POEA reports slight hike in Q1 OFW deployment.

Byline: Felipe F. Salvosa II

The number of deployed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has slightly increased in the first quarter, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported.

POEA figures show that total deployment as of March 31 stood at 231,701, up by half a percentage point from 2001 figures. Deployment reached 230,642 in the first quarter last year.

Deployment of landbased workers, however, dropped 0.4% to 179,860 from 180,668 in the same period last year. New hires accounted for 60,128 while rehires reached 119,732.

Seabased workers, meanwhile, increased by close to 2,000 or 3.7%, to 51,841 from 49,974, POEA said …