Watch: Filipino OFW ID launches today

Dubai: The unified identification card system for overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) was officially launched on Wednesday but the card will not be immediately available to all OFWs as the production process will be in stages, officials said.

Labour officials confirmed that the new ID system for Filipino workers abroad was presented to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday afternoon.

OFWs welcomed the new ID as it would later replace an "exit pass", or Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), which entitles them to airport tax and travel tax exemptions.

Here's the sample of the proposed iDOLE - OFW ID, which is set for launch on July 12 -- Read story here https://t.co/1mgdz7N90p #DOLE #OFW pic.twitter.com/F1KTEjU02M

— DOLE Philippines (@laborgovph) July 7, 2017

The exit pass, which most Filipinos would like to be abolished, proves that an OFW has been hired legally and intends to go back to the same employer abroad.

“OFWs who carry this [new] ID would mean that his documents have been legally processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA),” Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella said in a statement.

“This [ID system] is a project of the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE), together with its partner agencies, which include the Social Security System (SSS), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), PhilPost among others,” he added.

During the launch, DOLE officials demonstrated the printing of the OFW ID through the APO Printing Unit for a female OFW who works as an events manager in New Zealand.

Aside from the worker’s name and signature, the ID contains the OFW’s unique ID number, profession, country of employment and name of employer.

At the back of the card is a note that says the ID serves as the travel exit Clearance for the bearer that is valid for two years from the date of issuance. This entitles the holder to travel tax and terminal fee exemptions levied by the Philippine government.

Media reports quoting POEA officials said an estimated four million ID cards will be printed in batches to be given to existing OFWs and even those who are no longer working abroad.

Those who are departing and newly joining the workforce overseas will be prioritised, according to reports. The rest of the existing OFWs will receive their IDs at a later stage but the timetable is still unclear.

Guidelines to be issued

DOLE Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III said the production process of the ID will start with POEA.

“POEA will upload the names of processed OFWs to the DOLE cloud then DOLE will download the information which will then be sent to APO for the printing of the cards. After this, the card will be delivered to the address of OFW here or abroad,” Lagunzad told Gulf News.

“OFWs can later log-in and create an account in the iDOLE website and proceed to process and receive the card but please note that this option has to be developed yet. We will announce the details once we have it,” he added.

In an earlier interview, Lagunzad said that the new unified ID system will undergo a three-month pilot run before it can replace exit clearances or OEC.

Asked whether the ID card is secure, Lagunzad said: “Each ID is equipped with a unique QR code for security. The OFW has a unique PIN number to access POEA files but this is only for purposes of checking if the OFW has a contract processed by POEA.”

As we wait for the new ID, here’s what we know so far:

1) Who can avail the card?

All bona fide OFWs will be issued with the card. The Philippine government will issue the card in stages.

Departing OFWs who are newly joining the workforce abroad will be the first to get the ID, labour officials said in a report by the Philippine Star, a news daily in Manila.

The rest of the OFWs abroad will receive theirs eventually.

2) What is the cost of the card?

The cost of the card has not been released. The Philippine government said it will be issued free of cost on the part of the OFW but his or her employer will bear the cost, a report by GMA said.

2) What are the features of the new ID?

Aside from the bearer’s name and signature, the ID contains the OFW’s unique ID number, profession, country of employment and name of employer. It has a QR Code (square image bearing a matrix bar code) in front and a date of validity.

4) What is the QR Code for?

The QR code is a machine-readable code that can be read quickly even by a smartphone. QR codes can easily transmit information contained in the card. This will make transactions faster for the bearer and the agency he or she is transacting with, even at airports. 

5) What is the validity of the card?

At the back of the card is a note that says the ID serves as the Travel Exit Clearance for the bearer that is valid for TWO years from the date of issuance. This entitles the holder to travel tax and terminal fee exemptions.

It is unclear if the ID Card will be invalidated once the OFW shifts to a new job or country of employment as is the case with the OEC.

6) How many IDs will be printed?

DOLE initially prepared 200 ID cards for the initial launch of the new ID system, Philippine Star said, quoting Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

At least four million OFW ID cards will be printed for both active and inactive OFWs because “once you become an OFW, you become an OFW permanently,” Bello was quoted as saying.

7) How secure is the OFW ID?

The new ID will be printed by the APO Printing Unit, which is the same entity that prints the Philippine passport using security printing methods. More details are expected after the launch.