Rosales: The municipal government of Rosales in Pangasinan has sent the third batch of farmers to South Korea that would benefit from a seasonal workers’ program. This initiative is a result of the local government unit’s (LGU) partnership with Yeongju City of North Gyeongsang Province, designed to provide overseas employment opportunities to farmers in the town.

According to Philippines News Agency, Public Employment Services Office (PESO) in-charge Aila Rose Seradoy mentioned that the partnership began in 2023 after the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA). The initial deployment involved 120 farmers from Rosales to Yeongju City, followed by 240 workers in 2024. This year, 274 farm workers qualified for the program. The deployments occurred in batches, with the first group leaving in March, the second in April, and the third in May.

Seradoy stated that qualified farmers, aged 25 to 47, signed work contracts for five to eight months, with a guaranteed salary ranging between PHP80,000 to PHP100,000 per month. However, about 20 percent of their salary was allocated to board and lodging expenses. The recruitment process involved representatives from Yeongju personally visiting Rosales to select qualified workers, who had to pass a test confirming their farming background.

The qualified applicants covered their expenses for visa processing, medical requirements, and airfare. The LGU of Rosales provided assistance with these processes and offered support as the workers commenced their employment. The MOA included protective guidelines, allowing workers three chances to improve if they encountered job-related challenges. Some workers struggled to adjust to the work ethics in South Korea, while others received repeat contracts based on employer recommendations.

Seradoy highlighted the program’s positive impact on the farm workers’ lives, noting that many have built houses, purchased properties and vehicles, and started businesses. These economic advancements are evident in the participants’ improved living standards. Additionally, the workers have gained new agricultural practices and technologies from South Korea, which they have applied to their own farms.

Rosales town Mayor William Cezar expressed plans to expand the partnership to include factory workers, teachers, and students. The two LGUs have already signed an international friendship and exchange agreement, encompassing cultural exchanges. “We aim high and dream big for Rosalenians,” Cezar remarked.