The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) disputed claims that the number of overseas deployments is decreasing. The source quoted in the reports allegedly used data from POEA.
POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili said there is a 14.7 percent increase in deployments in 2008 as compared to the figures in 2007 contrary to reports that came out in some broadsheets.
The 2008 POEA final report also revealed that the Middle East continued to be the favoured destination for OFWs where there was 33.9 percent increase for new hires as compared to 2007 statistics.
OFW contracts processed in 2008, totalled to 1.464 million which is 12.1 percent increased compared to 2007 figures. (PIA)