One-Stop Shop for OFWs in CenVis to be Launched on October 7

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) will launch the Region’s One Stop Shop for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) on October 7, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the 2nd Floor of the Government Express Center, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.

According to DOLE-7 Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga, the services offered at the Center will cater to the needs of workers who will be looking for employment opportunities abroad.

He added that the establishment of the center is in response to the marching orders of the President through Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III to streamline government services for OFWs.

The following agencies involved will offer services that can be that they serve and deliver within 72 hours in one transaction period:

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will issue Seafarers’ Identification and Record Book (SIRB).

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) offers the Balik-Manggagawa (BM) Online Processing and information dissemination on other programs and services.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will facilitate OWWA membership processing and accommodate queries on other programs and services.

Customers of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) can avail of its onsite processing of applications for renewal of National Certificate (NC) or Certificate of Competency (COC). Apart from this,TESDA disseminates Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and attend to queries on its registered Technical and Vocational Institutions (TVIs); Accredited Assessment Centers; and online Training Programs.

The PAG-IBIG will facilitate membership registration and membership verification; while the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will accept requests for and facilitate issuances of certificates on Birth, Death, Marriage, and Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) in security paper.

The Bureau of Immigration (BIR) is slated to accommodate queries regarding overseas employment concerns as well as issue departure clearance.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will process clearance for travel abroad purposes only.

Requests for Certification, Authentication, and Verification (CAV) of academic records and documents will likewise be attended to by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will entertain applications for Board Examinations; initial registration for new Board Examinations passers and Professional Identification Cards renewals.

The Social Security System (SSS) offers issuances of SSS number; accepts  employers’ reports of newly hired and additional employees, requests for corrections, updating of members’ and employers’ data record, salary loans, maternity notification and reimbursements, screening and enrolment of UMID applications.

The SSS will likewise accommodate queries on membership; contributions; loans, benefits; and identification card status forms.

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) will issue Tax Exemption Certificate (TEC) and Reduced Travel Tax Certificate, accept Travel Tax Payments; process Travel Tax Refund and queries on Travel Tax.

Enlisted services of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) are Registration of members,  records updates, printing of PhilHealth ID cards and Member Data Records (MDRs)

The DOLE, for its part, will provide Labor Market Information (LMI) using the Phil-JobNet, an internet-based job and applicant matching system. The Department will also accommodate queries on and disseminate information regarding Employment Facilitation and Capability Building Services.

The National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) who is closely working with DOLE will provide not only its Reintegration programs and services and some relevant IEC materials to OFWs.

“I encourage our customers, especially the OFWs to take advantage of the One-Stop Center for this is designed purposely to reduce their transportation expenses, shorten the processing time for their documents, and avail of relevant services in just one place,” said Director Sarcauga.

Sarcauga thanked Evelia Durato, Chief of POEA Regional Center for Visayas, for taking the lead in convening the representatives of the agencies involved in several meetings in order to finalize and complete the preparations needed for the launching of the Center.

He likewise commended the officers and management of SM City Cebu for their unrelenting support. (rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu with DOLE-7 report)