A LAWMAKER is pushing to streamline the departure process for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) through the full automation of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and its integration into the government’s e-Travel system.
Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino of #83 OFW Party List is advocating for the move, emphasizing that eliminating the separate issuance of the OEC will significantly ease the burden on OFWs without compromising safeguards against human trafficking.
According to Magsino: “The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is already integrated with the Bureau of Immigration (BI). There’s no need to apply separately for OEC when the system can recognize an OFW’s status automatically. We may just need to upgrade the integration to ensure all necessary details are reflected in the BI’s system. This is about streamlining the process while still ensuring that the OEC remains a requirement for accountability and protection.”
In a meeting with Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Usec. David Almirol last week, Rep. Magsino discussed the upgraded integration as a necessary step toward a more efficient and modernized government service.
Under the proposed system, OFWs would no longer be required to obtain a separate OEC as their information would be automatically recognized through the integration of the DMW and the BI. This streamlining would remove redundant steps while maintaining compliance with existing regulations.
Magsino emphasized that this initiative aligns with the government’s broader digitalization efforts, ultimately benefiting millions of OFWs who frequently go through the process.
“Our OFWs deserve a hassle-free system that acknowledges their sacrifices and contributions to the economy. We need to make government transactions work for them, not the other way around,” she added.
If adopted, the integration could be a game-changer for OFWs, reducing paperwork and wait times while maintaining necessary protections against human trafficking.
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