SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- This year's second batch of seasonal workers from the municipality of Sablayan flew to South Korea on May 2.

It is one of the initiatives of the local government, in parnership with local leaders of South Korea, to provide gainful employment for Sablayeños overseas.

A pre-departure orientation was held for the 39 workers before their flight, led by Mayor Walter Marquez and the Public Employment Service Office.

It can be remembered that a Memorandum of Understanding was inked by representatives of the LGU Sablayan and Geum-San Gun in January 2023 and with Wando County, South Korea in August 2023 wherein Filipino workers will render service to the said country for five to eight months.

In the said agreement, workers will provide labor in the agriculture sector in the foreign country, specifically in fisheries and seaweed production as Wando is said to supply a significant percentage of the country’s eel, avalon, and flounder fish as reported by the LGU Sablayan.

Jokjok Salamanca, one of the seasonal workers, shared that he, and others, are glad to be able to send money and provide for their families in the Philippines, with their salary ranging from P75,000 to P90,000.

According to Mayor Marquez’s report, the workers' contracts can be renewed depending on their performance.

Currently, there are around 400 workers deployed in South Korea. The LGU targets to send another 1,000 workers this year. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA - Occidental Mindoro)