CEBU CITY — Despite the global economic crisis, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA)’s Region 7 office has noted a 13.11 increase in its deployment of workers abroad.

Recent data shows that POEA 7 was able to muster 15,702 employment contracts processed from January to June this year, compared to 13,881 such contracts gained during the same period last year.

POEA 7 Legal Officer Imelda Lerida said that “in spite of the global economic crisis, OFWs are still in demand abroad and the clear proof of it is the increase of our deployment statistic.”

She also said foreign employers continue to look for Filipino workers, as they have been found to be very competitive.

Lareda said the new batch of OWFs deployed abroad is certain to contribute substantially to the country’s economy through their dollar remittances.

Currently, POEA 7 is also now processing 14,064 returning OFWs under its ‘Balik Manggagawa' Program in the first half of this year compared to 12,146 returning OFWs in the same period last year, or a growth of 15.79 percent. These returning OFWs are going back abroad to fulfill renewed employment contracts.

While the majority of these employment contracts processed for new OFWs are Cebu-based, there are other contracts clinched for workers coming from provinces in other regions such as Leyte and Negros Occidental.

Lerida said top in-demand jobs abroad are for such skilled workers as construction laborers and welders, medical professionals such as nurses, caregivers and domestic helpers.

She also said the continuing demand for Filipino workers abroad is likewise seen as a result of hiring agreements forged between the Philippines and other countries that hire foreign labor.

Countries overseas committing to hire more Filipino professionals and skilled workers include Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Japan.

South Korea has also committed to hire 5,000 Filipino workers for its manufacturing industry and other sectors in the next 10 months after a memorandum of understanding (MoA) was signed between the Department of Labor and Employment and its South Korean counterpart during President Arroyo's recent trip to South Korea.