Two Japan-bound cagers secure exit passes from DOLE

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (left) and Dwight Ramos (Photo courtesy of DOLE Facebook)

By Ferdinand Patinio

MANILA – Two Japan-bound basketball players have been granted overseas employment certificates (OEC) by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Sept. 28), DOLE said Secretary Silvestre Bello III granted OECs to national team guard Dwight Ramos and forward Kemark Carino at the agency’s central office in Intramuros, Manila on Monday.

Ramos signed up with the Toyama Grouses while the 6-foot-9 Carino will join the Aomori Wat’s Team, of the Japan B League.

Both 23 years old, they saw action in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Manama, Bahrain in February.

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre ‘Bebot’ Bello III awards the overseas employment certificate (OEC) to Gilas Pilipinas forward Kemark Carino (right). [photo from DOLE Facebook]

Brothers Kiefer (Shiga) and Thirdy (San-En) Ravena and Javi (Ibakari) and Juan (Tokyo Z) Gomez de Liano, Kobe Paras (Niigata Albirex BB), and Bobby Ray Parks (Nagoya) also secured contracts with the Japan league, although in different divisions.

The OEC, also known as an exit clearance, certifies the recruitment and documentation of an overseas Filipino worker. (PNA)