Sta. Ana, Cagayan - The Department of Labor and Employment Region 02 held a Capacity Building training on the Processing of Alien Employment Permit (AEP) to 30 Accredited Personnel and Employer’s Authorized Representatives on March 10, 2023 at Villa Saturnina Beach Resort Hall, Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

Assistant Regional Director Jesus Elpidio Atal, Jr., who represented Regional Director Joel M. Gonzales, said that the activity serves as an avenue for the participants to make themselves aware of the policies and guidelines of processing AEPs to foreign nationals in order to have an efficient and effective implementation of the AEP program.

"The issuance of an AEP is not a right but only a privilege. It is issued by the DOLE based on the following: as a general rule, no alien is allowed to be employed except when an AEP is issued and provided that there is no Filipino who is available, able and willing to do the job and only on highly technical positions that the Filipinos can gain from," ARD Atal, Jr. said.

The DOLE Region 02 invited speakers from the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) to reorient the participants on DOLE Policies on the Alien Employment Regulation Program. In addition, a brief orientation about the Alien Employment Permit Management System (AEPMS) was conducted to give them an overview of how the system runs.

The activity was also attended by different partner agencies, to include the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to discuss relevant laws, policies, and processes on the issuance of permits or visas necessary for a foreign national to be employed in the Philippines.

TSSD Chief Laura Diciano, Employment Unit Head Kathlyn Sabado, AEP Focal Person Kathleen Taguinod and RO Labor Standards Unit Head Dionisio Verzola, Jr. were also present during the activity.