DMW PADLOCKS TRAVEL AGENCY ILLEGALLY RECRUITING FILIPINO WORKERS TO BULGARIA

KEEPING with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.‘s directive to protect the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against illegal recruiters and syndicates, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday closed down another travel agency for illegally recruiting Filipino factory workers to Bulgaria.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac ordered the closure of YATRA TRAVEL & TOURS, located at 414 New Barrio Road, San Fernando City, Pampanga after it was found engaging in unauthorized recruitment activities without the necessary license from the DMW.

This is the 9th establishment closed by the department for 2025 and targeting more this year to protect the workers from illegal recruiters.

“May mga sinarado na tayong training centers, visa travel consultancy business entities, marami na tayong sinarado. Pang siyam na itong sinarado natin ngayong taon at hindi kami titigil sa mga susunod pang araw. Patuloy po ang surveillance both actual physical and online at hindi po tayo titigil hangga’t hindi po natin nahahalughog lahat ng mga illegal recruiters,” said Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia, who led the closure operations.

The closure operation was carried out by the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), in coordination with police and local government authorities in Bataan.

YATRA TRAVEL is offering job opportunities in Bulgaria for positions as factory workers in the automobile and textile industries, with estimated salaries ranging from P90,000 to P110,000 per month.

The agency charges exorbitant processing fees between P400,000 and P500,000.

Applicants are required to pay P50,000 as a down payment for a slot or reservation, with the remaining balance due after the completion of the required documents, before deployment.

“Ang laki ng sinisingil nila sa ating mga kawawang kababayan. Hinding-hindi natin matatanggap ang ganitong klaseng panloloko. Malinaw ang tagubilin ng ating Pangulo at ng aming mahal na Secretary Hans Cacdac na protektahan ang ating OFWs laban sa illegal recruiters,” said Olalia.

He said YATRA TRAVEL and TOURS committed illegal recruitment and misrepresentation.

The DMW also placed the company’s key officers on its blacklist and permanently barred them from participating in any overseas recruitment activities.

Following the closure, the DMW has recommended the cancellation of the company’s business permit in San Fernando, Pampanga. The department is also preparing legal actions against the company’s officers.

Victims of YATRA TRAVEL and TOURS are encouraged to report their cases to the MWPB through the official hotline (+63 2 8721-0619), email (mwpb@dmw.gov.ph), or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip) for assistance in filing complaints.