Duterte Gov’t Launches Free OFW ID Card Beginning July 12

Starting July 12, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte will launch the OFW ID card with its partner agencies such as SSS, DBP, PHILPOST, among others.

OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) can avail of the ID cards for free. They just need to go to POEA’s website to fill out the necessary information.

“So this is for OFWs who are scheduled to leave and for applicants,” said DOLE Usec. Dominador Say said.

Overseas workers don’t need to pay for the processing of their ID card, which will be delivered by Phil Post to their respective addresses.

“One of the costs of hiring an OFW is the ID. This for the benefit of the OFWs anyway so the employers must shoulder the expenses for it,” USec. Say said.

DOLE targets to provide ID cards to more than six million OFWs.

Meanwhile, OFW seafarer Vuson Gil Taala is among those who would benefit from the new system. He has been a seafarer for more than 20 years now.

Taala believes the new system will help in the faster processing of documents of Filipino migrant workers, especially those who set to leave for abroad.

“So far for now, there’s no problem because everything’s computerized. You can look it up on the website if an agency is really registered with POEA,” Taala said.

Another OFW seafarer, Ryan Guevarra, has been working in the kitchen of a ship. Ryan said he can save more time and avail a number of privileges with the ID card.

“It will be a big help because instead of processing documents, you would just need to present the ID which has privileges. It will be favorable to OFWs,” he said.

An ID card will serve as a proof that the documents of an OFW are legally processed by POEA.

Along with the Overseas Employment Certificate, it will also serve as the travel exit clearance and is valid for up to two years.

In addition, an OFW with an ID card will no longer need to pay for travel tax and terminal fee.

Source: UNTV News & Rescue