POEA to require OFWs to get validation

MANILA, Philippines –  The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will require all overseas Filipino workers to submit their exit clearance for validation before leaving the country.

“Starting March 1, all OFWs would have to pass through POEA’s Labor Assistance Center (at the airports) for validation of their exit clearance,” POEA chief Carlos Cao Jr. said.

He said the validation of OFW documents at the airports is necessary to ensure that only workers who are properly documented or have passed through the legal processes are allowed to leave the country.

“With the validation system in place, POEA is able to check on workers who are carrying tampered or fake travel documents secured through illegal means,” Cao said.

Through electronic connectivity, Cao said, the validation of the overseas employment certificate (OEC) or e-receipts of OFWs can be done in less than a minute.

Cao added that more validation machines will be put in place to speed up service to the 3,500 OFWs who leave the country’s airports daily.

According to Cao, an exit clearance validated at an airport terminal shall be valid only up to the date of the confirmed flight. “Re-validation shall be allowed only for a flight that has been cancelled or re-scheduled for valid reasons,” he said.

POEA also plans to put up special lanes for OFWs deployed by recruitment agencies that are recipients of performance awards, Cao said. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)