OFW Criticizes DOLE and OWWA Over Primary Use of OFW Card
With government Duterte’s goal to ease the burden of OFWs when it comes to proving their identities as they work abroad, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) had worked for hand in hand with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in the issuance of OFW cards to our workers. But does really serve its main purpose?
Recently, an OFW shared her disappointment on Facebook after she was held at the airport for failing to present an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). She thought presenting her OFW card would ease her trip going back to work in Singapore, but to her dismay, she almost missed her flight for not having an OEC.
READ ALSO FREE OWWA OFW e-CARD Steps, Benefits and Information
In her post, Estrada Bing claimed she secured an OFW card last November 2018. Unfortunately, it wasn’t honored at the Immigration Department on her scheduled flight last January 4, 2019. Instead, she was required to get an OEC to be able to catch her flight. That made her then very disappointed which prompted her to share the terrible experience on social media.
Estrada’s post also served as a shout out to DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac and Director Arnel Ignacio for all the hassle she experienced. She said she was just one among many OFWs who thought that the OFW card is all that they need to present every time they work abroad but it wasn’t true at all.
She got even enraged when she discovered that her OFW card bearing her personal and important details were not linked to their system. She said it was just useless and the OFWs were deceived when OWWA claimed the card would serve as their exit clearance. She then advised her co-OFWs to secure their OECs for them not to experience the same.
Estrada ended her post with “#owwainutil” (OWWA inutil) and #owwasinungaling (OWWA sinungaling).
An Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is a requirement under POEA rules and regulations to help ensure that Filipino Overseas Workers (OFWs) are properly documented and protected.
