As preparation for the influx of vacationing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) this year, the POEA created a special Task Force Balik-Manggagawa that aims to make the holiday vacation of OFWs more enjoyable and hassle free.

And to help the POEA accomplish this aim, the POEA chief, Carlos Cao Jr. advises vacationing OFWs to secure their overseas employment certificate (OEC) or travel exit clearance early.

Cao said that OFWs should take care of their OEC’s as soon as they arrive in the Philippines. Apparently, many OFWs rush to the POEA office to get exit clearances after Christmas or New Year resulting to large crowds and long lines.

The POEA chief also informed OFWs that they can obtain exit clearances even before going to the Philippines by applying for it in the nearest Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in their host country.

Aside from the POEA main office in Ortigas, Mandaluyong, OEC’s can also be obtained in different POEA regional offices. There are POEA regional offices in Baguio City,  Tuguegarao City, La Union, Pampanga, Calamba Laguna, Tacloban Leyte; Iloilo and Bacolod City, Cebu City,  Cagayan de Oro City, Zamboanga City and Davao City.

For more convenience, OFWs can also opt to apply for their OEC online and have it delivered. The OEC courier system is available online at

http://www.citizenservices.com.ph/poea.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) recently issued an advisory addressed to all licensed manning agencies regarding the validation of exit clearance of seafarers at the Labor Assistance Center (LAC).

The advisory states that starting November 1, 2011, seafarers are required to have their travel exit clearance validated at the LAC before their departure.

Learn why here:

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Advisaory no. 30 states that starting July 1, the POEA is implementing a new procedure in the processing of exit clearance of balik-manggagawa or returning workers.

All Balik-Manggagawa (BM)/ vacationing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are hereby informed on the revised procedures in the processing of BM travel exit clearance which will be will be adopted by the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Center (BMPC) at the POEA main office.

Click here to view the new POEA procedure on exit clearances of returning workers.