POEA streamlines OFW documentation

The shared database and real-time information system for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), which the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) envisions to contribute to the prevention and the proliferation of incidences of illegal recruitment and human trafficking, is now taking shape as the DOLE, through the Philippine Overseas and Employment Administration (POEA) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement towards the development of an information sharing system on OFWs.

Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz announced this the other day after she witnessed the signing of the accord between POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac and Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. on the development of the shared database between the two agencies. DOLE Undersecretary for Employment Danilo Cruz also joined the labor and employment chief as witnesses to the MOA signing.

"The agreement shows our efforts to strengthen coordination and linkage among concerned government agencies. It also reflects our convergent action to ensure the protection of our OFWs against unscrupulous individuals engaged in illegal and predatory activities, including fixers, scammers, and traffickers," Baldoz said.

"Aside from protecting our OFWs, we want to provide them a hassle-free, yet systematic, deployment process. Hindi na natin pahihirapan ang mga OFWs sa multi-layered na proseso ng gobyerno noon. Isang pila na lang tayo ngayon. This is in consonance with the directive of President Benigno S. Aquino III to improve government systems and processes and making them more accessible and cost-effective," she added.

The labor and employment chief explained that the development of the shared information system shall cover the databases of a) documented OFWs; b) foreign employers included in the POEA watchlist; c) OFWs included in the POEA watchlist; and d) departing and arriving OFWs.

The implementation of the system shall start this August.

The MOA translates into action the joint proactive efforts of the POEA and the BI as members of the Presidential Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (PTFAIR) recreated under Executive Order 41 series of 2011.

Both agencies are tasked to develop and execute strategies and schemes against the modus operandi of illegal recruiters, such as escort services and tampering and sale of spurious passports and travel documents. The PTFAIR is also responsible for the prosecution of illegal recruiters and syndicates together with their protectors.

Under the MOA, the POEA shall provide and extend legal assistance to victims of illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons referred by the BI; provide technical assistance and necessary certifications to cases handled by BI; and provide assistance to immigration officers in answering queries on OFWs' travel exit documents.

On its part, the BI shall strictly implement the validation of travel exit documents; endorse suspected illegal recruitment cases to POEA for investigation; intensify intelligence efforts in checking legitimate departing OFWs and/or those tourists profiled as workers; and enforce watchlist orders and/or hold departure orders against illegal recruiters and human traffickers.

Baldoz expressed high hopes on the collaborative undertaking, saying that ensuring the systematic process of OFW documentation shall be a win-win situation both to the government and to OFWs.

"I direct the POEA will work closely with the BI to prioritize this initiative as we continue to improve processes involving overseas employment. We also aim for the electronic processing of exit clearances and other procedures that can already be done online. While we are continuouslystamping out illegal and predatory activities towards workers' protection, we are also devising workable strategies to streamline government processes, thus vying away from the usual multi-layered procedures," Baldoz said.

"Hangad namin na ang bagong sistemang ito ay magbigay ng malaking ginhawa sa ating mga OFWs," she ended. (gov.ph)