SAN FERNANDO CITY: Microsoft Tulay (Information Technology) Program introduced by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will make it easier for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to process their Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), media reports said.
The OEC is a requirement issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to departing OFWs returning to their employers abroad for clearance at the airport, reported Philippine Information Agency.
Since 2014, the OEC has been made online via the POEA’s Balik-Manggagawa program, the report said.
Aimed to revolutionize the OEC issuances, the Balik Manggagawa online had reportedly not been easily accessed by OFWs who are not “techy” or computer-inclined.
According to Justin Paul D. Marbella, labor communications officer, OFWs who wish to pay their OWWA membership premium at the Regional Office in San Fernando, were assisted in printing their OECs, said the news portal.
Marbella reportedly said that OFWs take turns in using the 10 computer units available in their information technology classroom as they go through the application.
With the help of IT Instructor Ian J. Galutan and IT trainees, OFWs were assisted in signing up for an email address free of charge, the report said.
Among those who benefitted from the service were OFW couple Mark Donald and Michelle Suana, both working in the UAE for almost ten years now.
The couple said that they used to process their OEC manually and were pleasantly surprised with the online filing system, the PIA report said.
“We are glad OFWs are readily assisted in this new process,” remarked Michelle. “We thank OWWA for their excellent service,” the OFW couple reportedly said.
The OFWs can now present these documents at POEA to pay and claim their OEC, reported PIA.
Marbella reportedly said OFWs who wish to avail of the online filing can go to OWWA for assistance.
