Section 11Sec./Art. 11

Regional Offices. The Department shall establish, operate, and maintain a regional as well as provincial or field office as may be necessary, in the different administrative regions of the country, and for this purpose, all existing POEA offices in the regions shall be absorbed: Provided.

That within one (1) year from the implementation of this Act, there shall be at least one (1) year from the implementation of this Act, there shall be at least one (1) regional office of the Department in existing regional centers: Provided, further, That each regional office shall have an adjudication officer who shall handle pre-employment or recruitment cases within the jurisdiction of the POEA, now the Department: Provided, finally, That such regional, provincial and/or field offices shall, in coordination with relevant government offices, serve as one-stop shop centers to ensure and actively facilitate access to prompt, efficient, vital and relevant services to OFWs and their families.

The one-stop centers will be the venue for the acquisition of all relevant government clearances and permits, validation of overseas job offers, availment of reintegration services and all pertinent seminars and workshops for all stakeholders, among others, In all cases and as far as practicable, OWWA regional offices shall be located beside the regional office of the Department.