In the Duterte Administration, OFWs are given more attention than before. This is because, the President directed government offices namely, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), has recently opened a so-called ‘one stop service center’ to cater the needs of every OFW.
According to Hans Leo Cacdac, POEA Administrator, these service centers are ready to assist 2,000 to 3,000 Overseas Filipino Workers in a daily basis. The service center is located just at the ground floor of POEA Office, Mandaluyong City. The location is very much ideal for OFWs to reduce the transportation time and expense.
These Government offices are available in the one-stop service center:
- Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
Passport services
Passport validity extension for Balik-Manggagawa (vacationing Workers)
- Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)
Documentation of workers (Landbased and Seabased)
Registration of landbased worker-applicants
Verification/certification of OFW records
Documentation of workers-on-leave
Provision of legal assistance
Response to queries
- Overseas Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA)
Processing of OWWA membership/renewal of membership
- Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA)
Assistance for competency assessment
Verification of certificates and special order
Assistance forrReplacement of National Certificates (NC)/ Certificates of Competency (COC)
Training assistance and scholarship program
- Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
Issuance of Professional License
- Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)
Travel tax payment
Response to queries
Processing of travel tax exemption and reduced travel tax
- Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
Issuance/revalidation of seaman’s book
- Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF)
Processing of Pag-ibig membership
- Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC)
Payment of Philhealth contribution
Member registration and updating
- Social Security System (SSS)
Registration and membership data amendment
Loan verification and status
UMID capturing and card releasing
Acceptance of loan and benefits claim applications
Response to queries
- Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
Processing and copy issuance of
- Certificate of Live Birth
- Certificate of Marriage
- Certificate of Death
- Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)
- Bureau of Immigration (BI)
Departure clearance information
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
Issuance of NBI clearance
- Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
Verification and authentication of school credentials
According to Silvestre Bello III, Labor Secretary, similar service centers will be up in different regions. This is in coordination of the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Offices.
Service centers are open starting from 8am until 5pm, Monday-Friday.
