Who Are Not Included In The OEC EXEMPTION?

Read also: How To Update BM ONLINE Account And Get OEC EXEMPTION

NO MORE OEC FOR VACATIONING OFWs

The POEA issued  Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2016 --POEA Implementing Guidelines on OEC exemption of selected vacationing workers (balik-manggagawa) -- Effective September 15, 2016

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According to the circular the following shall NOT BE INCLUDED on the said OEC exemption







1.  BM Worker returning to DIFFERENT employer and/ or jobsite;


2.  Watchlisted workers and/or OFWs with watchlisted employers;

3.  OFWs returning to restricted or non-compliant country;

4. Workers without POEA record/ NO RECORD FOUND/ DISCREPANCY IN ANY RECORD;

5. Undocumented workers (i.e. Tourist to OFW, Dependent to OFW, Student to OFW);

6. Seabased workers who changed position to Landbased worker. 

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According to this memorandum, qualified OFWs are no longer required to pay OEC. These includes:

1. BM Wokers or OFWs returning to the same employer or jobsite.

2. BM Workers who have existing record/s in POEA database. 

In order to avail the OEC exemption, an OFW needed to update his or her account through BM online. You may follow the procedure listed here  to verify if you are exempted. 

OFWs who are exempted from paying the OEC will need documents and proof that they are indeed OFWs in order to get exemption from payment of TRAVEL TAX and TERMINAL FEE.

For your guide on these documents check here. 

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Read also: HOW TO GET EXEMPTION FROM TRAVEL TAX AND TERMINAL FEE

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO

How To Update BM Online Account And Get OEC EXEMPTION

Read also : NO MORE OEC FOR VACATIONING OFWs

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Starting September 15, 2016 OFWs who will be vacationing and who have existing records in POEA shall be exempted from paying OEC. Previously, Filipino migrant workers pay their OEC every 2 years or when they go on vacation. 

copy of POEA circular indicating workers that are exempted from OEC payment. 

Overseas workers who are returning to the same employer and jobsite and who have existing record in POEA shall be exempted from paying OEC.

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How To Update BM Online Account To Get OEC EXEMPTION? 


In order for those OFWs get the exemption from paying OEC they must follow the following procedures:

1. OFWs must LOG IN to their BM online processing system through this link http://bmonline.ph  or visit the POEA website and click the BM ONLINE icon. 

2. If you don't have BM Online Account yet, you may click on the REGISTER BUTTON and create your account by filling up the form. They will send confirmation e-mail so make sure to check and verify your account creation on your email. 

3. After registering, log in your account and enter your last OEC number. If there is NO RECORD FOUND, you needed to SET AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT. 

4.  If there is a record found, update the information that is needed to be updated like contact number, personal detail, beneficiaries etch. 

5. Once done updating, click ACQUIRE OEC or EXEMPTION for online assessment. Enter the flight details of your departure and if you will be returning to the same employer or job site. 

6. If you indicate that you will be returning to the same employer and jobsite, the system will display confirmation message that you are exempted from securing OEC and paying its processing fee. 

copy of POEA circular indicating the process of getting OEC exemption. 

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CONTINUE READING: WHAT DOCUMENTS TO SHOW AND HOW TO AVAIL FREE TRAVEL TAX  AND TERMINAL FEE FOR OFWs Who Are Exempted From Paying OEC

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO

CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS for registration and issuance of the Overseas Employment Certificate (Exit Clearance)

These are the requirements for skilled and professional workers, low skilled workers and household service workers or kasambahay like housekeepers and drivers.

SEE ALSO
SET AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT OR PROCESS YOUR OEC ONLINE

SKILLED AND PROFESSIONAL WORKERS 

1. Passport with validity period of not less than six (6) months from intended date of departure 

2. Valid Work Visa, Entry/Work Permit, visa assurance or guarantee (whichever is applicable per country) 

3. Employment Contract or Offer of Employment 

4. Company Profile of Foreign Company/Employer, valid Business License or Company Registration of your Employer 

5. Statement how you were able to get this employment, copy of Diploma, Employment Certificates, Service Record or Training Certificates and License/Eligibility (PRC card), if any. 

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6. Valid Medical Certificate from DOH-accredited medical clinic authorized to conduct med exam for OFWs. For embalmers and massage therapists, submit DOH Certificate. 

7. Pre-Departure Orientation and Seminar (PDOS) Certificate by OWWA 

8. For workers bound to Canada - Labor Market Opinion (LMO) and Canadian Letter For workers bound to Saskatchewan – LMO, Canadian Letter and Employer's Certificate of Registration from ECON (Province of Saskatchewan Executive Council) 

9. For workers bound to USA - Labor Condition Application and Notice of Action 

10. Contingency Plan for employers based in the Middle East and Africa 

11. If with relative/s in the worksite, submit proof of relationship such as Marriage Contract or birth certificate

Fees: 
POEA processing fee : P100.00  
OWWA membership fee : US$25.00 or Php equivalent 

Reminders: 

* Bring Xerox/Photocopy of each document. 

* Original and duplicate copy must be separately arranged according to this list and clipped separately in a folder. 

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LOW SKILLED WORKER (LSW) 

1. Passport with validity period of not less than six (6) months from intended date of departure 

2. Valid Work Visa, Entry/Work Permit, visa assurance or guarantee (whichever is applicable per country) 

3. Verified Employment Contract o In countries where there is Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), with Official Receipt o In countries where there is no POLO: Authenticated Employment contract by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate at the worksite or Verified Employment Contract by the nearest POLO, with Official Receipt 

4. Company Profile of Foreign Company/Employer, valid Business License or Company Registration of your Employer 

5. Statement how you were able to get this employment, copy of Diploma, Employment Certificates, Service Record or Training Certificates, if any.

6. Valid Medical Certificate from DOH-accredited medical clinic authorized to conduct med exam for OFWs. For embalmers and massage therapists, submit DOH Certificate. 

7. Pre-Departure Orientation and Seminar (PDOS) Certificate by OWWA 

8. For workers bound to Canada - Labor Market Opinion (LMO) and Canadian Letter For workers bound to Saskatchewan – LMO, Canadian Letter and Employer's Certificate of Registration from ECON (Province of Saskatchewan Executive Council) 

9. For workers bound to USA - Labor Condition Application and Notice of Action 

10. Contingency Plan for employers based in the Middle East and Africa 11. If with relative/s in the worksite, submit proof of relationship such as Marriage Contract or birth certificate 

Fees: POEA processing fee : P100.00  
OWWA membership fee : US$25.00 or Php equivalent 

Reminders: 

* Bring Xerox/Photocopy of each document. 

* Original and duplicate copy must be separately arranged according to this list and clipped separately in a folder.

HOUSEHOLD SERVICE WORKER (HSW) 

1. Passport with validity period of not less than six (6) months from intended date of departure 

2. Valid Work Visa, Entry/Work Permit 

3. Verified Employment Contract (In countries where there is Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) In countries where there is no POLO: Authenticated Employment contract by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate at the worksite or Verified Employment Contract by the nearest POLO 

4. Request for exemption from Direct Hiring Policy issued by POLO at the worksite (for Direct Hired HSW) 

5. Valid Medical Certificate from DOH-accredited medical clinic authorized to conduct medical examination to OFWs 

6. TESDA National Certificate II (NC-II) for HSW 

7. Pre-Departure Orientation and Seminar (PDOS) Certificate by OWWA 

8. Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) Certificate by OWWA 

9. At least 23 years old 

10. DOLE CLEARANCE 

11. Sworn Affidavit/Sworn Statement on how the worker secured his/her employment. 

12. Employers Profile: (Company Name and Address, Position/Designation, Tel No. and Valid I.D/s) 

13. Proof of Relationship: If the employer is your relative * Birth Cert of the employer and worker, valid I.D/s  Marriage Cert as may be required * If the employer is your friend: Proof of friendship and Valid I.D/s 

Fees: POEA processing fee : P100.00 
 OWWA membership fee : US$25.00 or Php equivalent 

Reminders: 

* Bring Xerox/Photocopy of each document. 

* Original and duplicate copy must be separately arranged according to this list and clipped separately in a folder. 

online-oec-for-ofws-saan-kukuha-at-paano

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO

SET AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT OR PROCESS YOUR OEC ONLINE

Balik Manggagawa Advisory for OFWs

Issuance of OEC at POEA Main Office

Effective 2 November 2015, the POEA Main Office at Edsa corner Ortigas Avenue will accomodate only Balik-Manggagawa or vacationing workers with appointment set through the BM Online processing of Overseas Processing System as part of its efforts to expedite the processing of Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or exit clearance.

CHECK THE BMONLINE HERE

Regional Offices
As of October 16, 2015

DELFINA M. CAMARILLO

POEA Regional Center for Luzon

3rd - 4th Floor, Shania Building, Quezon Avenue

City of San Fernando, La Union

poea_rcl@yahoo.com.ph

ROMEO A. JARAMILLA

POEA Satellite Office. Region II

13 Dalan na Pagayayya

Regional Government Center

Tuguegarao City

poea_so2@yahoo.com

MAJELLYN OROPILLA-SIMON

POEA Regional Ext. Unit-CAR

Benitez Court Compound

Magsaysay Avenue, Baguio City

(074) 442-9478

(074) 445-4209 (telefax)

poea_reu_car@yahoo.com

PATERNO JURIDICO

POEA Satellite Office - Region III

SM City Pampanga

Bgy. San Jose, Gapan- Olongapo Road corner NLEX

San Fernando City Pampanga

(045) 455 - 0832 (Telefax)

poea.region3@yahoo.com

JOSEFINO NAVAL

POEA Satellite Office - Region IV

Unit D. Ground Floor, Milan Prestige Building

National Highway, Brgy. Halang Calamba City

(049) 502-2798 (telefax)

poea_calamba@yahoo.com,

poea.calamba@gmail.com

REX O.MARCOS

POEA Satellite Office No. V

Ground Floor, Unit 102-103,

ANST Bldg. Washington Drive

Legaspi City

(052) 480-0144

poealegaspi@yahoo.com

EVELIA M. DURATO

POEA Regional Center for Visayas

Ground Flr. DOLE Building (old Insular Building)
corner General Maxilom Ave and Gorordo Ave
Cebu City

(032) 231-1016, (032) 231-1007, (032) 231-1003

poea7_cebu@yahoo.com

RHEA GLYNDA D. CALANTAS

POEA Regional Ext. Unit - Region VI

3rd Floor, Robinson's Place - Iloilo

Ledesma corner Mabini Streets, Iloilo City

(033) 336-8611, (033) 335-1058

poea.iloilo@yahoo.com

GLENDA M. ALIGONZA

POEA Satellite Office

2nd Floor, Old City Hall

Araneta-Luzuriaga St.

Bacolod City

(034) 434-7391 (telefax)

bacolod_poea@yahoo.com.ph

ROSARIO P. JERVOSO

POEA Satellite Office

DOLE Compound, Trece Martirez

Tacloban City

(053) 321-7134 (telefax)

(053) 520-8350

poea_tacloban08@yahoo.com

MARIA CAROLINA B. AGDAMAG

POEA Regional Center for Mindanao

2nd Flr., AMYA II Bldg.

Quimpo Blvd. cor. Tulip Drive

Ecoland, Davao City

(082) 297-7429 (telefax)

(082) 297-7428, (082) 297-7650

poearcm@yahoo.com.ph

MARRIETA BELLOTINDOS

POEA Regional Ext. Unit - Region IX

2nd Floor, Goodwill Center

Mator Jaldon St., Canelar, Zamboanga City

(062) 992-5523

poea_zam@yahoo.com.ph

ANNA LIZA V. TIGLAO

POEA Regional Ext. Unit - Region X

Ground Floor Trinidad Bldg.

Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City

(08822) 724-824 (telefax)

(08822) 729-465

poea_reu10@yahoo.com.sg

EMERITA B. GERMO

POEA Satellite Office XII

Ground Floor, Nearby Executive Suites

Zulueta St., Koronadal City

(083) 520-9991 Telefax

poeakoronadal@yahoo.com.ph

MERIAM R. BALMOCENA

Satellite Office- CARAGA

Door 2, Nimfa Tiu Bldg 7 JP Rosales Avenue

Butuan City

(085) 815-1708

poeacaraga@gmail.com

AMER HASSAN E. DORO

POEA Satellite Office - Tawi-Tawi

Initiative for Tawi Tawi Area Devt. Foundation Bldg.

Old Housing Proj., Tubig Boh

Bongao, Tawi Tawi

0906-3416142

amerhassandoro@yahoo.com

©2015 THOUGHTSKOTO

Update For Processing of OEC

Starting Nov. 2, appointments are needed to secure OEC from POEA Ortigas.

But for those workers who doesn't have access to internet, the POEA Lobby has free BM Online Kiosk.

You may visit www. BMOLINE.PH to process your OEC or to set an appointment.

Continue here:  How To Process OEC Online

©2015 THOUGHTSKOTO

PAY ONLY P1200 TO GET OEC!

This is good news to all OFWs. 
We sent an email inquiry to POEA confirming this matter and here is the reply:

THOUGHTSKOTO: "If we will obtain an OEC starting April 1, is it still mandatory that we will pay Philhealth and Pag-ibig or we can obtain OEC without paying them? 

POEA Admin Hans Cacdac:  
"Yes we are no longer requiring Philhealth and Pag-Ibig contribution payments in the process of securing OECs. The OWWA contribution, however, will still have to be paid."

Thoughtskoto: Do POEA have memo or info or PR regarding this? We receive some reports that offices are requiring OFWs to show receipt of POEA and Philhealth payment before they can obtain OEC.

POEA: We will release a statement regarding this.

READ: OFFICIAL STATEMENT and POEA RELEASE

Please see the official statement from the POEA and the official posts by POEA administrator.

So it means those who wants to pay only OEC Fee and OWWA will only pay around P1,000 - P1300 in order to SECURE OEC o Balik Manggagawa Certificate

Meanwhile, Philhealth release a statement exhorting the OFWs to pay for their premium as well of their families as dependents, that will truly benefit from it.

This Advisory From Philhealth

Starting April 1, vacationing and re-hired overseas Filipino workers will have to pay their premium contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) separately from their payments to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for their Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs).

This development is in line with the decision of the POEA to implement a single collection policy starting on the same date. The POEA will only be collecting fees for OEC and no longer for PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG Fund.

image by R. Llanda

The collection counters of PhilHealth and other government agencies, however, will be retained at POEA in Mandaluyong City and in the one-stop shops of POEA nationwide.

“We call on our OFW-members to pay their PhilHealth premium contributions first before going to the POEA for their OECs. This will secure their social health insurance coverage, as well as that of their legal dependents, for their peace of mind,” said PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla.

Padilla added that “OFW-members may still pay their premium contributions at the designated PhilHealth counters at the Balik-Manggagawa Center at the POEA in Mandaluyong City, as well as through any of the 27 accredited collecting partners that we have earlier authorized for local collection from OFW-members. They may also pay at our Local Health Insurance Offices nationwide.”

Overseas Filipinos pay P2,400.00 annually for their premium contribution to PhilHealth. The amount includes coverage for all qualified legal dependents of a migrant worker such as legal spouse who is not a PhilHealth member; legitimate and illegitimate children below 21 years old, unmarried and unemployed; and parents who are below 60 years old but are suffering from permanent disability which renders them totally dependent on the member for support.

Parents who are 60 years old and above and are not yet PhilHealth members may enrol under the Senior Citizen category.

PhilHealth pays for overseas hospitalization of migrant workers, as well as for the confinement of their legal dependents in the Philippines, through a reimbursement mechanism. Migrant workers have 180 calendar days from the date of discharge to file their claim documents through any of PhilHealth’s 17 Regional Offices in the Philippines. All refunds are paid for in Philippine peso equivalent. (END)

PAYMENT OF PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS OF MIGRANT WORKERS 

EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2015 

Starting April 1, vacationing OFWs or balik-manggagawa returning to their destinations overseas, must proceed to the PhilHealth counters at the POEA in Ortigas EDSA, Mandaluyong City to pay their premium contributions. 

Upon recent advice by the POEA, payments for Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) will no longer include PhilHealth premium contributions. 

(Those interested to pay especially those who have dependents and in need of the Philhealth services, as well as Pag-Ibig can pay, and do so, voluntarily, this is the way we understand it. - The Thoughtskoto's)


To avoid the long queue, OFWs should pay their PhilHealth premiums first before going to POEA to get their OECs. Premium payments may be made at designated PhilHealth Counters at the Balik-Manggagawa Center, or through any of our accredited collecting partners nationwide. 

The list of ACAs authorized to collect OFW premium contributions can be found on www.philhealth.gov.ph/advisories/2014/ adv12-03-2014.pdf. Further inquiries regarding this matter may be referred to the Overseas Filipinos Program Office at (+63917) 5129149, (+632) 441-7444 ext. 7416 or through ofp@philhealth.gov.ph. 

©2015 THOUGHTSKOTO

©2015 THOUGHTSKOTO