Filipino authorities cap Dubai travel clearances

Dubai: Issuance of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or travel exit clearance to Filipino expatriates at the Philippine labour office in Dubai will be limited to 500 a day during peak months like March, July and December, Labour Attache Delmer Cruz told Gulf News.

An OEC is a document required by the Philippine government which proves that a returning Filipino worker is in the Philippines for a holiday and intends to go back to the same employer abroad. It also proves that the he or she has been hired legally.

“In view of the surge in applicants for OEC, we will process the first 500 applications for OEC per day during peak months when OEC applications exceed 500,” Cruz said.

“This is in consideration of our three personnel tasked to issue OEC as they have been working almost non-stop, sometimes until 9pm, just to meet the demand. This practice is taking a toll on our people, and it could compromise their health,” Cruz added.

Cruz said he has already increased the number of staff members issuing OECs to three, despite the limited personnel at the labour office’s disposal. He added that officials have also restricted the processing time per OEC to five minutes at most to be able to maximise time and deliver efficient services.

Cruz offered alternative locations where Filipinos can apply for OECs, such as the Al Shabab Sports Club in Dubai where the labour office will set up a booth every Friday from 1pm to 4pm until July 12. OECs and other labour-related services will be offered at the venue. Up to 100 OECs can be issued every Friday.
Ria Abias, 33, who’s due to fly back to the Philippines on Friday for her wedding, said that she understands the labour office’s decision.

“I am an employee myself and I understand how hard it is when you have to work beyond what is required of you. I calculated it myself and I realised that 500 OECs a day is more than enough,” Abias, an accountant who’s planning to get her OEC on Thursday, told Gulf News.

Cruz said Filipinos can also book appointments online to get their OECs in Manila through the website http://bmappointment.poea.gov.ph/ to avoid long queues and waiting times.

Online system set to ease travel hassles for Filipinos

Lifted from Gulfnews

Dubai: The hassle of physically securing travel exit clearances from the Philippine missions here and elsewhere will soon be a thing of the past as plans to make the application system available online are set to go live within the year, Gulf News has learnt.

The Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or travel exit clearance is a document that proves a returning Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is in the Philippines for a holiday and intends to go back to the same employer abroad. Manila airport officials do not allow OFWs to return to their jobs abroad without the document.

Contrary to media reports in Manila, the OEC system will not be abolished but will be improved in response to complaints by OFWs of the "slow processing" of the OEC, Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz told Gulf News from Manila.

"It is not an abolition of the OEC system. The OEC still stays but we will make the process easier and more efficient," Baldoz clarified.

"We are working on a system wherein all OEC applications and processing will be done online. We also plan to have the OEC co-terminus with the validity of the contract so that the OFW does not need to apply for it every time," Baldoz added.

Details of the project will be announced during Migrant Workers' Day on June 7 alongside other outreach projects of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) for Filipino migrant workers.

"Our IT group already has the concept for this project but we are still working on the nitty-gritty details of the project. If things go as planned, we will launch the project within the year," Amy Reyes, POEA Deputy Administrator for Management who oversees the project, told Gulf News.

POEA and many Philippine missions, including the ones in the UAE, have been faulted for the hassle reportedly brought about by applying for OECs.

"Usually an employee will need to take a day off or half day from work just to get it [OEC]. Every year when you go back home, you have to secure this document and go through the same process," Bryan Vergara, a Filipino worker who applied for an OEC recently, said.

"This move by the POEA is a good one because getting this OEC is a burden for OFWs as it is time consuming," he added.

"When I applied for my OEC here in Dubai last April, it took me one whole day…I think the online system is a good idea to avoid the inconvenience of queuing for a long time under the sun at the labour office," Wilson Ariem, Sr, a technical manager, said.

Acting labour attaché Venus Abad said: "The application process takes time because of the volume of applicants that we receive on a daily basis. During the peak months in April and May, we process around 400 OECs per day. For non-peak months, we process around 200 a day."

"We are working on a system wherein all OEC applications and processing will be done online. We also plan to have the OEC co-terminus with the validity of the contract so that the OFW does not need to apply for it every time," Baldoz added.

Details of the project will be announced during Migrant Workers' Day on June 7 alongside other outreach projects of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) for Filipino migrant workers.

"Our IT group already has the concept for this project but we are still working on the nitty-gritty details of the project. If things go as planned, we will launch the project within the year," Amy Reyes, POEA Deputy Administrator for Management who oversees the project, told Gulf News.

POEA and many Philippine missions, including the ones in the UAE, have been faulted for the hassle reportedly brought about by applying for OECs.

"Usually an employee will need to take a day off or half day from work just to get it [OEC]. Every year when you go back home, you have to secure this document and go through the same process," Bryan Vergara, a Filipino worker who applied for an OEC recently, said.

"This move by the POEA is a good one because getting this OEC is a burden for OFWs as it is time consuming," he added.

"When I applied for my OEC here in Dubai last April, it took me one whole day…I think the online system is a good idea to avoid the inconvenience of queuing for a long time under the sun at the labour office," Wilson Ariem, Sr, a technical manager, said.

Acting labour attaché Venus Abad said: "The application process takes time because of the volume of applicants that we receive on a daily basis. During the peak months in April and May, we process around 400 OECs per day. For non-peak months, we process around 200 a day."

Senate Convict Corona

While watching the finale of impeachment hearing today, where CJ Corona was found guilty of Article 2 of the impeachment complaint filed against him for non disclosure of his SALN, I was wowed by the explanation of Senator judge Enrile's "paghihimay-himay" explanation of his Guilty verdict.

At the age of 88, Enrile still commands respect among the much younger senators.

His mastery of laws and his full control of the full length of impeachment hearing swas very impressive.

Lapid being a broken record as always kept reminding the public of his being a high school graduate and for not understanding the Republic Acts and for not speaking English.

Villar however, was liking himself to the present situation of Corona where everyone was prejuding him in the media.

With all the drama in the Senate today, let just pray that these honorable senators can finally close these episode and focused on more pressing matters in the country.

The senators have spoken. and so let it be..

Guide to safe living: Dos and Don'ts in the UAE

* Bathing suits are OK only in hotel pools and private beaches

* Men are also expected to dress decently with no bold overtones.

* Absolutely no cross-dressing

* Holding hands and kissing are unacceptable and can lead to arrest

* During Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, people are expected to abstain from alcohol, dancing, chewing gum, smoking and singing in public during the day

* Eat/drink with your right hand as the left hand is considered to be unhygienic in this part of the world

* Don’t show the soles of your feet or shoes as this implies disrespect to others — that you are comparing the person to soles or ‘dirt’/‘trash’*

* If a Muslim is praying, do not walk in front of him or stare at him

* If you have not accepted Islam as your religion, take prior permission before entering a mosque

* Do not point fingers at others as this is considered disrespectful

* Taxi passengers should avoid sitting in the front seat of a taxicab;“small talk” can be misinterpreted as over-friendliness or even a form of propositioning by taxi drivers

* Prescription and over-the-counter medications are often considered illegal or a controlled substance.

* Keep your medicines in their original containers and bring a letter from your doctor as a well as a copy of your prescription with you

* Possession of illegal drugs, or the presence of an illegal substance in a blood or urine test, clothing, body, or in your luggage, could lead to arrest

* Don’t drink and drive. Alcohol is served at bars in major hotels but is intended for hotel guests.

* Drinking or possession of alcohol without a Ministry of Interior liquor permit is illegal and may lead to fines and imprisonment

* Avoid making obscene hand gestures, using inappropriate (foul) language to a police officer