BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (September 12, 2025)—Gov. Jose Gambito signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Link Impact for the deployment of seasonal workers to South Korea. This partnership aims to provide a secure pathway for Vizcayano farmers to work in South Korea’s agricultural sector.
The MOA signing was the culmination of a Zoom meeting between Gambito and Hyo Joon Kim, director of Global Programs at Link Impact, and other Korean partners.
The meeting discussed the terms of the local government unit (LGU)-to-LGU collaboration, including worker qualifications, contract duration, health benefits, and safeguards to address concerns about workers absconding.
“The government-to-government arrangement will protect Novo Vizcayano workers from illegal recruiters and guarantee their safety and humane treatment,” said Gambito, adding that the contracts, lasting only four to eight months, will allow workers to return to their families after each season, minimizing the risk of prolonged homesickness.
The province’s OFW Welfare Center played a crucial role in securing the partnership, providing a centralized assistance, monitoring, and reintegration support for workers. Gambito highlighted that the center gave Link Impact confidence in Nueva Vizcaya’s ability to implement the program responsibly.
“Our OFW Welfare Center is a concrete safeguard for our workers — it centralizes assistance, monitoring, and reintegration support. It also gave Link Impact confidence that Nueva Vizcaya is a responsible, ready partner,” he said.
To prepare recruits for deployment, the provincial government said it is planning to hire a trainer to teach basic Korean language and provide cultural orientation to help minimize culture shock and ensure a smooth transition for workers.
The partnership is expected to benefit local livelihoods and uphold worker welfare and employer accountability. The Korean counterparts said that if successful, Nueva Vizcaya could become a leading supplier of seasonal farm workers to Muan County and other areas in South Korea.
They also praised Gambito’s hands-on approach, noting that he was the first governor to personally attend a meeting to discuss the partnership.
Gambito said that this partnership between the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya and Link Impact marks a significant milestone in the province’s efforts to provide employment opportunities for its citizens.
“With its focus on worker welfare and employer accountability, this program is poised to benefit both the workers and the local community,” he said.