Pasay, Philippines – Sixty-one aspiring overseas Filipino workers are now safe after government authorities raided and shut down unregistered accommodation facilities in Pasay City on July 9, 2026. The operation exposed cramped, unsafe living conditions inside quarters run by two licensed recruitment agencies.
According to a news release by the Department of Migrant Workers – National Capital Region (DMW-NCR), the welfare check, rescue, and closure operation targeted facilities maintained by Continuous Resources International, Inc. and Phil Asia International Manpower Services. The agency carried out the effort alongside the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and other partner offices.
What Investigators Found
Inspections revealed that both agencies were housing OFW applicants in facilities that never secured the required DMW registration. Worse, the living spaces failed basic safety and dignity standards.
Officials described the conditions as unsafe, substandard, and inhumane. These findings placed both companies in direct violation of DMW Memorandum Circular No. 02, Series of 2025, which sets clear rules on how licensed recruitment agencies must run accommodation facilities for workers awaiting deployment.
The circular exists for one simple reason: to make sure applicants are treated with respect while they prepare for jobs abroad. When agencies ignore it, workers pay the price.
Where the Rescued Workers Are Now
Right after the welfare checks, all 61 applicants were moved out of the flagged facilities and brought to an OWWA-accredited hotel in Pasay City. There, they are staying temporarily while the government sorts out their next steps.
While at the hotel, the rescued workers are receiving:
- Welfare assistance from OWWA
- Other government support services to help them through the transition
The transfer ensures these OFWs are no longer stuck in the poor conditions that triggered the raid in the first place.
DMW Vows to Keep the Pressure On
This operation sends a strong message to recruitment agencies across the country. The DMW made it clear that protecting the rights, safety, welfare, and dignity of Filipino migrant workers remains its top priority.
DMW-NCR said it will keep ramping up inspections, rescue missions, and enforcement actions against any agency running unregistered or substandard housing. The goal is straightforward: full compliance with department rules and zero tolerance for abuse or neglect.
For thousands of Filipinos still dreaming of work abroad, that promise of stricter oversight offers real peace of mind. The message is simple — no aspiring OFW should ever be crammed into unsafe quarters while chasing a better future for their family.