The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has provided relief assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Northern Mindanao amounting to PHP2.2 million.

At a press briefing here on Tuesday, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the 43 OFWs, mostly from Misamis Oriental province, sought help through the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (Aksyon) Fund.

He said the OFWs were scammed when they arrived in South Korea.

Additionally, four other OFWs received boxes containing relief items, each amounting to PHP120,000.

The Aksyon Fund is for urgent and critical assistance needed by OFWs facing multiple challenges while working abroad and by their families left behind.

Meanwhile, Olalia said DMW is proactively monitoring recruitment schemes posted online for work and study abroad, as agencies conducting placement services can be operating illegally.

“Even when these agencies claim they are registered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or Department of Labor and Employment, their recruitment activities remain illegal if they did not obtain a license from the DMW,” he said. (PNA)