OFW ID Finally Out For The Public

Just recently, the Department of Labor and Employment formally announced the release of OFW ID to the public. OFW ID is expected to replace the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), also known as BalikMangagawa Certificate.

Ideally, the OFW ID is set to prove that the migrant worker is legally employed abroad as certified by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Some of the benefits of the OFW ID includes a quick pass to the Philippine Immigration gates even without Ext Clearance, no more OEC, universal ID for Filipino workers all over the world, quick transaction to Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund and Philhealth, can be used as identification card for purposes like acquiring clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), travel tax exemptions, no more terminal fees, and can be used as ATM card for the OFW Bank.

Just recently, Facebook user Rich Esquerra posted a happy news to all OFWs. He was able to get his OFW ID without much hassle.

Also, according to him, you need to have a valid email address before you go through the process of acquiring your OFW ID.

Here are the steps that Esguerra had gone through:

1. Go to the IDOLE Website 
2. Type in your OEC number
3. You will be redirected to a form that you need to completely fill out
4. Upload your photo with white background
5. Upload your signature. You can do this by signing in a white paper, take a picture of it and upload in the system.

The OFW ID will take a week to be released. It will appear online and you can then print it.