Only 40 of 500 OFW IDs have been claimed

At least 450 overseas Filipino workers identification card (OFW ID) remain unclaimed since the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) started the first phase of its distribution last week.

In a radio interview, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III disclosed only 40 of the 500 printed OFW ID cards were claimed by their beneficiaries during the launch of the project at the Clark International Airport last Thursday.

He explained the other beneficiaries were unable to claim their OFW IDs since they arrived in the country via other airports.

On the same day of the distribution of the first batch of the OFW ID, DOLE also announced other vacationing OFWs may start applying for the OFW ID by accessing their BM Online accounts and creating an account with the iDOLE.ph or the iDOLE One-Stop Online Facility/Portal.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) estimated around 200,000 vacationing OFWs, who are back in the country for the Christmas holidays, are expected to avail of the OFW ID.

Bello said the OFW IDs can be claimed at the offices of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) or the POEA.

He said the beneficiaries may have the ID delivered to their homes but have to pay a delivery fee.

The labor chief said the distribution of the OFW ID is currently limited to vacationing OFWs since the project is still on its pilot phase.

“We are still observing if there is any glitch (in the OFW ID system)…we are monitoring if there will be attempts to hack (the OFW ID) or if anyone will try create a fake copy of it,” Bello said.

The OFW ID allows its owners to avail of travel tax and terminal fee exemptions as well access their data in other government agencies via the integrated DOLE System or iDOLE systems.

You can check the Guide on How to Apply for OFW ID Card.