In an exclusive interview with The Filipino Times, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Silvestre Bello III revealed that the reproduction of OFW ID is set to resume on September 17.
The labor secretary said he has tasked Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Leo Cacdac to create a new system which will avoid cases of social media users asking OFWs payment in form of cash in exchange of the IDs. The OFW ID cards are also set to be distributed in the same month, free of charge.
“I asked administrator Cacdac of OWWA to study another system that will be fool-proof. Hindi na masasakyan nung mga mapagsamantala, walang kalokohang mangyayari at walang gastos ang gobyerno at ang mga OFW,” Bello said.
“According to Admin Cacdac, starting September 17, lalabas ulit yung IDOLE card,” he added.
Earlier, ACTS-OFW Aniceto Bertiz III accused DOLE of collection of money from OFWs for the IDs, which is supposed to be free since the cards were only donated by a group to express their gratitude towards President Rodrigo Duterte.
Bello denied the allegations and said the ID has been scrapped following the discovery of some online users asking OFWs to pay for it.
The OFW IDs are supposed to replace the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), a requirement for departing and returning OFWs.
