Department of Labor and Employment(DOLE)

Hi, this is a resubmission of #DOLE-137722013199 because the requested documents were not provided. I wish to obtain a list of POLO-HK accredited agencies.

This list should be provided to me via the www.foi.gov.ph portal as that is the appropriate procedure.

There is growing concern that POLO-HK is hiding the fact that it has granted accreditations to a number of dodgy and unethical agencies and thus it is necessary for a list of accredited agencies to be available to the public. Currently, it is impossible for OFWs to know if an agency is accredited or not which leads to illegal recruitment

September 10, 2020

Dear Grace A.,

Thank you for your request dated Aug 12, 2020 09:22:37 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for POLO-HK Accredited Agencies.

We received your request on Aug 12, 2020 09:22:37 PM and will respond on or before Sep 02, 2020 09:22:37 PM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHgsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEURPTEUtNjk5MzM3Njg0Mzc2DA, for request with ticket number #DOLE-699337684376.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Liezel S. VIllamorel
FOI Receiving Officer

Dear Ms. Graciadas:

This refers to your query entitled: "POLO-HK Accredited Agencies".

Please be informed of the following response from POLO-Hong Kong:

On the issue that the accreditation of employment agencies were granted without explanation or public consultation, POLO-HK is compliant with the mandate and guidelines in processing the applications for accreditations and nothing in any guidelines or process that such explanation was required before the accreditation can be granted.

As per POLO-HK records, it has received so many request for information citing the Executive Order on Freedom of Information, and for this reason, it assigned a dedicated staff to respond to the so many request wherein some of them came from this email sender.

Also for the above reason, POLO-HK adopted the procedure provided in Section 9 of Executive Order No. 2 s.2016 in all request for information under this Executive Order for the protection of privacy of anybody under Section 7.

The procedure being adopted by the POLO-HK are as follows:

a. Any person who requests access to information shall submit a written request to POLO-HK, the request shall state the name and contact information of the requesting party, provide proof of identification i.g. government issued ID such as passport or HKID;

b. The request shall be stamped by the receiving AS indicating the date and time of receipt;

c. POLO-HK shall respond to such request fully compliant with sub-section (a) hereof for a period of not exceeding fifteen (115) working days the receipt thereof; and

d. The requesting party shall shoulder the cost of reproduction or copying of the information required.

For your guidance.

Respectfully yours,

Dir. ALICE Q. VISPERAS
FOI Decision Maker