The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is conducting an information drive to discourage Overseas Filipino Workers from sending remittances through informal channels.

This followed results of a recent survey showing that 20 percent of OFW money remittances in 2005 were done outside of the banking system.

They have been reported to send money through friends, acquaintances or other travelers, which is very risky, BSP manager in Dumaguete Paulita Enrile said. She said these informal channels are unlicensed or unregulated operations.

She urged OFWs to send remittances through the banks even if they have to pay for additional charges. "Using banks is safer than sending it through friends who might 'lose' the money along the way," Enrile said.

Central Bank recently noted an increase of 17.6 percent on the remittances from OFWs for the 11-month period compared to 2005. It reported that the remittance for the period hit an all-time high of $11.4 billion.

The increase in employment, according to Jose Ogang of the Department of Labor and Employment in Oriental Negros, is part of the President Gloria Arroyo's program to employ locally and, in abroad 1 million Filipinos by 2010.

The remittances came mainly from the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Taiwan.

Presently there is an increase of 13.8 percent to 786,687 on land-based workers and 9.8 percent to 250,447 on sea-based workers citing the preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.*RG

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