OFWs will soon no longer need to head to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office to get their Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) with new streamlined, digitalized services on the horizon.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), under the directives and leadership of Sec. Susan ‘Toots’ Ople, and in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, announced that the digitalization of OECs will begin to roll out by October 15, 2022.
In a town hall meeting with OFWs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Ople announced that OECs will soon be more accessible for all OFWs which they can easily present at the immigration before leaving the country.
“Yung sa OEC inaayos din namin. Gagawin na natin na paperless o mobile phone ready ang OEC. By October 15, magdadownload na lang kayo ng OEC sa telepono at yun na lang ang ipapakita ninyo sa embassy at airport natin,” said Sec. Ople.
In the past, securing an OEC proved to be a hassle for OFWs right from securing an appointment to having to visit the POLO-OWWA, or at an OWWA centre in the Philippines just to get their papers done. Moving forward, the DMW is optimistic that this will remove the hassle of long queues.
“Yung sa OEC, inaayos din namin. Ayaw na ayaw kong nakikita yung mahahabang pila sa Dubai sa init ng araw. Kaya gusto ko nga at sang-ayon na rịn sa kagustuhan ng ating Pangulo, gagawin na nating paperless at mobile phone ready ang inyong OEC so mula sa pagpila sa POEA pag nagbabakasyon kayo, o kaya dyan sa embassy, by October 15 ang mangyayari, magda-download na lang kayo ng OEC sa inyong mga telepono at yun na yung ipapakita ninyo sa Bureau of Immigration at sa airport natin,” said Ople.
Digital payments planned
Apart from the Digital OEC issuance, DMW also assured OFWs that payments will soon be digitalized as well. DMW Usec Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones announced that online payments for OECs will undergo its alpha and beta test phase in the Philippines by the end of September 2022.
“Magsasagawa kami ng alpha testing at beta testing sa katapusan ng Setyembre para matiyak na user friendly ang ating app, Even payments digitally na. Ngayon po ay kausap natin ang partners natin sa development para di na kailangang magpunta sa POLO offices para magbayad,” said Velasco-Allones.
These measures follow President Bongbong Marcos’ pronouncements during his SONA that OECs will soon be available via smartphones.
“We shall automate the verification of contracts and issue secure Overseas Employment Certifications (OEC) that you can keep on your smartphone. I call on the Department of Migrant Workers and the DICT to make this a top priority,” said the president.
Protecting OFWs
DMW Usec. Bernard Olalia further said that the OEC will remain as a vital document for OFWs as an exit clearance to assure that their employers are vetted and to ensure that OFWs are legally working in the country.
“Ang OEC ay ang exit clerance natin paglabas ng Pilipinas. Kapag kyo po ay may OEC, ibig sabihin hindi po kayo illegal. Nagbibigay din po ito ng garantiya na ang employer ninyo ay hindi blacklisted. Yun pong bago nating framework, napakaimportante po nito para mastreamline ang pagproseso ng OEC,” said Usec. Olalia.
Securing an OEC will be the immigration officer’s proof that the employer is not blacklisted by the Philippine government. DMW put in place a blacklist against recruitment agencies and employers who have proven records of abuse and/or maltreatment of Filipinos in various parts of the world.
New initiatives
Apart from the digital OEC, the DMW-led town hall meeting also witnessed the launch of the Global Campaign Against Trafficking of OFWs (GCAT-OFWs). DMW Usec. Patricia Yvonne Caunan encouraged OFWs to become ‘force multipliers’ to help the Philippine government reach out to fellow Filipinos who need urgent assistance to head home.
“Ayaw po nating may mga nalolokong kababayan natin. Narealize po natin sa kahit anong campaign hindi kaua na gobyerno lang ang gagalaw. I know I’m talking with the OFW group leaders here in Dubai. So we want you to help. Maraming benepisyo, pinupursige ng DMW na bilisan ang pag-aapply. Ila-launch na namin ang mas mabilis na paraan para sa legal na paraan mag-apply ang mga Pilipino para mag-ibang bansa,” said Usec. Caunan.
“Importante na yung DMW mapahatid sa lahat yung masasamang mangyayari pag nagreresort tayo to human trafficking at para nakikita natin the evils of human trafficking. Gusto ding i-push ng DMW na maging maganda yung magiging benepisyo ng OFWs kung dadaan sila sa tamang proseso. We’re trying to plug the holes and be everywhere and together with the communities, we’ll fight human trafficking and illegal recruitment,” she added.
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Hjayceelyn Quintana, is optimistic that the DMW will do everything in its capability to stay true to its mission to become the “Tahanan ng OFW” (home of OFWs).
“Right now, we are in a unique juncture in Philippine History, where we have seen the birth of the Department of Migrant Workers. A promise of the previous administration that we are seeing bearing fruit under the new administration. We at the Department of Foreign Affairs are grateful that we are part of the process whereby the DMW is spreading its wings as it takes on the mantle of protecting the welfare of Filipinos working abroad,” said Amb. Quintana during the town hall in Abu Dhabi.
More town halls ahead
Usec. Caunan further anticipates and hopes that there will be more town hall meetings for OFWs, and appreciated the active participation of Filipino leaders who voiced out their suggestions that will improve their quality of lives at their home away from home.
“It’s the first time na naglaunch kami ng townhall para sa OFWs here in UAE at masaya kami, sana maulit. Makikita mo yung mga leaders natin talagang very active sila. Importante sa amin sa DMW yung marinig at makinig sa mga suggestions at concerns ng ating mga OFWs kasi yung department satin is tahanan. So important yung Boses ng ating mga OFWS,” said Usec. Caunan.
For his part, Consul General Renato Dueñas Jr. states that doing town halls will help OFWs feel that their concerns are heard.
“We’re pleased that DMW, yung secretary mismo and all the Usec ay nagpaunlak at nag-organize na gawin itong Town Hall meeting para ipakilala sa mga OFWs here in Dubai and Northern Emirates yung mga programs ng kanilang ahensiya. Yung kanilang ahensya ay may direct na impact sa mga Pilipino dito sa Dubai. Mahalaga Ito, especially Ito yung bagong departamento at pinaliwanag nila yung mga proseso with this shift in DMW,” said ConGen Dueñas.
Abu Dhabi Labor Attache Atty. Manuel Dimaano stated that the new digital OEC, alongside other key developments brought about by the digitalization of the DMW will streamline processes for OFWs making it easier for everyone involved.
“The digital OEC and other new developments will certainly provide for a time-efficient, convenient and accurate processing of employment documents and issuance of exit clearance, such as contract verification and OEC, needed by our OFWs whenever they return to their employer abroad. Infusing digital technology and streamlining processes across these new developments are in line with the President’s directives to take care of all OFWs in every stage of the migration cycle from deployment to reintegration,” said Atty. Dimaano.
