Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 9) — Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Toots Ople is optimistic that the DMW Mobile App will be released this week and will allay concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) regarding counterfeit Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs).
The Bureau of Immigration earlier warned OFWs of illegal recruiters who promise a quick processing of OECs which would later turn out to be fake. The warning came after several would-be OFWs were apprehended for carrying fake OECs along with other forged documents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.To address this problem, the DMW has developed a mobile application that can be used to secure an OFW Pass, which will now replace the OEC. The OEC serves as a vital identification document required to allow active contract-holding OFWs to leave for their work destinations.“Alam naming na napakalaking bagay ‘yung OEC. So, ginagawa po naming lahat para ma-address itong issue na ito with the use of technology,” Ople said in a press release from the Presidential Communication Office on Sunday.[Translation: We know that the OEC is a big deal. So, we are doing everything to address this issue with the use of technology.]“Abangan niyo na lang po. Kaunting pasensya pa po pero malapit na ang ating launch,” she said.[Translation: Just wait for it. A little more patience, the launch is coming soon.]Ople explained that the DMW is waiting for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to clear the cyber-security features of the app.“Hinihintay lang naming ‘yung green light ng DICT para nakakatiyak tayo sa cybersecurity features ng app. After that, hopefully within the week ma-launch na siya,” Ople said.[Translation: We are just waiting for the green light from DICT so we can be sure of the app’s cybersecurity features. After that, hopefully within the week it will be launched.]Malacañang said President Bongbong Marcos instructed the DMW to ensure that obtaining an OFW Pass with the use of the app is free of charge.According to Ople, the president was exuberant over the mobile application, which he saw as a simple yet effective digital solution to OEC problems encountered by Filipinos working abroad.“And ang bilin lang niya tiyakin daw ng department na walang babayaran ang ating mga manggagawang migrante, ‘yung ating mga OFWs, sa paggamit nung mobile app, at pag-download at pagkuha ng OFW Pass,” Ople said.[Translation: And his only order is for the department to ensure that our migrant workers, our OFWs, do not pay anything for using the mobile app, and downloading and obtaining the OFW Pass.]The app contains the OFW Pass, a digital and secure version of the OEC, said Ople.
