The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has temporarily stopped the implementation of the new online processing system at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Hong Kong pending the results of a probe on its service provider.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said he ordered a fact-finding team to look into the allegation that the new online system service provider of Polo in Hong Kong was selected without the necessary public bidding and consultation.
Information and Publication Service Director Rolly M. Francia said the team is headed by Labor Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano.
“The new system will not be implemented until the investigation on the issue is completed,” Francia told the BusinessMirror in a phone interview.
Francia said Labor Attaché for Hong Kong Jalilo O. de la Torre will also be investigated since the said service contract, which was signed on March 7, was forged during his term.
“The fact-finding committee has to validate the veracity of the allegations against his answer,” he said.
He said de la Torre is already on his way back to the Philippines after completing his tour of duty in Hong Kong.
Bello issued the administrative order initiating the Hong Kong probe a day after Lilac Center for Public Interest called on DOLE to do so.
‘Questionable’
IN a statement last Friday, Lilac Center President Nicon Fameronag flagged the transaction since Polo Hong Kong’s new service provider, Polaris Tools Ltd., was incorporated in Hong Kong just last February.
“There is something very fishy in this transaction. How can a newly minted company clinch such a contract in such a short period?” the former labor undersecretary said.
Fameronag also claimed there was no transparency in the solicitation of the proposal and the awarding of the new contract to Polaris.
He also raised data privacy concerns over the service contract, which gave Polaris “sufficient access” to Polo data.
“In short, Polaris Tools Ltd. will become the Polo’s secret police with unlimited intrusive power,” Fameronag said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that Hong Kong is one of the most popular destinations for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
In April to September 2018, the PSA said 6.3 percent of OFWs deployed were in Hong Kong. The top destination of OFWs is Saudi Arabia.
The PSA also noted that there were large numbers of Filipino workers in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Taiwan and Qatar.
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