The Department of Migrant Workers in Central Visayas (DMW-VII) halted a teacher recruitment activity on Saturday, 8 February 2025, due to the lack of necessary permits.

In a statement, DMW-7 said hundreds of teacher applicants from the Visayas and Mindanao had gathered at the event, which offered employment opportunities in Alaska, USA.

An investigation revealed that the facilitators failed to present a Letter of Authority (LOA), a required document that allows foreign principals or their representatives to conduct screening and interviews outside the registered business address of a licensed recruitment agency.

DMW-VII regional council Maria Eloida Cantona and personnel from the Migrant Workers Protection Division personally intervened and stopped the activity.

"What happened was, the school districts represented by their school principals and superintendents directly conducted the interviews, without a licensed recruitment agency present," Cantona said.

She urged the public to stay vigilant against unauthorized recruitment activities and verify job offers through the DMW website before engaging with any agency.

To prevent similar incidents, Cantona held a meeting at the venue to guide the organizers on the proper hiring process and required documentation.