OFW TIPS : OEC Mandatory Online Appointment and Registration

Change has indeed come !

Last  August 8 , 2016 ,  POEA issued   a resolution  stating that some groups of OFWS are already exempted  from securing the OEC  starting  September 15 .These are vacationing OFWs who will return to the same employer and job site ,  and OFWs who were hired through the  POEA Government Placement Board. ( GBP )    It has to be  emphasized that OFWs in these categories still have to register at www.bmonline.ph.  If you belong to this category  and you go straight to the airport without prior registration  at www.bmonline.ph , you will be referred to the POEA-Labor Assistance Center  ( LAC )  for evaluation of documents.  This will certainly  take time . You may miss your flight or you  may  not be  allowed to leave if you fail to convince LAC   that you are a legitimate OFW .

With the exemption  from OEC ,  the qualified OFWS have to show  proof of employment  like company ID , resident card or labor card , contract  and the   work  visa stamped on the  passport .

For first time OFWs and for OFWs who will move to another employer , the OEC is still required.

All OFWS, whether old or new, have to register at  www.bmonline.ph .  This way , we will  have a personal and work record    at the POEA data base. This is for our own and our family’s  protection  . If we  have an existing record at the POEA data base , the government can easily extend help to  us  or  to our families in times of trouble.  Government authorities  also  need this data base to fight illegal recruitment  and human trafficking .

The  following are some tips  for registration and for making the mandatory  appointment  for  your OEC  at  www.bmonline.ph.

If you are not comfortable using a computer  , ask for help . Ask your  children  , siblings , friends or anyone  who is  proficient in  computers. It’s better to  swallow your pride  and ask for help— than make mistakes online.   ( Wala pong nakakahiya sa paghingi ng tulong  sa pagko-computer . ) The website is www.bmonline.ph.  “ BM” stands for balik-manggagawa .  The website has  an instructional video that   will teach you how to go about it .  This video can be helpful.

You should  use a computer with a ready printer .  You will have to print your online appointment form which you will show to the security guard at POEA  .  If you don’t have a printer at home , just may  do it at a computer shop .  Or , if you want to fill out the forms at home  but you don’t have a printer  , do so — and  when you have finished ,  go to a computer shop ,   open your account or profile , at the www.bmonline.ph , click “ my transactions ”  and then print from there.

Before you sit in front of the computer and start filling out the form , make sure you have the  details below. Write them clearly on a piece of paper. It  will cause delay if you have to  stop  typing  to  find a document ,  or  to make a phone call to your mother asking for her maiden name .

• Passport number
• SSS number
• PAG-IBIG number
• Cell phone number
• E-mail address  (  Make sure  you have an active, working  e-mail address. Many OFWs don’t . )
• Mother’s maiden name ( pangalan ng nanay mo noong SINGLE  pa SIYA .  )
• Name and address of employer
• Salary
• Last deployment date ( Kailan  ka huling umalis ng  Pilipinas bilang OFW . It’s stamped on your passport. If you have just renewed your passport , then , that date is stamped on your old passport . Find it !  )
• Last arrival date .
• Soft copy of your picture, that is , saved  in your  computer or in a USB . Make sure that your picture is clear  and decent-looking .  (  business attire with collar , no  eyeglasses , passport-sized ,  ears showing ,  plain background . In my case , I had white background . It was accepted . ) Your application  for OEC may be denied if you  upload   an unprofessional-looking  photo.
• Name of beneficiaries and their birthdates .

So , if you are ready with the above information , you can start  making your account /profile  at www.bmonline.ph . As  the system will tell you ,  you have to do  the “ new user “ part first.  Type the  required information  and upload your picture . After this ,  you can go to the “ “ already registered “ part and sign in .

You have to choose the site or location where you prefer to get your OEC . ( In my case , it’s at the POEA office  in SM Pampanga . ) . Be careful in doing this . Some people  , due to carelessness or haste , click the wrong location .   The name of your preferred  site will appear at the top part of your print –out . It is in this site where you should go.  You will be not be accepted in another site .

The system will also  show you the available dates and time  to get your OEC . Just click on the date and time that you want .

When you have completed your profile and when you have chosen your appointment date , time and location —  go to “ my transactions “   and  click “ print “  . Show this print –out to the security guard at the POEA site. If the site is at a mall ,  there is  usually a staff assigned at the entrance to assist  OFWs who come before the mall opens. ( 8  to  10 am )

I made my payments at the  POEA – SM Pampanga  on the appointed date .  Then , the staff told me that my OEC had been sent to my account at the  www.bmonline.ph . When I got back home  in Bataan , I opened my account  and  checked “  my  transactions” . Indeed , my OEC  was  already there . I  printed three copies.  So , to make it clear , you will not be given a hard copy of the OEC.  ( Tayo  na ang magpi-print. )  . Bring these copies and the official  receipt on your departure date.

My advice , if your  home is far  away  from the POEA site  :   when you have finished your transactions at the POEA  , find a computer shop nearby  and  try printing  from there . If the site is at a mall , for sure , there is a computer shop within a comfortable distance . ( Since this  mandatory  online appointment started ,  businesses near POEA sites started  offering computer services . )  If there is a  glitch or problem ( e.g.  OEC is not yet in your account ),   you will know immediately and you can go back right away to the POEA   site to have the problem fixed.   Imagine the trouble   if you have gone back to your province , and you realize you have to go back to POEA because of  a problem   !  Glitches are rare , but if  it happens , it can really  ruin your day .

About the payment. As I have said , I  personally made   my payment at the  POEA office in SM San Fernando Pampanga  on the date that I chose  for appointment :  July 22, 2016. So , as of that date , personal payments are still allowed.  I advise you to double- check  payment options . There could be some changes. For example ,it’s possible that OFWs are already required to settle payments online.  You may call POEA hotlines : 722 11 44  or 722 11 55 . You may also  email them at info@poea.gov.ph .

The exemption  and the online appointment  for the OEC  are  good developments . Once we all get used to it , it will  save the OFWs a lot of time and  energy . Good job , POEA !

Watch also the instructional Video below : 

The above information is from the blog of an OFW named Marilyn Gayeta. It is based on her experienced. Visit gardenerofthoughts.blogspot.com to read more about her blog.