President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to look into making the application for Overseas Employment Certification (OEC) for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) free of charge.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that Marcos gave the directive during a meeting in Malacañang with the DMW, the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

According to the PCO, DMW Secretary Susan Ople presented the DMW Mobile App to the President and told him they were waiting for DICT to ensure its cybersecurity features and approval to launch the app officially.

"Ginagawa po naming lahat para ma-address itong issue na ito (We're doing everything we can to address these issues) with the use of technology," she said.

"So, abangan niyo na lang po. Kaunting pasensya pa po pero malapit na ang ating launch (just wait for it. Have a little patience but we'll launch it soon),” she added.

President Marcos was reportedly "exuberant" over the mobile application as it is a simple yet effective digital solution to the OEC problems that OFWs encounter when seeking jobs abroad.

“Ang bilin lang niya tiyakin daw ng department na walang babayaran ang ating mga manggagawang migrante, ‘yung ating mga OFWs, sa paggamit nung mobile app, at pag-download at pagkuha ng OFW Pass (His only reminder was to ensure that OFWs won't have to pay anything when using the app or getting OFW Pass),” Ople said.

The App contains the OFW Pass, a digital and secure version of the OEC, which serves as the digital identity of OFWs. After a two- to three-month transition period upon activation, the OFW Pass will completely replace the OEC.

According to the PCO, the OFW Pass is QR-code generated and can be acquired only through the App, while the OEC requires onsite processing with a P100 charge.

The OFW Pass is valid until the OFW's work contract expires, while the OEC lasts only 60 days.

First-time OFWs, Balik Manggagawa OFWs, and OFWs who have transferred to a different employer or whose contracts need to be registered and verified by the Office of the Labor Attaché can avail themselves of the OFW Pass.

The DMW established the OFW Pass Teacher, a volunteer system where registered OFWs will be given relevant materials to teach others how to utilize the App.

The DICT will test the cybersecurity features of the App and report its findings to the DMW before its public release. The agency is also expected to integrate its Mobile App with the BI's eTravel and e-Gate systems and eventually link it to DICT's eGov PH Super App.

Google Play and Apple App Store both approved the App for OFW downloading.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

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