OFWs Complain POEA’s Slow Processing of OECs

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In a recent news reported by ABS CBN’s “BANDILA”, some OFWs were complaining about the slow processing of OECs (Overseas Employment Certificate) by the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration), which was the last step that OFWs have to take before one can leave the country to work abroad.

Among the complainants were OFW named Edwin Valenzuela, whose flight has been cancelled the following day. Apparently, he was also asked by the POEA to return to their office the next day so he can claim his OEC. Valenzuela flew all the way from North Cotabato just to apply for an OEC who was scheduled to go back to his work as a family driver in Riyadh.

Another OFW was Eunice Saturno. Saturno was working as a nurse in Riyadh and said that she had applied for the OEC, before her arrival which was 3 weeks ago. She was disappointed as how her application which was done earlier thru online, saying it seemed useless at all.

The OFWs were then wondering what’s taking POEA too long to process the OECs which they’ve found very inconvenient on their part. The supposedly 3-day processing and release of it now became 3 weeks or more than a month because of the delays.

Accordingly, the release of the OECs will be after the approval of Sec. Silvestre Bello III. But since the amendment of POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Landbased Overseas Filipino Workers has taken place, this government institution has to review and study carefully the applications for direct hire submitted to their office.

In fact, Usec Bernard Olalia, POEA’s OIC Administrator claimed that the Labor Secretary has been spending most of his time in the office reviewing tediously all the applications submitted to their office, making sure that the rules were properly implemented and executed.