By Raymart Escopel
APPLICATION for the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is now made easy for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Western Visayas as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Region 6 starts accepting e-system application of the said certificate.
OEC is being issued to OFWs while serving as their travel exit clearance at the airport and immigration counters. It exempts every OFWs from paying travel tax and airport terminal fees.
An OEC also ensures that OFWs are properly documented and protected.
According to Atty. Dexter NiƱo Bernadez, POEA-6 Regional Extension Unit, through āBalik-Manggawa OEC System,ā the OFWs can now have a more convenient way of getting their exit clearances without the hassle of personally processing it in their office.
With that regard, he is optimistic that the online application for OEC will be successful in providing ease of access to the countryās modern day heroes.
The online appointment system can be accessed through the POEA website at www.poea.gov.ph.
In terms of monitoring erring agencies, Bernadez said they are conducting awareness seminars on illegal recruitment and human trafficking to OFWs as part of their Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar.
He added they also went to various schools in Iloilo City and Bacolod City on April to conduct awareness campaigns.
Aside from that, POEA-6 also pushes the adjudication of cases of recruitment violations and violations against recruitment of agencies both in Iloilo City and Bacolod City.
However, he noted that they havenāt closed any recruitment agency in Iloilo City yet, except for one agency which was recently suspended due to repatriation of OFWs./PN
