MANILA - Filipino overseas workers may soon apply for the 20,000 job openings in Guam as the United States transfers its military facilities from Okinawa, Japan to its US Pacific Island territory.

Administrator Jennifer Manalili of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) clarified that the deployment of workers to Guam will start only in the first quarter of 2010.

“Kasi ngayon po pre build-up activities pa lang ang ating nakikita sa Guam but ang atin pong signal from the Guam constructors at Department of Labor ay early next year po talaga magbubukas ang 20,000 na binabanggit,” Manalili said in a phone interview with ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda.

Reports stated that Guam would need skilled workers including engineers, architects, allied professionals and construction workers.

“Ang ating inaasahan sa unang phase ng build-up activities sa Guam ay yung mga related sa construction kasi po magbe-build po ng maraming facilities like housing, syempre ho yung base at buildings para ho magbibigay serbisyo sa lilipat po na forces--about 8,000 marines at 10,000 dependents from Okinawa to Guam. Lahat po iyan nakaugnay sa construction,” Manalili said.

Manalili reminded potential OFWs that the US implements a “no placement fee policy” in Guam.
 
“Amin hong pinapaalalahanan ang ating kababayan na pinaga-apply na po at maga-apply ng trabaho dyan sa Guam na hindi ho pwedeng maningil ang isang recruitment agency ng placement fee mula sa manggagawa,” she said.

The only expenses workers need to shoulder are the documentation costs such as payment for their medical check up, clearances and passport.

“In terms of ng mga binabayaran natin para mahanapan tayo ng trabaho doon, hindi ho pinapahintulutan ng Guam at ng US ang ganung klaseng paniningil sa mga manggagawa,” she added.