150,000 OFWs get their OECs online

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Since its inception, the BM Online Processing System has already served 153,152 Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) to vacationing overseas Filipino workers, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.

She said the top 10 OFW destination with heavy BM Online Processing System users were Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, Israel, Kuwait, Thailand, China, and Hongkong.

Meanwhile, the Top 10 BM Online implementers or local processing centers are POEA-Ortigas, Region 7 (Cebu), POEA Field Office in Trinoma Mall, POEA Field Office-Duty Free, POEA Field Office in SM Manila, Region 11 (Davao), Region 1 (La Union), Region 3 (Pampanga), Region 4-A (Calamba), and CAR (Baguio).

Baldoz said the POEA virtually harnesses the power of web-based technology in this innovation.

“Using Skype as a medium of communication, all Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) evaluators, cashiers, and site administrators were oriented on the use of the system,” Baldoz said.

“We highly encourage our OFWs to take advantage of this innovative service. To sign up for BM Online Processing System, go to http://bmonline.poea.gov.ph/ or to POEA official webpage www.poea.gov.ph and click BM Online,” she said.

“Upon entry, they can start filling out the form, follow the instructions, and once they have completed signing up, they will receive a confirmation email from POEA,” she added.

Baldoz said that the BM Online Processing System can be availed of by OFWs on vacation returning to the same employer/principal and jobsite, with employment visa/ work permit, have a record in the POEA database, and previously issued OEC/e-Receipt under the same employer/principal.

“This is one of our reforms initiated—the development of online systems—to make our services accessible and free to our clients. These technology-based facilities are designed and developed to optimize our service delivery. For the BM Online Processing System, falling in line for long hours is now a thing of the past. Now, the transaction can be done quickly and easily online,” Baldoz said.