President Duterte to order study on online OEC exemption process glitches

HONG KONG–Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) need not worry about the issues on the online filing for overseas employment certificate (OEC) exemption.

This, as President Rodrigo R. Duterte vowed to order the study on why some OFWs find some glitches on their online application for OEC exemption.

”There has to be an aberration somewhere in the system. I will ask (Labor Secretary Silvestre) Bebot Bello (III) to study,” he told journalists Saturday night in a press conference held after he met members of the Filipino community here.

He said he will give the Labor Department “until the end of the month” to finish the study.

“Then every month you can tell our countrymen here that I will decide. Basta I have to have some basis actually,” he said.

Returning OFWs who will have the same employer or job site and are listed in the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) or those hired through the agency’s Government Placement Branch need not file for OEC.

However, they need to register at bmonline.ph and provide personal information as well as data about their employment to be exempted from securing OEC

The President was informed during the press conference that some OFWs in Hong Kong have a hard time securing the exemption because some of them are not familiar with technology while others face some problems while going the online application.

Meanwhile, Duterte said a legislative measure is being discussed in Hong Kong to address accommodation issues for OFWs.

“There’s a legislation. I was informed and it will… correct the inadequacies,” he said but did not explain further since it’s already in the hands of Hong Kong officials.