OFW ID: There’s nothing to worry, Don’t be in hurry

Many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) were so excited with the announcement and release of the OFW ID card especially when Secretary Bello III said that… “December 5 magdadatingan na ang ating mga kababayan at gusto naming bilang aming handog pamasko,Pagdating nila sa airport sasalubungin naming sila ibibigay naming ang kanilang IDOLE card.”

But then, our excitement turns into disappointment when some of us, tried to register into their website – http://idole.ph and cannot even complete the registration process.

How much more to those kababayan who expected to be greeted at the airport with their OFW ID card?

One of our kababayan shares their experience at the airport

“Juan Oman we arrived yesterday at 1 pm pag labas namin wala naman Yang OFW ID… ni walang sumalubong na iD sa amin to give that I DOLE na yan. We went straight to DUTY FREE Sa likod nun May OWWA office to get you OEC. Now my husband then about that ID. Ang sagot Sa kanya trial Lang daw yun. Actually wala pa. Mga patalastas lang pala. Kaya wag basta mag papaniwala.”

Another kababayan who is having her vacation in the Philippines says

“Just got home from POEA Ortigas. Nag register kc ako kahapon. Ang sabi “Your ID has been printed. It is ready for pick-up”. Ako naman c tanga, nagpunta. Umuwi akong Luhaan. NO ID HAD BEEN PRINTED!!! Ang sabi ni kuya sa information… Hindi pa daw nagpprint ng ID. Sabit na nga Medplus ng Philhealth at OWWA. Pati Ito? Nganga!!!”

What is OFW ID Card?

The iDOLE OFW ID Card, labeled as the ‘best gift’ of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) was made available to returning OFWs or Balik-Manggagawa on its first phase of issuance.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the limited issuance of the ID Card in the initial implementation of the Integrated Department of Labor and Employment (iDOLE) eServices is intended to further test and secure the features of the system.

“This is only the first phase of implementation and will cater first to our Balik-Manggagawa until the system is ready for all OFWs. We are doing this to secure the database and for further improvements in the system,” Bello said.

Balik-Manggagawa, or those vacationing OFWs, are required to log-in to their BM Online accounts to apply for the ID, which they can use to avail of travel tax and terminal fee exemptions.

So by now, many of us had enough of this OFW ID Card. Let’s make things very clear and after reading this article you will finally have a peace of mind.

Take note of these:

1. The OFW ID Card is available only and at the moment to those who are returning home or having their vacation in the Philippines. So stop asking when it will be available in your consular or embassy office.
2. You can register online http://idole.ph but you need an OEC number. This is given because of course the OFW ID card is for those who are returning home only.
3. As of the moment, there are only 5 pickup locations in the Philippines: POEA – Main in Ortigas, POEA – Cebu, POEA -Davao, POEA Baguio, POEA La-union.

If you cannot pickup your OFW ID Card to the above location, beneficiaries may have the ID delivered to their homes but have to pay a delivery fee.

4. The limited issuance of the ID Card in the initial implementation of the Integrated Department of Labor and Employment (iDOLE) eServices is intended to further test and secure the features of the system.

So I would suggest to my fellow OFW here in the Middle East that do not worry to much on how you can avail of the OFW ID Card. We will soon have the final guidelines and it will be soon available for OFW around the world.