Filipino Expats - new procedure fro OEC
POEA adopts new travel clearance procedure for OFWs
By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) Updated June 23, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (72)
MANILA, Philippines - Shorter lines but longer waiting time awaits returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
To keep the queues of vacationing OFWs short, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has adopted new procedures and processing of the mandatory travel exit clearance.
“The new procedures would allow our OFWs to efficiently manage their time in securing travel exit clearance by adjusting the processing time in two phases,” POEA chief Carlos Cao Jr. said.
Under the new POEA policy, all returning OFWs shall submit the application and all the necessary requirements in securing exit clearance before the POEA for appropriate evaluation.
If all the documents are in order, the POEA would issue a claim stub to the OFW, who shall then return the following day to get the necessary exit clearance.
Cao advised all returning OFWs to properly observe the processing time and apply for the exit clearance ahead of their flight schedule or actual date of departure to avoid inconvenience.
POEA officials admitted that many returning OFWs were displeased by the long lines when applying for exit clearance while vacationing in the country.
An average of 3,000 returning OFWs come to POEA daily to secure the exit clearance. The figure even doubles during the Christmas holidays when a huge number of OFWs opt to go on vacation.
OFWs are required to secure overseas employment certificate and travel exit clearance from the POEA before departure.
Although the line would now be shorter, some OFWs are already complaining that they would have to wait longer to be able to secure the mandatory exit clearance.
Unlike before when the clearance would be issued on the day of the submission of the application, OFWs would now have to return the following day to get the document.
Since they would have to go back, OFWs said it also meant additional expenses for them.
from http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=698968&publicationSubCate...
Why not issue OEC at the airport for those OFW who has unlimited contract with their company,anyway their existing contract is valid,so it will be easier for us just to proceed to the aiport at least 4hrs before departure to secure the OEC.
as usual, we the OFW's have to suffer because of their incompetence...instead of increasing the numbers of processing centers, they opted to go for this stupid idea. how difficult is it to put up OEC processing centers at leading malls around the country?
this new procedure is only applicable in the POEA in Ortigas. it will remain the same here in POLO Doha... i just hope that this new procedure will not affect the procedure here.
so it means the poor labourer from dukhan must take a bus ride early in the morning to be process for the 1st phase. 1 day absent. So the next day he will be absent again just to pay and claim the useless OEC. 2 days absent all in all. So how much he spend for 2 days? 20QR for transpo and the deduction of his 2 days absent? wow what a practical approach.Congratulations for giving that idea. Can I be a nepali now or be from bangladesh lol!!!
Another MONEY MAKING SCHEME!
most of the OFW want to spend more time with their families during their vacation. instead of going back to POEA, spend time and money for the transportation they will go for the delivery service. no need to go back, but you have to pay. this new procedure will force the no-choice OFW to avail of the delivery system of the courier service inside POEA. of course, POEA is earning commission from this courier company. the government agencies, not only POEA is only adding hardships to the Filipino people who only want decent life for their family.
nayhr - this new procedure is to be implemented only in POEA Manila i think...but i agree with you, its PAURONG talaga :(
POEA is the legal way in the Phillippines on how to manipulate human traffic.
PAURONG!!! who's idea is this? why not conduct survey first before implementing. Many are going to POLO and asking for 1 day absence on their work. Now they need to have a 2 days absence because of this??? WTF!!!
Better yet, let's make a petition to abolish the OEC money making scheme, the restriction to the airport, Optional OWWA membership, Optional Pag-ibig/Philhealth membership.
Lets make a campaign to amend that STUPID memorandum. It should be us to be consulted first not those senior citizen who waste most of their time chatting and eating than to serve US.. WE.. we who is paying them.
it's hopeless! POEA is a hopeless PHL government office, DFA and OWWA too.
just secure the OEC at POLO before you take your vacation, if you will go on vacation for 1 month only. OEC is valid only for one month.
I'd rather wait for 5 hours inside the POEA office to secure my OEC than to waste money for transportation and two days to travel from my place to POEA office.
They did not solve the problem yet they make it more worst.
The best solution there is to provide satellite office per each province or region which I think will be more favorable to us OFW.
POEA sucks;
They should replace the top 30 officers there- from top to bottom
Many poor OFWs have paid flight cancellation charges or changes due to their inefficiency; how much more if a poor OFW would book for a hotel just to satisfy those corrupt and tactless whims.
Many bright and young pinoys are unemployed, replace those old inefficient POEA staff - a pain in the ass, always
The problem - long line for securing OEC, POEA's solution, make the processing 2 days. HOW CRAZY CAN IT GET? why don't they just scrap this OEC and just be straight with us by just paying the travel tax, which btw is only implemented nowhere else but in the Philippines.