapo ta idiay inpost mi ket han nga Middle East ket nagka-interest da met. Kasla kasdiay ti analysis,” she said.

The increased turnout comes as overseas employment remains an important source of livelihood for many Filipino families. Nationally, the Philippine Statistics Authority estimated 1.96 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2022, highlighting the continuing scale of overseas employment.

For Kalinga applicants, however, PESO officials emphasized that the pursuit of an overseas job should never come at the expense of personal safety.

PESO cautious on Middle East jobs

While some recruitment agencies may offer employment opportunities in the Middle East, PESO-Kalinga said it is exercising greater caution in promoting such jobs because of security concerns in the region.

Wandag said the office has long discouraged domestic-helper employment in some Middle Eastern destinations, although skilled jobs may be considered.

This time, however, PESO-Kalinga also chose not to promote Middle Eastern vacancies, including skilled positions, because of current safety concerns.

“.... before nga nagrugi daytoy recruitment binagaan min isudan about the countries. So tatta adda talaga ti Middle East, ngem haan mi nga inpost ta uray gamin nu skill-based nga works, diay situation tatta gamin idiay Middle East we don't encourage talaga. Even before talaga ket medyo i-discourage mi nu domestic helpers, ngem for this pati skilled- although okay kuna ti DMW ngem kadakami ditoy PESO ket haan kuma ta delikado ngay para ken dagitoy kailyan tayo,” she explained.

Because of this precaution, PESO-Kalinga requested that only vacancies in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Slovakia be posted during the recruitment activity.

The caution comes amid continuing security concerns in parts of the Middle East, prompting government agencies to strengthen monitoring and assistance mechanisms for Filipino workers affected by regional tensions and disruptions.

PESO stresses protection against illegal recruitment

Before applicants meet recruitment agencies, PESO-Kalinga conducts an orientation on illegal recruitment, as well as information on the countries and job opportunities being offered through the activity.

The process allows PESO to coordinate with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to verify whether requesting recruitment agencies are properly registered and authorized.

Wandag said the arrangement also gives applicants an opportunity to learn about legitimate employment channels before dealing directly with recruiters.

“...nu mamingsan, siyempre uray nu kasdiay ti ibaga mi ket adda ngay ti agency nga kayat da lang nga ado ti ma-recurit da ket i-offer da dagidiay ibaw-bawal mi nga country. So far ket mayat met dagitoy agencies nga umay ag-request ditoy,” she said.

Jobs range from domestic work to skilled positions

Among the positions available during the recruitment activity were domestic-helper jobs, while other opportunities included positions for cooks and chefs.

Wandag explained that recruitment agencies would assess applicants' qualifications and determine which positions best match their skills and experience.

“For the works, domestic helper ti maysa talaga. Adda met dagidiay cooks, chef ngem kunak nga diay agency tu ti katungtung da tapnu ibiruk na nu anya talaga ti mabalin ken fit idiay skills ti applicants,” she said.

As more Kalinga residents explore opportunities abroad, PESO-Kalinga continues to encourage applicants to use government-authorized recruitment activities, verify agencies through the DMW, carefully read and understand employment contracts, and remain alert against illegal recruitment and offers that appear too good to be true.

The office stressed that a legitimate overseas job opportunity should begin with a legitimate recruitment process—because finding work abroad should never mean putting one's safety and future at risk.