To make it easier for OFWs to come running back to the Philippine government for whatever grievance they suffer in the hands of their employers or recruiters, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) set up shop in several parts of the world. We know them as the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).
We have compiled the list of POLO offices overseas and as a Filipino living and working abroad, please be guided about these offices depending on the country where you are working.
The government has always taken the role of a protector: an unrelenting defender of citizens against the horrors of injustice and aggression-foreign or otherwise-without interference. Though the idea of government “taking care of its people” may seem like the oldest cliche if there ever was any, it is also a fact embodied in their mandate that is the Constitution itself.
Though the government may seem to fail on many fronts a lot of times, when troubles manifest, citizens come calling to the government, no matter how hated they are. The Philippines, and the OFWs, are obviously not an exception.
Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and its mandate
POLOs are the operating arms of the Office of the Secretary of Labor and the Philippine government. They work in tandem with whatever relevant government agencies and their foreign counterparts to support OFW communities and non-government organizations (NGOs) in monitoring, protecting, and assisting migrant Filipino workers and carrying out adopted policies and programs in whatever international geographical jurisdiction they are assigned. To date, there exist thirty-nine (39) POLO branches worldwide – with thirteen (13) branches in Asia and Oceania, fifteen (15) in the Middle East, seven (7) in Europe, and four (4) in the Americas and Trust Territories.
The POLO manpower
Each POLO comes with a Labor Attaché at its helm, supervising labor corps personnel and managing the operations of the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC). The law mandates that each FWRC employ a minimum of four (4) personnel, excluding the Labor Attaché:
1. A Foreign Service personnel (DFA)
2. A Welfare Officer (OWWA)
3. A Center Coordinator (OWWA)
4. An Interpreter, when necessary (local hire)
Each POLO operates under the One-Country Team Approach (OCTA). That said, all officers, representatives, and personnel posted in each one, wherever it may be located, act as one team under the Ambassador.
POLO missions and operations
Like any government agency, POLOs have their own set of duties and responsibilities to Filipino workers abroad. They are in place for the following reasons:
- To administer and enforce the policies and programs of the International Labor Affairs while protecting the general welfare of all Filipino workers abroad.
- To act as the representative-slash-marketing agents of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA),Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), with the authority to negotiate and enter into contracts with foreign employers.
- To forge harmonious relationships and labor policy information exchanges between the Philippines and the host country as well as the OFWs and the managements of the host country where they are assigned.
- To assist OFWs in the preparation, design, and certification of contracts and all documents relating to employment and whenever applicable, to collect fees.
- To assist and implement foreign exchange remittance programs for OFWs and their beneficiaries back home.
- To keep DOLE posted about any significant developments in political, cultural, social, and economic aspects and policy innovations relevant to Philippine labor needs.
- To assist and support diplomatic and consular missions that will foster cordial relationship and goodwill between the Philippines and the host country.
- To submit regular and special reports as needed.
- To perform whatever functions there may be, as specified by the law or as ordered or assigned by the Labor Secretary.
Directory of Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) worldwide
Asia and Oceania
POLO Hong Kong
Address: Philippine Consulate General, Office No. 2, 2902 29/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty
Website: https://polo-hongkong.com/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Melchor B. Dizon, Labor Attaché I Antonio R. Villafuerte, Labor Attaché I Angelica M. Sunga
Email Address: polo_hongkong@dole.gov.ph / info@polo-hk.com
Phone number: (+852) 2866 0640 / (+852) 2865 2445 / (852) 5529-1880 / 6345-9324 (OWWA)
Fax number: (852) 2861-3521
POLO Macau (HK extension office)
Address: Philippine Consulate General
Unit 1406, 14th Floor AIA Tower 251-301,
Avenida de Commercial de Macau, Macau SAR
Website: https://macaupcg.dfa.gov.ph/2015-02-18-02-45-25
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Ma. Nena G. German
Email Address: polomacau@yahoo.com / owwamacau@gmail.com / polomacau.info@gmail.com / macau@owwa.gov.ph
Phone number: (853) 2871-5039 / (+853) 28757111 local 115 / (+853) 66872509 (Duty Officer/POLO Hotline) / (+853) 62587887 (Duty Officer/OWWA/OEC Hotline)
Fax number: (+853) 28757227
POLO Tokyo
Address: Philippine Embassy, 1-15-5 Roppongi Minato-Ku, Tokyo 106-8537, Japan
Website: http://polotokyo.dole.gov.ph
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Marie Rose C. Escalada, Labor Attaché II Dominador B. Salanga
Email Address: polo_tokyo@dole.gov.ph / polotky@philembassy.net
Phone number: (813) 6441-0428 / 0478
Fax number: (813) 6441-3436
POLO Osaka
Address: 701 Floor Urban Center Midosuji, 4-3-5 Awaji-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
Website: https://poloosaka.dole.gov.ph/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Elizabeth Marie R. Estrada
Email Address: pcg.osaka.laborsection@gmail.com / pcglaborsection.verfication2020@yahoo.com (for labor documentation concerns) / pcg.laborsection.welfare@gmail.com (for welfare concerns)
Phone number: +81 665 757 593; +8170 2275 6082 (hotline for labor documentation concerns); / +8170 2447 4016 (hotline for welfare concerns)
POLO Singapore
Address: Philippine Embassy, 20 Nassim Road, Singapore 258395
Website: https://polosingapore.dole.gov.ph/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Saul T. de Vries, Labor Attaché I Macy Monique Maglanque
Email Address: polo_singapore@dole.gov.ph (Contract Verification/Agency Accreditation) /
polosgappointment@yahoo.com (Contract Verification/Collection Appointment, Agency Accreditation Appointment, OWWA Membership Appointment) / oecpolosingapore@gmail.com (OEC Concerns) / polosgwebinar@gmail.com (Webinar Concerns) / polosgaccreditation@gmail.com (Agency Accreditation Concerns)
Phone number: +65 67373977 Ext. 134 and 135 (Contract Verification/Agency Accreditation /OEC Concerns) / +65 8186 3549 (Contract Verification/Agency Accreditation/OEC Concerns)
Fax number: (65) 6732-5789
POLO Kuala Lumpur
Address: Philippine Embassy, No. 1 Changkat Kia Peng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website: http://www.philembassykl.org.my/main/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Johnson Cañete, Labor Attaché I Violeta D. Buenaventura
Email Address: polo_kualalumpur@yahoo.com
Phone number: +(603) 2181 7299 / +(603) 2161 2222 / +(6017) 8837 089 (Hotline) / (603) 2148-4233 loc 122 / (603) 9202-3756 / (016) 3971-756 (hotline)
Fax number: (603) 2143-3051
POLO Brunei Darussalam
Address: Philippine Embassy, Simpang 336, Diplomatic Enclave, Jalan Kebangsaan, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam BA1210
Website: https://bruneipe.dfa.gov.ph/labour-section
Person in charge: Labor Attaché I Melissa C. Mendizabal
Email Address: polo_brunei@dole.gov.ph / Carl_Brunei@yahoo.com
Phone number: (6732) 237-052 (DL); (6732) 241465, (6732) 2241466 Loc. 112,113 and 114, +673-729-1316 (24-hour Emergency Hotline, For Processing of Employment Contracts, OEC)
Fax number: (6732) 236-980
POLO Taipei
Address: MECO Labor Center, 2F, Chang Hong New Era Building, 55 & 57 Zhouzi Street, Neihu District 114, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Cesar L. Chavez, Jr.
Email Address: polo_taipei@dole.gov.ph / mlctpi@ms65.hinet.net
Phone number: (8862) 2658-9210 / 2658-9211 / 932- 218057 (Hotline)
Fax number: (8862) 2658-9123
POLO Kaohshiung
Address: MECO Labor Center,Grand 50 Tower, 9F-3, No. 80 Minzu 1st Rd., San Min District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 807
Website: https://www.meco.org.tw/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Rustico SM dela Fuente
Email Address: polo_kaohshiung@dole.gov.ph / plckhh@ms65.hinet.net
Phone number: (8867) 398-2475 / 073987078 (OWWA ext 10 & 12)
Fax number: (8867) 398-0541 / (886) 988-976-596
POLO Taichung
Address: MECO Labor Center, No. 220, 20th Floor Sec. 2 Taiwan Boulevard West District, Taichung City 40354, Taiwan
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Fidel A. Macauyag
Email Address: polo_taichung@dole.gov.ph / meco_plc@msa.hinet.net
Phone number: (8864) 23228836 ext 14 / (8869) 66537732 (Hotline)
Fax number: (8864) 23222889
POLO Korea
Address: Philippine Embassy, 2nd Floor, 17 Hoenamu-ro, 42-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04346, Korea
Website: http://www.philembassy-seoul.com/polo.asp
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama, Labor Attaché I Teresa Lourdes Pimentel
Email Address: labor@philembassy-seoul.com
Phone number: (822) 3785-3634 / 35 / 010 6591 6290 (Hotline) / (8210) 4573 6290 (Hotline)
Fax number: (02) 3785-3624
POLO Australia
Address: Philippine Embassy, No. 1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600, Australia
Website: https://www.philembassy.org.au/latest/polo
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Cynthia Q. Lamban
Email Address: labattvic@yahoo.com
Phone number: (612) 6273-8882
Fax number: (612) 62733984
POLO New Zealand
Address: Philippine Embassy, 50 Hobson St. Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand 6011 / P.O. Box 120-42, Wellington, New Zealand 6144 (Mailing address)
Website: https://www.philembassy.org.nz
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Angel L. Borja, Jr.
Email Address: wellington.pe@philembassy.org.nz
Phone number: (+644) 8903741 / (+644) 8903742 / (+644) 8903744 / (+64) 022 074 6517 (24/7 Emergency Hotline)
Fax number: (+644) 8903740
Middle East
POLO Riyadh
Address: Philippine Overseas Labor Office, No. 49 Shat Fairuz, Umm Al Hamam Ash Sharqi, P.O. Box 94366, Riyadh 12321, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Website: https://www.poloriyadh.com/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Nasser S. Mustafa, Labor Attaché I Henry P. Tianero
Email Address:
Phone number: +9660502850944 / (9661)483-2201 to 03
Fax number: (9661) 483-2204/483-2196
POLO Unaizah
Address: Philippine Overseas Labor Office, No. 49 Shat Fairuz, Umm Al Hamam Ash Sharqi, P.O. Box 94366, Riyadh 12321, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Person in charge: OIC-Labor Attaché II Nasser S Mustafa
Email Address: polo_cro@dole.gov.ph
Phone number: +966 50 285 0944
Fax number: (9661) 480-6593
Philippine Embassy, P.O. Box 94366, Riyadh 11693, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
POLO Alkhobar
Address: Philippine Overseas Labor Office, 4th Street Prince Hamoud, Aqrabiya, Alkhobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Person in charge: OIC-Labor Attaché II Nasser S Mustafa
Email Address: polo_alkhobar@dole.gov.ph / polo_ero@yahoo.com
Phone number: (96613) 894-1846 / 894-2890/ (96653) 4495729 (hotline)
Fax number: (96613) 899-5714
POLO Jeddah
Address: 4663 Fajr Street Al Rehab District 6 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 21412
Website: http://www.polojeddah.com/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Nasser B. Munder, Labor Attaché I Hermenigildo L. Daytoc
Email Address: polo_jeddah@dole.gov.ph / polo_jeddah@yahoo.com / philippinelaboroffice.jeddah@gmail.com
Phone number: (9661) 22860274 / (9665) 69819720 / 61297677 (Hotline) / +966 56 981 9720 / (9662) 676-3966 / (9723) 544-4531 / 601-0517 / 601-0521
Fax number: (9723)544-4580 / 602-2496 (OWWA)
POLO Abu Dhabi
Address: Philippine Embassy, W-48, Street No. 8, Sector 2-23 Plot 51, Al Qubaisat, Abu Dhabi, UAE P.O Box 3215
Website: https://poloabudhabi.weebly.com
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Manuel Dimaano, Labor Attaché I Jesus Vicente Magsaysay II, Labor Attaché I Liwayway Y. Ilo
Email Address: poloabudhabi@yahoo.com / poloauh@yahoo.com
Phone number: (9715) 62709157 (Hotline), +971 54 725 8482 (Contract Verification), +971 50 880 6747 (Job Orders), +971 50 880 6718 / +971 50 390 2367 (OEC Issuance)
Fax number: (9712) 639-0025
POLO Dubai
Address: Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Villa No. 2 Street No. 26, Beirut Street, Al Qusais 3, P.O. Box 4960 Dubai UAE
Website: http://www.polodubaiportal.org
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Felicitas Q. Bay, Labor Attaché I Nelia A. Olivera
Email Address: polo_dubai@dole.gov.ph / polodxb@emirates.net.ae
Phone number: (9714) 220-7011 / 050-652-6626 (Hotline)
Fax number: (9714) 220-7277 / 220-7400 (OWWA)
POLO Bahrain
Address: Philippine Embassy, Villa 939 Road 3220, Blk 332, Mahooz Area, PO Box 26681, Kingdom of Bahrain
Website: https://manamape.dfa.gov.ph/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Vicente M. Cabe
Email Address: polo_bahrain@dole.gov.ph / polobahrain@yahoo.com
Phone number: (973)177-40951 / (973)177-40139
Fax number: (973) 177-40829
POLO Kuwait
Address: Philippine Embassy, Building 133, Street 304, Block 3, Sabah Al-Salem Area, Kuwait (temporary) / Philippine Embassy, Villla 816, Block 1, Street 101 corner Abdullah Abdullaziz Al Humaidi Street, Al Siddeeq Area, South Surra, State of Kuwait
Website: http://polo-kuwait.com/
Person in charge: OIC, Labor Attaché II Nasser S. Mustafa, Labor Attaché I Cathrine A. Duladul
Email Address: polokuwaitcovid19@gmail.com / polokuwait2017@gmail.com
Phone number: (965) 2202-2162 to 65 / (965) 94039063 (Hotline)
Fax number: (965) 25345469
POLO Lebanon
Address: Philippine Embassy, 2nd Floor W Building, Mar Geries Street, Rue Mar Geries, Hadat, Baabda, Mount Lebanon 1003
Website: https://www.kaagapaymo.org/lebanon-philippine-overseas-labor-office-polo/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Alejandro A. Padaen, Labor Attaché I Firma P. Bantilan
Email Address: pololebanon@yahoo.com
Phone number: (961) 05953523 / 71178241 / (961) 71418657 (Hotline)
Fax number: 05-953523
POLO Qatar
Address: Philippine Embassy, 20th Floor, Al Jazeera Tower, Bldg. 186, Conference Center Street, No. 836, Zone 61, West Bay, Doha, State of Qatar
Website: http://www.polodoha.com.ph
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II David Des T. Dicang
Email Address: polo_qatar@dole.gov.ph / polodoha@qatar.net / qatar@owwa.gov.ph
Phone number: (974) 4488-3858 / 4486-8001 / 4486-1220 / (974) 5054-0707 / (974) 3030- 4778 / (974) 7704- 7356 (Hotline)
Fax number: (974) 44883-858 / 44870-487 (OWWA)
POLO Oman
Address: Bldg. No. 1045, Way No. 3015 Al Kharijiya Street, Al Shatti Qurum, Muscat, Oman
Website: http://polomuscatoman.weebly.com
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Gregorio T. Abalos, Jr.
Email Address: polomuscat@gmail.com
Phone number: (+968) 24605171 / (+968) 79905211 (OFW Assistance) / (+968) 93557931 (24/7 Hotline)
Fax number: (96824) 605-177(POLO)/ 605-171(OWWA)
POLO Israel
Address: Philippine Embassy, 18 Bnei Dan Street, Tel-Aviv, Israel
Website: https://tel-avivpe.dfa.gov.ph/2014-04-25-06-50-07/2014-04-28-06-24-50
Person in charge: Labor Attaché I Rodolfo G. Gabasan
Email Address: polois_2012@yahoo.com
Phone number: (9723) 602-2496 / (9723) 544-4531
Fax number: (9723) 544-4584 / 03-544-4580
POLO Jordan
Address: Philippine Overseas Labor Office, No. 28 113 Al Manar Bldg., Khalil Yaseen Al Talhouni St., Deir, Ghbar Amman, Jordan
Website: https://ammanpe.dfa.gov.ph/labor-office/2016-06-30-07-34-33
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Jainal T. Rasul, Jr.
Email Address: labatt_jordan@yahoo.com (For the Labor Attaché) / welofjordan@gmail.com (For the Welfare Officer)
Phone number: (9626) 593-0464 / (9626) 535-0169 / 535-0293
Fax number: (9626) 535-0293
POLO Libya (No POLO Operations noted as of January 2021)
Address: Philippine Embassy, Km. 7 Gargaresh Road, Abu Nawas, P.O. Box 12508, Tripoli, Libya
Website: https://philembassytripoli.weebly.com/contact-us.html
Person in charge: Atty. Melchor B. Dizon (Labor Attache)
Email Address: pololibya_mbd@yahoo.com
Phone number: (+218-21) 483-7059 / (+218) 927-485-473 (Hotline)
Fax number: (+218-21) 483-2544
POLO Syria (No POLO Operations noted as of January 2021)
Address: Philippine Embassy, Hamzeh bin Al Mutaleb St. Bldg. 56, West Mezzeh Area, Damascus, Syria
Website: http://www.damascuspe.dfa.gov.ph/
Person in charge: OWWA Administrative Staff April Bisquera
Email Address: pe.damascus@gmail.com
Phone number: +963 11 613 2626 / (96311) 612-5138
Fax number: (96311) 611-5894
Americas and Trust Territories
POLO Washington D.C.
Address: Philippine Embassy, 1600 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/polowashingtondcdole-akap
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Angela Librado-Trinidad, Labor Attache I Josephine Borromeo
Email Address: wdc.doleakap@gmail.com / polo_usa@dole.gov.ph
Phone number: (1202) 467-9426 / 240-780-1519 (viber/whatsapp)
Fax number: (1202) 887-5830
POLO Los Angeles
Address: Philippine Consulate General, 3435 Wilshire Blvd Suite 550, Los Angeles, CA 90010, USA
Website: https://www.philippineconsulatela.org/tag/philippine-overseas-labor-office-los-angeles
Person in charge: Labor Attaché I Armi Evangel Peña, Labor Attache I Miguel Ignacio Castriciones
Email Address:
Phone number: (1213) 9442599 / +1 213-944-2519 / (213) 223-1120
POLO TorontoToronto
Address: Philippine Consulate General, 160 Eglinton Avenue East Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M4P 3B5 Canada
Website: https://torontopcg.dfa.gov.ph/polo
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Rachel P. Zozobrado-Nagayo
Email Address: polotrt@bellnet.ca / polotoronto.2019@gmail.com
Phone number: (1416) 975-8252 / (1416) 975-8272 / (1416) 975-1771 / 647 9927656 (Hotline)
Fax number: (1416) 975-8277
POLO Vancouver
Address: Philippine Consulate General, Philippine Overseas Labor Office, World Trade Center Office Complex, Suite 611, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C3E1
Website: https://www.vancouverpcg.org/polo/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Margarita Eugenia F. Victorino, Labor Attaché I Oliva B. Macawili
Email Address: polo.vancouver@yahoo.ca
Phone number: (604) 641-1234 / (+1) 604 767 3354 (Hotline)
Fax number: (1604) 641-1279
Europe
POLO Rome
Address: Philippine Embassy, Via Delle Medaglie D’Oro, 112-114, 00136 Rome, Italy Viale delle Medaglie d’Oro, 112/114, 00136 Roma RM, Italy
Website: https://www.polorome.com
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Haney Lynn Siclot
Email Address: polo_dole@dole.gov.ph / services@polorome.com / rome@owwa.gov.ph
Phone number: (3906) 397-46101 / 397-51751 (OWWA) / 397-21505 (SSS) / +39 06 3974 6621 local 226
Fax number: (3906) 397-46101/397-4087
POLO Milan
Address: Philippine Consulate General, Viale Stelvio 71 -Via Bernina 18, Milan 20159, Italy
Website: https://polomilan.dole.gov.ph/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Maria Corina P. Buñag
Email Address: polomilan1@gmail.com
Phone number: (3902) 668-4647
Fax number: (3902) 439-86538
POLO Geneva
Address: Philippine Mission to the United Nations, 47 Avenue Blanc 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Website: https://brusselspe.dfa.gov.ph/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Cheryl Daytec-Yañgot
Email Address: polo_switzerland@dole.gov.ph / ycporschie@yahoo.com
Phone number: (4122) 738-7513 / (4122) 738-7513 (Hotline) / (4122) 716-1930 / +32 (0) 488 60 91 77 (Duty Officer, Emergency Hotline – Brussels)
Fax number: (4122) 738-7513
POLO Madrid
Address: Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Calle Serrano 161, Planta Baja, 28002 Madrid, Spain
Website: https://www.philembassymadrid.com/labor-services-2
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Joan Lourdes D. Lavilla
Email Address: polomadrid2020@gmail.com / oficinalaboral@philembassymadrid.com
Phone number: (3491) 577-6755/ 781-8625 / (3491) 577-6755 / (3460) 352-1660 (Hotline)
Fax number: +34 91 411 6606
POLO Greece
Address: Philippine Embassy, 10 Fthiotidos Street, Ambelokipi, Athens, Greece
Website:https://athenspe.dfa.gov.ph/philippine-overseas-labor-office-polo
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Cynthia R. Cruz
Email Address: polo_greece@dole.gov.ph / pologr8@otenet.gr
Phone number: (30210) 698-3335
Fax number: (30210) 698-3335
POLO London
Address: Philippine Embassy, 3F, 6-11 Suffolk St. SW1Y 4HG London, UK
Website: http://londonpe.dfa.gov.ph/labor-welfare
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Amuerfina R. Reyes
Email Address: polo_london13@yahoo.co.uk / polo_london@dole.gov.ph
Phone number: (+44) 20 7839 8078 / (44207) 451-1832 / 451-1833 / 839-8039
Fax number: (44207) 839-7345
POLO Berlin
Address: Philippine Embassy, 3rd Floor, Luisenstrasse 16, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Website: http://poloberlin.dole.gov.ph/
Person in charge: Labor Attaché II Delmer R. Cruz
Phone number: (49030) 864-9500 loc 301
Note that all the information provided for in this directory has been updated to the most recent data made available by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on January 4, 2021 as well as the existing information from the different Labor offices websites.