DAVAO CITY—The Department of Migrant Workers in Davao Region (DMW-11) has successfully processed 23,879 applications for the ‘Balik-Manggagawa’ (BM or returning workers) program since the beginning of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration in 2022.
According to Philippines News Agency, the office issued BM Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) to 10,028 OFWs in 2022 and another 10,647 in 2023. In the first half of 2024 alone, 3,204 OECs were distributed, highlighting the ongoing demand for Filipino labor abroad. “The top job is domestic workers. We have a lot of female workers who are now employed, but the positions that they are in are elementary positions, making them more vulnerable,” Librado explained at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum.
The BM program serves documented workers who return to the Philippines for vacations or personal emergencies before going back to their employment abroad. In 2023, DMW-11 recorded 4,584 returning employees, over 70 percent of whom were females. This trend continued into the first half of 2024, with 2,600 female OFW returnees.
Librado also noted that the top destinations for these workers include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Thailand, and Qatar. Beyond household services, the region’s OFWs are also employed as teachers, cleaners, nurses, and factory workers, reflecting a diverse range of opportunities.
In terms of regional distribution, the majority of OFWs processed in the first half of 2024 were from Davao del Sur, totaling 6,482, followed by Davao del Norte with 2,405, Davao de Oro with 986, Davao Oriental with 774, and Davao Occidental with 161.