POEA OEC Services

Is it Overseas Employment Certificate or Overseas Exit Clearance? Anyway, I am glad Philippine Overseas Employment Administration offices are open on December 22, 23, 24, 26 and 29 and January 2, 2009. All returning cash cows like me should not forget to apply for an OEC to avoid hassle in the airport when they leave beloved Pilipinas again. See this news advisory from POEA:

http://www.poea.gov.ph/news/2008/PR-Nov2008_BM_peak.pdf

If for some reason (like avoiding blood pressure elevation) you don’t want to see any POEA personnel, you can apply for OEC online through Citizen Services.  I haven’t tried this yet but I celebrate POEA for having this option made available to OFWs… But honestly, it would have been much better if they remove the Php 100.00 processing fee. Massive OFW remittances to the country should be enough to cover for this. Besides, “processing” is an integral function of a government agency. Why charge for it?

Bawat kibot mo talaga sa Pilipinas kailangan may bayad.  Tsk tsk…

POEA eases OFW airport exit procedure

Mga cash cows may bagong pakana ang POEA. The approach is a bit superficial, but sounds good to me. Better than doing nothing… or better than passing nonsensical memos like MC-04. At least nabawasan ang pipilahan natin sa airport.

The following advisory was lifted from the POEA website (http://www.poea.gov.ph/):

“The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is dropping the validation of documents of OFWs leaving through its labor assistance counters (LAC) at international airports to further streamline processes in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Starting March 24, 2008, departing OFWs shall present the exit clearance or overseas employment certificate issued by the POEA directly to the airline counters, terminal fee counters, and the Bureau of Immigration counters.

The POEA labor assistance counter shall remain open 24/7, but its services shall be limited to assisting OFWs with documentation problems, issuing overseas employment certificates (OEC) to OFWs leaving the country within 24 hours, and dissemination of information and education materials to OFWs and families.”