PRESS RELEASE NO. 31-2022

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 18 July 2022 – Consul General Emil Fernandez and Labor Attaché Marie Rose Escalada of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Los Angeles (POLO-LA) committed to strengthen their offices’ partnership in protecting overseas Filipinos, during the latter’s visit to the Philippine Consulate General last 11 July.    

Ms. Escalada, who assumed office last May, undertook an outreach mission to Honolulu from 10 to 13 July.  She was accompanied by Mr. Hamdan Sayedy, POLO-LA Administrative Staff.

Consul General Fernandez and Ms. Escalada discussed developments on the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and POLO-LA’s efforts to strengthen information dissemination on its policies and services and connect with stakeholders.  Consul General Fernandez also briefed the delegation on the situation of Filipinos in areas under its jurisdiction.

While in Honolulu, the POLO-LA delegation also met with Hawaii labor officials, Hawaii Longline Association Executive Director Eric Kingma and Seafarers Ministry Head Pastor Jerry Saludez, conducted an onsite visit to the Kalakaua Gardens Senior Living Community, and held a dialogue with Filipino fishermen stationed at the Honolulu Harbor. 

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu and POLO-LA both have jurisdiction over the State of Hawaii and American Samoa.  (END)

Labor Attaché Marie Rose Escalada met with Hawaii labor officials during her visit to Honolulu in order to strengthen their network and improve coordination.  In the photo from left to right are Mr. Herbert Lee, Community Outreach/Resource Planner, Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Mr. Roger Forstner, Area Director, Honolulu Area Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mr. Terence J. Trotter, District Director, WHD, Ms. Escalada, Consul Grace Bulos and Mr. Hamdan Sayedy, POLO-LA Administrative Staff. 

Consul Bulos accompanied Labor Attaché Escalada during the goodwill visit to Filipino fishermen employed in Hawaii’s longline fishing industry and stationed at the Honolulu Harbor.  The visit was organized in coordination with the Seafarers Ministry headed by Pastor Jerry Saludez.