MANILA— To avoid long lines at the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Center after Christmas and New Year’s Day, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Carlos S. Cao Jr. said that returning overseas Filipino workers should get their overseas employment certificate (OEC) or travel exit clearance as soon as they arrive in the country.
He also suggested that returning OFWs should secure their exit clearance at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) nearest their jobsite even before their flight to the Philippines.
Ofws going to the provinces may also have their exit clearance at the POEA regional offices located in: Baguio City; Tuguegarao City; San Fernando City, La Union; Clark Field, Pampanga; Calamba City; Legaspi City; Tacloban City; Iloilo City; Bacolod City; Cebu City; Cagayan de Oro City; Zamboanga City; and Davao City.
OFWs may also use the OEC courier system that is available online at http://www.citizenservices.com.ph/poea.
The following are considered balik-maggagawa:
- a worker who is on vacation or on leave from employment under a valid and existing employment contract and who is returning to the same employer regardless of any change in jobsite, to finish the remaining unexpired portion of the contract;
- a worker who was rehired by the same employer after finishing his/her contract and who is returning to the same employer, regardless of a change in jobsite; and
- a returning worker whose employment contract was not processed with the POEA but was subsequently verified and registered with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in the jobsite and who is returning to the same employer either as a worker-on-leave or rehire, regardless of any change in jobsite.
