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MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ Proclamation No. 76, July 30, 2001 ]

DECLARING THE YEAR 2002 AS THE “YEAR OF THE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT PROVIDERS”

WHEREAS, employment of Filipino contract workers in gainful jobs overseas has for many years now, helped the government reduce unemployment in the country, and their foreign exchange remittances have substantially helped the nation, especially in times of crisis;

WHEREAS, the government has officially recognized Filipino Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs) as “Bagong Bayanis” and has honored them with Bagong Bayani Awards every year, in grateful recognition of their sacrifices and significant contributions to the country;

WHEREAS, under Section 20, Article II of the 1987 Constitution “The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and provides incentives to needed investments”;

WHEREAS, under Republic Act No. 8042 otherwise known as “The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, it is a declared policy of the State that the legitimate non-government organizations are partners of the government in the promotion and protection of the welfare of Filipino migrant workers;

WHEREAS, private licensed recruitment agencies have been able to find gainful employment for millions of Filipino OCWs such as seafarers; doctors, nurses and other medical workers; engineers and other professionals; skilled and non-skilled workers, with an annual deployment of not less than 500,000 OCWs and have also assisted in repatriating OCWs and generally provided assistance to them and their families;

WHEREAS, one of the major thrusts of the government is to provide more employment, whether locally or overseas, and the government fully recognizes and appreciates the efforts and significant role of the private licensed recruitment agencies or overseas employment providers in helping provide gainful employment to many Filipinos;

WHEREAS, while the government has given official recognition, including incentives, to Filipino OCWs as “Bagong Bayani”, it has yet to give official recognition to the overseas employment providers – – the licensed recruitment agencies, for their successful efforts for more than (2) decades now, in providing employment to millions of Filipinos;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby declare the Year 2002 as the “Year of the Overseas Employment Providers”, in grateful recognition of the significant contribution of private licensed agencies and their associations in helping provide overseas employment and welfare protection to millions of Filipino contract workers since 1976 when the overseas employment program was first launched by the government, and for their role as a legitimate partner of the government in the promotion and protection of the welfare of Filipino OCWs.

It is likewise hereby ordered that the Department of Labor and Employment and its attached agencies – – the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), organize appropriate programs and ceremonies to celebrate Year 2002 as the “Year of Overseas Employment Providers”.1aшphi1

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 30th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, two thousand and one.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary

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