The Manila Times
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that the processing of Alien Employment Permits (AEP) will no longer be handled by its regional offices but will be exclusively done in its central office. The directive was issued by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino through Administrative Order 199, Series of 2026. It took effect on June 9. The policy seeks to strengthen administrative oversight and enhance compliance with labor laws governing the employment of foreign nationals in the country. DOLE said the centralized system will promote greater consistency in applying rules and standards across all regions. The reform forms part of the department’s broader effort to modernize regulatory processes and improve public service delivery. Officials said the move will enable more effective monitoring, auditing and control of AEP-related transactions nationwide. Applications received by regional offices on or before the close of business on June 8 that remain pending will not be discarded or delayed. Instead, regional offices have been ordered to immediately prepare all pending applications for digital transfer to the central office. Once transferred, the central office will assume full responsibility for evaluating, processing and deciding on the applications. DOLE emphasized that the applicable processing period will continue from the point of transfer, ensuring that applicants will not face delays or penalties in line with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Local Employment will directly oversee the required publication and Labor Market Test procedures through a localized digital platform and coordinated labor registries, while all records and application data must be securely transferred within five calendar days using encrypted systems and verified chain-of-custody protocols to comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
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