ZAMBOANGA CITY — August 1, 2025 — The Department of Migrant Workers-Region 9 (DMW-9), in coordination with its Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), on Friday shut down a visa consultancy firm in Zamboanga City for illegally recruiting Filipino workers for overseas employment.
The Zamboanga branch of Visa to America Manila Inc. was padlocked following a closure order issued by the DMW after it was found to be operating without a valid recruitment license. The company was reportedly targeting Filipino teachers and offering fake job placements in the United States with enticing salary promises ranging from USD 40,000 to USD 100,000 annually.
DMW-9 Regional Director Gay Iris Tangcalagan and MWPB Director Geraldine Mendez met with Zamboanga City Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Mayor, Celso Lobregat, before the closure to ensure the smooth enforcement of the order. The DMW also recommended the revocation of the firm’s business permit, citing the city’s authority under the Local Government Code to regulate businesses operating within its jurisdiction.
Lobregat acknowledged the urgency of the matter and swiftly endorsed the DMW’s request and supporting documents to the City Legal Office and the Business Permits and Licensing Division for immediate action.
Tangcalagan said the Zamboanga City branch is one of eight branches of Visa to America Manila Inc. affected by the nationwide crackdown after the firm was caught illegally recruiting workers without authorization from the DMW.
“In Zamboanga City alone, four professional teachers were identified as victims, having collectively paid approximately PHP 2.2 million,” Tangcalagan revealed. “They believed they had secured legitimate teaching positions abroad, only to learn the offers were fraudulent and lacked verified job orders or approved work visas.”
Formal legal complaints have been filed against the company and its representatives. A full investigation is now underway to uncover additional victims and to assess the full scope of the firm’s illicit operations.
The closure was implemented under Sections 93 and 94, Rule XIII, Part II of the 2023 DMW Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-Based Overseas Filipino Workers. These provisions empower the Department to close down any entity found conducting recruitment activities without the necessary DMW-issued license.
The DMW urged the public to remain vigilant and to only transact with licensed recruitment agencies to avoid falling prey to illegal schemes.