- DOLE recently unveiled and issued out the iDOLE or the OFW ID Card.
- It will serve as a replacement for the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).
- The iDOLE will be paid for the the employers of OFWs.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has recently unveiled the iDOLE – also known as the OFW ID card. It will reportedly be issued today, Wednesday, July 12, 2017.
The iDOLE was created in partnership with Social Security System (SSS), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), PhilPost, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Pag-IBIG Fund.
The card was launched as a replacement for the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) don’t need to pay anything as it is the employers who are required to pay for the iDOLE that will be issued to OFWs. In order to avail of the ID, OFWs just need to log on to the Philippine Overseas Employment Association’s (POEA) website and fill out the information needed.
DOLE Usec. Dominador Say stated:
“So this is for OFWs who are scheduled to leave and for applicants. 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.”
The first people to be issued the the iDOLE are OFW’s who are just about to go abroad or the ones who are still processing their papers for overseas work. When the project has already stabilized, they will then be issuing the OFW cards to OFWs who are already working abroad.
Usec. Say said:
“Initially we will be issuing iDOLE to those who are just going out of the country, then as we go on, we will be also issuing to those who are already abroad.”
Vuson Gil Taala, an OFW seaman, believes the iDOLE will expedite the processing of necessary documents for overseas employment. Taala said:
“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.”
Ryan Guevarra, another OFW seaman, said:
“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.”
The iDOLE is valid for up to 2 years. OFW cardholders are exempt from terminal fees as well as travel taxes. The OFW card will also serve as proof that the cardholder’s documents were processed and approved legally by the POEA. The card will also function as the OFW’s travel exit clearance.
Do you have a relative who works as an Overseas Filipino Worker? Are you happy about this news? Share your thoughts about this in the comments section.
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