POEA: New Balik Manggagawa online program to get rid of queues

Long queues of overseas Filipino workers waiting to have their overseas employment certificates processed may soon be gone, with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s new Balik Manggagawa online program letting OFWs complete transactions via the Internet.

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said they expect at least 500,000 OFWs to benefit from the online program.

“The balik-manggagawa (BM) needs only to proceed to pay the fees electronically and print out the OEC [overseas employment certificate] either at the comfort of their homes or wherever they are conducting the on-line transaction,” Baldoz said.

Also, she said the BM online system not only speeds up the process of securing OECs, but also provides convenience to vacationing OFWs.

She added the program will also benefit the POEA as it will allow the timely updating of the agency’s OFW and employer database.

“Very soon, our workers will be able to accomplish this transaction from any location where there is online connection,” she said.

For his part, POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac reported to Baldoz the BM online should make transactions more convenient for OFWs who spent their vacation in the Philippines and are returning to their host countries.

Cacdac also said up to 70 percent or about 500,000 returning OFWs may benefit from the BM online program.

Under the online program, OFWs returning to the same employer can log on to the POEA website and fill out forms and submit them for processing.

If the name of the employer indicated in the form matches the name of the employer in the POEA database, the system will approve the returning OFW’s record.

Also, the OEC printout will have a special bar code will be presented to the immigration officer at the airport upon departure.

Once the immigration officer opens the POEA database and finds the balik-manggagawa’s record, the OFW will be cleared for exit.

Appointment system

But for now, Baldoz said the appointment system or personal processing at the POEA Central Office will only apply to:

– returning OFWs changing employers (match could not be found in the POEA database)
– OFWs who have not passed through POEA (such as visit visa holders or ASEAN tourists)
– household service workers

Still, Baldoz said OFWs may still have the option of not going through the appointment system at the POEA Central Office and instead secure their OECs from our Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) or POEA regional and satellite offices. — LBG, GMA News