Isabela gov’t sends 174 Isabelino farmers to South Korea under SWP

The Provincial Government of Isabela (PGI) has deployed a total of 174 farmers from the province to South Korea under the Seasonal Workers Program (SWP), with successive batches of re-entry and new workers arriving between March 10 and April 16, 2026.

This development marks the continued expansion of the province’s agricultural labor partnership with Jinan County and opens broader overseas employment opportunities for Isabelino farmers.

The latest arrivals were recorded on April 16, when 70 re-entry farmers from Isabela, including 13 women and 57 men, reached Jinan County.

On April 15, another 60 farmers arrived in Jinan County, consisting of 42 re-entry workers and 18 new farm workers, showing the program’s continued participation of both experienced and first-time workers.

Earlier, on March 18, 34 re-entry farmers from Isabela arrived in Jinan County with workers from Quirino Province, including 27 men and seven women, bringing the total number of deployed farmers at that time to 44.

The deployment cycle began on March 10, 2026, with the arrival of the first batch of 10 re-entry farmers in Jinan County.

Their return was made possible through strong endorsements from their previous employers, who cited their discipline, reliability, and consistent performance in agricultural work.

The SWP, implemented through a partnership between the PGI and Jinan County, aims to provide farmers with overseas employment opportunities, increase their income, and expose them to modern farming practices that they can apply upon returning to their communities. – Isabela PIO